Midleton

Midleton Mainistir na Corann
Town
Old Distillery with copper pot still, Midleton
Coat of arms
Motto: Labore et Honore
Midleton Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 51°54′58″N 8°10′30″W / 51.916°N 8.175°W / 51.916; -8.175Coordinates: 51°54′58″N 8°10′30″W / 51.916°N 8.175°W / 51.916; -8.175
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	Cork
Government
• Mayor	Niall O Neill
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population (2011)
• Town	12,001
• Urban	3,914
• Environs	6,114
Irish Grid Reference	W879736

Midleton (/ˈmɪdlˌtən/; Irish: Mainistir na Corann, meaning "Monastery at the Weir"), is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 16 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare. A satellite town of Cork City, Midleton is part of Metropolitan Cork. It is the central hub of business for the East Cork Area.

In the 1180s advancing Normans led by Barry Fitz Gerald established an abbey at a weir on the river to be populated by Cistercian Monks from Burgundy. The abbey became known as "Chore Abbey" and "Castrum Chor", taking its name from the Irish word cora (weir), although some say that "Chor" comes from "Choir" or "Choral". The abbey is commemorated in the Irish name for Midleton, Mainistir na Corann, or "Monastery at the Weir", and of the local river Owenacurra or Abhainn na Cora meaning "River of the Weirs". St John the Baptist's Church, belonging to the Church of Ireland was erected in 1825 and today still stands on the site of the abbey.

Captain Walter Raleigh (later Sir Walter) had an association with Midleton, living for periods in nearby Youghal between 1585 and 1602. His presence came about due to a distribution of land in reward for helping suppress the Second Desmond Rebellion of 1579–1583. As part of this suppression he was ordered to seize Barry's Castle at nearby Cahermore. The Desmond FitzGerald Seneschal, or steward of Imokilly, on being expelled from the castle, took refuge in the Abbey, but was again forced to flee by Raleigh.