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Macroom (Irish:
Maigh Chromtha)
is a small
market town
lying in a
valley on the
River Sullane, a
tributary of the
River Lee,
between Cork and
Killarney. The
name in Irish
Gaelic may mean
'meeting place
of followers of
the god Crom' or
'twisted plain'.
The area is
thought to once
have been the
meeting place
for the Druids
of Munster. It
is said that
Macroom is "the
town that never
reared a fool".
The battle of
Macroom took
place near the
town in 1650,
during the
Cromwellian
conquest of
Ireland.
Tourist
attractions
include a
colourful town
centre, an
18-hole golf
course and
scenic
surroundings. A
few kilometres
to the north of
Macroom is
Mushera
Mountain, with
the family
attraction of
Millstreet
Country Park, a
challenging 1.5
km walk to the
summit of the
mountain, and
the ancient
Saint John's
Well. There are
many holy wells,
churches and
other sites in
the area
associated with
old visionaries
and healers.
Just south of
the town is the
Gearagh, a
combination of
wetland and
woods which is
of great natural
importance due
to its rich and
rare diversity
of wildlife.
In the town
itself, the
Castle Arch, a
remainder of the
demolished
Macroom Castle,
admits walkers
to the Castle
demesne
parklands, held
in trust as a
gift to, and
possession of,
the people of
Macroom. This
large park
contains
beautiful
riverside walks
among mature oak
and beech trees.
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