Cromane
Village in Munster, Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cromane (Irish: An Cromán)[2] is a village located in County Kerry, Ireland. The village's Irish name, An Cromán meaning "hip bone",[3] derives from the shape of the peninsula, which resembles a hip when seen on a map. Cromane is 9 km (6 mi) west of Killorglin town and a similar distance to Glenbeigh when travelling south-west. As of the 2022 census, the village of Cromane had a population of 206 people,[1] up from 116 as of the 2016 census.[4]
Location
Cromane is located in the centre of County Kerry with views of the Dingle Peninsula to the north and the Iveragh Peninsula westwards.[citation needed]
Cromane is one of the few locations in the county where there is a 360-degree view of the Brandon Mountain Range, the Sliabh Mis Mountains and MacGillycuddy's Reeks, home to Ireland's highest mountain Corrán Tuathail.[citation needed]
History
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of midden, ringfort and standing stone sites in the townlands of Cromane Upper and Cromane Lower.[5][6]
Lios na Gaoithe, meaning "fort of the wind", is a placename preserved in local folklore near Cromane and is associated with an ancient ringfort and a reported standing stone.[7] The Irish Folklore Commission's "School's Collection" records a number of stories associated with the ringfort.[8]
In the early 19th century, a 10-tonne piece of Spanish marble, which was destined for use in the nearby church in Killorglin, fell into the waters a short distance from Cromane strand.[9] The marble slab has been "a local landmark since 1840".[9]
Economy
While Cromane was traditionally a salmon fishing village, since the mid-20th century, the area has become a centre for aquaculture. Ireland's largest natural mussel beds are located in nearby Castlemaine Harbour, and mussel cultivation is undertaken in the area.[10] Cromane has also become a base for growing oysters.[10][11]
Jack's Coastguard Restaurant is located in Cromane's former Coastguard Station. The building, which overlooks Castlemaine Harbour, was built in 1866 and was turned into a public house in 1961.[citation needed]
Sport
Gaelic football
Cromane GAA club, known as Réalt na Mara (a name shared by the village's church and primary school), has won a number of Kerry Novice Gaelic football titles.[12] Two Cromane GAA players, Donnchadh Walsh and Sean O'Sullivan, have won senior All-Ireland Championship medals with Kerry.[citation needed]
The Ladies' Gaelic football in Cromane, Cromane Ladies GFC, won the 2025 Munster Junior Ladies Football Club Championship title,[13] and went on to reach the 2025 All-Ireland Junior club final (losing by one point to of Kilkenny).[14]
Rowing
Cromane has a rowing club, in operation since 1956, that is part of the Kerry Coastal Rowing Association and the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation.[citation needed] Among the races in which the club competes is the traditional Seine boat race.[15] This race featuring crews of 12 oarsmen (two men to an oar) with a cox guiding them. The history of the Seine boat was one of fishing, specifically for mackerel, and fishermen used a seine-net.[16] Seine boat racing is unique to South Kerry and the Cromane crew traditionally competes against teams from other villages in the surrounding area.[citation needed] Each summer, Cromane hosts an annual regatta that features races for all ages from under-12s up to the adult Seine boat competition.[citation needed]
Notable people
- John McCarthy, American computer scientist and cognitive scientist. His father came from Cromane.[17]
- Sean O'Sullivan, won four All-Ireland medals with the Kerry senior football team.[citation needed]
- Donnchadh Walsh, won three All-Ireland medals with the Kerry senior football team.[citation needed]
