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Christmas Greetings
December 2024
"Traditions over time"
Wishing you a wonderful happy Christmas, and a healthy, untroubled New Year in 2025!
This year again we have decided not to send Christmas cards and instead will make a donation to our nominated charity “Cystic Fibrosis Association”.
As we’ve done since 2007, we have another "related" Crosshaven land/seascape. This picture was taken on 16 June this year at Coveney Pier on Crosshaven’s Lower Road where you find some of the village’s oldest buildings and pubs. The modern stone wall building on left is the RNLI station.
The photo is taken from a boat on the River Owenabue - anglicised from Irish ‘Abhainn na Baoi’ or on some writings ‘Abhainn Bhuí’, so either River of Bouys or Yellow River. This is during lunch-break for some of the boats crews in the annual Traditional Boat Sail before the Sunday afternoon sail in Cork’s
Inner Harbour.
On display were traditional Irish wooden boats, a Cornish lugger and multiple wooden classic yachts. But these were outnumbered by vintage plastic fantasies (glassfibre keelboats were first built around 1936) and those here were not anyway new-fangled but instead what’s termed modern classics.
BTW – the turquoise painted building is The Oar Bar (formerly The Divers), where many famous singers have sung over the decades including the legendary “Freddie White”
from Cobh in the early days of his career.
“Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir”.
See our picture carousel below....
Christmas 2024 - Traditions over time
This picture was taken on 16 June this year at Coveney Pier on Crosshaven’s Lower Road where you find some of the village’s oldest buildings and pubs. The modern stone wall building on left is the RNLI station.
The photo is taken from a boat on the River Owenabue - anglicised from Irish ‘Abhainn na Baoi’ or on some writings ‘Abhainn Bhuí’, so River of Buoys or Yellow River. This is during lunch-break for some of the boats crews in the annual Traditional Boat Sail before the Sunday afternoon sail in Cork’s Inner Harbour.
On display were traditional Irish wooden boats, a Cornish lugger and multiple wooden classic yachts. But these were outnumbered by vintage plastic fantasies (glass fibre keelboats were first built around 1936) and those here were not anyway new-fangled but instead what’s termed modern classics.
BTW – the turquoise painted building is The Oar Bar (formerly The Divers), where many famous singers have sung over the decades including the legendary “Freddie White” from Cobh in the early days of his career.
“Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir”.
Christmas 2023 – A light saviour
This picture was taken during August 2023 heading out past Roche’s Point Lighthouse to Cork’s “outer” harbour.
The stone tower in background was one of those built by the Roche family as a banqueting and pleasure house. It was also the only place they could get a sight of shipping and Cork Harbour (inner). During the American War of Independence (1776-83) it was “rented” to the British Military for the defence of the harbour. In 1813 the British Admiralty pointed out the dangers that vessels frequenting Cork Harbour encountered for want of a light house. The lands and tower structures were acquired from the Edward Roche in 1815 (who had been a war prisoner in Naples). The old tower was refurbished and functioning by June 1817. The new structure with buildings and tower on the cliffs was newly built and activated in 1835 and upgraded in 1865.
For those interested in “information technology” and speed of data exchange - the first of the terraced houses on the left acted as a Telegraph Station. Before the Atlantic Cable was laid in 1866 (to Valentia Island), Roches Point, Crookhaven and Cape Clear were the 3 primary locations for drop-off of secured watertight containers for “private” letters and telegraph messages on the passing Cunard liners & also North German Lloyd liners coming from North America. This ensured information was received in London and Bremen days before the ships’ arrival at port
Christmas 2022 - Coffee on the Rocks
This picture (Coffee on the Rocks) was taken during a walk stopover on the back-beach in Fountainstown in January 2021. With all cafes closed it did mean the back-packs were often filled with creature comforts to ensure that you could still create special moments. Surprising how a view of coffee prepared on the rocks brought smiles to other walkers. Hope it does the same for you.
Christmas 2021 - Walking Home for Christmas
This picture was taken on Templebreedy grounds at The Old Rectory on 30 June 2021, while at same time the hay was being “saved” in the adjacent field. The Old Rectory was home of the famous “Templebreedy” Connemara ponies, bred there from 1970s to 1990s, the most famous being the stallion Templebreedy Fear Bui (Yellow Man). Throughout Covid times, from the first shutdown on 12 March 2020, children and their parents have been visiting the horses and ponies feeding them carrots and apples at the wall behind them (roadside). We’ve been told it has led to a surge in riding school lessons in the 2 local Carrigaline riding schools.
These 3 in the picture, who look like they are “heading for home” walking through the buttercups, are from left-to-right:
Spartacus, about 16.1 hands, a sports horse, where his passport states his name as “Is mise Spartacus”, the Irish (Gaelic) for “I am Spartacus”;
Basil, about 15.2 hands, a Connemara that grew to be a little horse rather than pony, whose passport states his name as “Templebreedy Basil” – and yes he was born on this holy ground;
Oreo, about 12 hands, a Mountain & Moorland breed, whose passport states his name as “Rio Rob”, but the owner preferred a vocative play on his first name leading towards a biscuit name.
Christmas 2020 – Successful Proof of Concept
This picture was taken from the rocky Fennel’s Bay looking south-eastwards on Sunday 9 August 2020 in Cork's outer harbour. Normal starting point for Blue Riband events is Weavers Point including former cruiser glory days of Cobh to New York (e.g. RMS Mauretania). Not visible on the left is Roches Point lighthouse but in the distance is Power Head about another 5km away. In the foreground you can see the yellow SafeHavenMarine boat about to take-off on a speed record from Weavers Point to the Fastnet Rock, about 105 km westwards. This boat hit 53 knots (58mls / 92km) in open waters and was back at the start point again in 2 hours 36 minutes giving an average speed of 44.6 knots. Photographing this monster boat in action as you hear the engines roaring has more than petrol-heads drooling. Being on board must be exhilarating but would not be for the fainthearted in rough seas.
What a way to test a product during the Covid blues - My kinda Proof of Concept
Christmas 2015 – Chorus of bluebells
In 1999 we (directors of Fitz Technologies) undertook and had the Cruachan Woods in Crosshaven “protected” as we owned 4 of the 8 acres. Cruachan refers to conical hill or small rock in Gaelic (Irish), and this is a large area of sandstone with visible outcrops).It’s an amazing sloping woodland of pine, oak and beech trees where some of the ‘ancient’ beech trees are over 30 meters high and over 200 years old!
Every early May there is the most amazing sensory experience where during a walk you have the spectacle of vibrant bluebells and a very delicate fragrance mixed with other flora scents. The dappled sunlight filtering through the trees creates a truly magical atmosphere in particular if there is also some wind. And that’s just here in our little woods.
“Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir”.
Christmas 2016 – The art of successful timekeeping
A photograph of another Crosshaven scene, this year taken at 7pm on a sunny evening on 15 August 2016 at Fountainstown Beach:
This picture was taken at the pier entrance on Fountainstown Beach (about 3 miles from Crosshaven village), where when the tide is out gives you around 40 hectares of sand paradise for children and adults, but at full tide is also a fishing location for mackerel and bass, and when a strong easterly wind then a surfers paradise. Angela’s Shop is a renowned landmark in the area and the owner Angela Cantwell is a super personality, who acquired a running concern from Peig Ahearn (you guessed it “Peig’s Shop”) in 1990. The shop, dating from 1950s, takes you “back in time” with sweets in lines of jars (not a franchised store), sliced ice cream with wafers, and remarkable home-baked cakes and an amazing “Italian Coffee” machine. Plus all the paraphernalia of sand buckets, shovels, and swimming accessories. From the photo you can tell it’s what we commonly call a Tin Shed or Galvanised Shed but internally in great condition and remarkably has never flooded.
In the 1990s it was still a newsagent but now Angela no longer sells newspapers but instead has made Wifi available and relates the news personally! This may also have something to do with her published Opening Times / Business Hours: “Open most days about 9 or 10am, occasionally as early as 8am and sometimes as late as 2 or 3pm. We close at 6 or 7pm but sometimes as late as midnight, rarely later. On somedays’ we’re not here at all but lately we’ve been here a lot, unless we’re not here. We aim to please ourselves. Welcome to Fountainstown timekeeping.”
Christmas 2017 – A view while on the road to learning
Another Crosshaven scene, this time taken at 5pm just before sunset on 11 November 2016 from the “Upper Road” in Crosshaven:
You’re looking across Cork Harbour in a north easterly direction and in the distance you can see Whitegate Oil Refinery and beyond that are the power stations at Whitegate and Aghada. On our left is the River Owenabue (Yellow River) and hidden on the right is the Point Road where Crosshaven boat yard is located and some stones from an early Norman Castle.
This view on the Upper Road would be known to all school children as it’s the road where the boys and girls primary schools and the ‘mixed’ secondary level school are located. A nice reason to walk to school every day or for parents to catch a tea/coffee after the drop off. The boys primary school is a converted Railway Station (where trains were discontinued to Crosshaven in 1932) and the girls school and secondary school have its origins from 1891 when the Presentation nuns arrived in Crosshaven. In Ireland there is a saying “for education go Presentation” (where traditionally it was the Presentation Brothers for boys and the Presentation Nuns for girls).
Christmas 2018 – Snow Drifts by the Sea
This picture was taken from the Old Rectory avenue looking eastwards on Wednesday 28 February 2018 at St, Matthew’s church & graveyard! We’re standing about 600m from the sea (due south is Atlantic Ocean). The first snow fell on Tuesday night, 27 February, leaving around 10 cm (4”) of snow on the ground.
On right of picture you can see the dark second weather front arriving from south-east which over the next 24 hours dropped another 10-15cm (4”-6”) of snow. The bays were only accessible by foot until Saturday 3rd March when the thaw set in, and water from the burst mains rushed down the road to the beach. Snow drifts in some fields were 60-90cm (2-3 feet) deep. The norm in this area is maybe one noticeable snowfall per decade which melts within hours of falling.
Christmas 2019 – Exit to the Outer Harbour
This picture was taken from Camden Fort Meagher looking south-eastwards on Sunday 25 August 2019 towards the outer harbour! On the left is Roches Point lighthouse and on the right is Graball Bay which as the name suggests in “earlier” times is where ships were tricked into shoreline and the cargos of stricken ships were “grabbed” by locals. The distance across the harbour entrance here is about 1200m (3/4 mile) with strong currents.
For those of you with good eyesight there is a Green Buoy as a channel marker to the left of boats on right beyond Graball. Near this is where the Titanic was anchored on the final stop of its maiden voyage (11 Apr 1912). Passengers were transferred from Cobh (then Queenstown) to the liner on board the tenders PS Ireland and PS America. On a happier note, in July 2020, the RCYC (Royal Cork Yacht Club) based in Crosshaven, the world’s oldest yacht club celebrating 300 years, will have yachts from across the globe racing in the inner and outer harbour.
Christmas 2014 – Even the goats knew about views
Another Crosshaven scene taken as the sun was going down around 4pm on 12th December 2014:
This picture was taken on a hill-walk at Knocknagore (anglicized from Cnoc na nGabhar meaning Hill of the Goats). You’re looking across at the ruin of St. Mathew’s Church (built 1778) in Templebreedy Graveyard, with Roche’s Point lighthouse (opened 1835) at the mouth of Cork harbour just visible on left of it. The water passage between these 2 landmarks is a mile wide and that you don’t see or imagine in this photo. The next headland out to sea on the far right is Powers Head.
For those of you that may have forgotten about technology advances, here is an interesting article from 1862 when they laid telegraph lines at Roche’s Point for communicating with London.
https://distantwriting.co.uk/electrictelegraphcompany.html Take not of costs and time savings!
Christmas 2013 – Lighthouse on storm days
This year is a picture of a stormy Winter afternoon in Cork outer harbour on 14 December 2013.
This picture was taken on Myrtleville Beach about 5 minutes before large breakers covered the sands up to the shore line (where I had been standing) – about a 6 meters rise in levels. We’re looking across at Roche’s Point Lighthouse (built 1835) on a late afternoon (dusk) during very stormy conditions. You can see the waves breaking on a well-known rock formation called “The Dutchman” which has sunk many a boat taking a short-cut racing back to Crosshaven. On 18th December Cork was hit by winds of 120km and a mini-tornado so it seems we’re definitely having a windy December this year!
Christmas 2012 – Moving at 4 knots on a sunny day
Here you see a July evening in Crosshaven.
This picture was taken near Camden Hill in Crosshaven (a Fort Camden exists since 1550s) looking up the River Owenabue (meaning river of the buoys). This scene shows just a small part of the Lower Road as you enter the village with the blue buildings on the right being part of the Royal Cork Yacht Club (1720) and the former Grand Hotel (1888) is the beautiful Victorian building opposite. The corn field in the background was once part of the old Hoddersfield Estates, where the Hodder family were famous silversmiths that arrived in Ireland in the late 1600s as new plantation owners (post Cromwellian wars and conquests). A beautiful day to be on the water.
Christmas 2011 – Know your location and geography
This chilly blue skies picture was taken in December of 2010 from the Point Road in Crosshaven and looks westward up the Owenabue River with Crosshaven’s “Lower Road” on your left and Currabinny (12 miles away by shortest road journey) on your right. This picture was taken at 3pm in the afternoon and as Crosshaven is north facing and at Latitude 51.801917° N (and Longitude 8.295317° W), you’ll find in December as the sun is low in the sky, you end up with very little sunshine on the northern side of hills! You can see the difference in light and shadows in Crosshaven compared to Currabinny (where Currabinny is on a south facing hill).
So what do you learn from this – you need a compass and map in a coastal town just as much as you do at sea when picking where you want to position a house or boat long-term!
Christmas 2010 – Chilly walk time
This “cold” picture was taken last January on a walk to Templebreedy Church (St. Matthews) & Graveyard - seen in the picture on top of the hill to right of fallen tree. This is a landmark for sailors as they approach Cork Harbour. There have been churches on the site since the 1300s but the ruin that is now standing on this site was built in 1778 and was used for about 90 years. The oldest of the visible headstones date from 1711.
Christmas 2009 – Good Night
This is a night view taken at the corner of the Boat Yard in Crosshaven (where in 1960s-80 built commercial fishing boats and yachts), looking across at the “Lower Road” in Crosshaven where you can see car headlights and house/shop/pub fronts. Above sea front buildings are the Middle Road and Upper Road where you can also see St. Brigid’s Church where evening and midnight mass is traditionally held on Christmas Eve where one will have the local choral choir singing.
You can see the light reflections in the Owenabue River but at low tide this particular area is a mudflats (or tidal flats) with the most amazing birdlife (Cormorant, Curlew, Dublin, Gannet, Greenshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Black headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Sanderling, ….).
Christmas 2008 – The view outside Buckleys
Standing outside Buckleys Bar in Crosshaven during the Traditional Sail weekend in June, there’s blue skies and the Owenabue River as it flows into Cork Harbour at ebb-tide with lots of action still in the background.
In the evenings as the boats arrive back most of the pubs will have lively Traditional Music sessions, sometime lasting beyond closing time.
Fitz Software provides an annual festive message with local photos and stories to a select special group of clients and contacts.
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