Ballybunion

Ballybunion or Ballybunnion[2] (Irish: Baile an Bhuinneánaigh) is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland, on the Wild Atlantic Way, 15 km (9.3 mi) from the town of Listowel.

Ballybunion

Baile an Bhuinneánaigh
Town
Ballybunion Castle and coastline
Ballybunion
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52.510°N 9.672°W / 52.510; -9.672
CountryIreland
ProvinceMunster
CountyCounty Kerry
Elevation
30 m (100 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
1,854
Irish Grid ReferenceQ862415
Websitewww.ballybunionbythesea.ie

According to the Central Statistics Office, Ballybunion had a population of 1,854 in 2016.

Tourism

Ballybunion has two main beaches, divided by the Castle Green. The Ladies Beach is to the right and the Men's Beach to the left – names given to the fact that both sexes swam on separate beaches on the orders of the local parish priest, who walked it daily ensuring the rule wasn't broken. Further to the left of the Men's beach lies the Long Strand, a 3.2 km stretch of sand, overlooked by the sand dunes of Ballybunion Golf Club.

In the summer, Ballybunion attracts tourists, and the beaches near Ballybunion are a common surfing site, with a dedicated surf school on the Men's Beach. Other traditions include seaweed baths, featuring sea water with serrated wrack. The town itself has a number of restaurants, pubs and cafes, and schools. There is also a statue commemorating the golfing visit of Bill Clinton. This was the first statue of Bill Clinton on public display in the world.

Sport
Ballybunion Golf Club

Golf

Ballybunion Golf Club was founded in 1893 and is home to arguably one of the best links courses in the world. There are 2 courses, the Old Course and the Cashen Course, both situated beside the beach. The club hosted the Murphy's Irish Open in 2000 and Palmer Cup in 2004.

Gaelic football

Stack Park is situated off Sandhill Road, and has an unofficial walk-in entrance off Central Park (mobile home part off Kit Ahern Road). This floodlight pitch provides training & matches for many divisions of players (incl under 8s, 10s, junior, and senior) as well as ladies football.

The Ballybunion team are called the Beale team, named for a small townland a couple of miles up the coast from Ballybunion. The Beale colours are green with a red stripe.

Health and leisure
Main street Ballybunion

Ballybunion Health & Leisure Centre opened in 2007 and is situated on Kit Ahern Road.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  2. Placenames Database of Ireland
  3. Health & Leisure Centre Archived 2008-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
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