Glenbeigh
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Glenbeigh Gleann Beithe
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| Parish | |
 Glenbeigh
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| Coordinates: 52°03′29″N 9°56′16″W / 52.058056°N 9.937778°WCoordinates: 52°03′29″N 9°56′16″W / 52.058056°N 9.937778°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Kerry |
| Elevation | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 1,013 |
| Website | www |
Glenbeigh or Glanbehy (Irish: Gleann Beithe) is a location in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The area is on the Iveragh peninsula, which is the largest peninsula in southwestern Ireland. The parish and is home to Rossbeigh Beach, Glenbeigh Towers, Coomasahran Lake, Rock Art, the Natterjack Toad and Kerry Bog Pony. Owing to its natural heritage, history and its location on the Ring of Kerry, Glenbeigh is a popular tourist destination.
Glenbeigh is often referred to as "The Jewel in the Ring of Kerry". It is cosily tucked in to the surrounding horseshoe of hills and Seefin Mountains. The Caragh River and the Behy River flow at either side of the village into Castlemaine Harbour.
The Irish name Gleann Beithe is from gleann "glen, valley" and Beithe, related to the Behy River (Irish An Bheithe) and the birch tree (beith). The anglicisation "Glanbehy" is the official spelling for the civil parish, whereas Glenbeigh is the spelling for the village where the N70 road meets the Behy River.
Many Fianna legends centre around Glenbeigh where Diarmuid and Grainne spent some days hiding in a cave in the valley of the Behy, where Diarmuid achieved such exploits against his pursuers. Rossbeigh is known for where Oisin and Niamh took to the sea on their white horse to live in the land of youth - Tir na nOg.
Near the village is the ruin of "Wynne's Folly", a castle mansion built by Lord Headley Wynne in 1867. The terrible tragedies which befell the population of the Wynn Estate in the parish of Glenbeigh, in the 1880s is still talked about in the Glenbeigh area. The barbarity and brutality of Mr Roe, the agent for Lord Wynne, during the evictions were said to be far in excess of the worst actions of his master. Even Gladstones Land Act of 1881 which in effect said that tenants should no longer be removed at will, did little for the residents of the Wynn Estate, as during the years of 1882 and 1883 there were numerous evictions because the tenants were just not able to afford the increased rent, by a massive 50% in most cases, to pay for the construction of the castle. Not very long after this the affairs of Wynn drifted into insolvency and he made his exit from the Glenbeigh scene.While World War I was in progress the Castle and grounds were let to the British Military Command and used as a training centre for reservists. In 1921 Republican forces burned the castle to the ground and it was never rebuilt.
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Wikipedia