Carrigaline (Irish: Carraig Uí Leighin, meaning 'rock of Ó Leighin') is a town and civil parish in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the River Owenabue. Located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Cork city, and with a population of 18,239 people,[1] it is one of the largest commuter towns in the county.[11] The R611 regional road passes through the town, and it is just off the N28 national primary route to Ringaskiddy. Carrigaline grew rapidly in the late 20th century, from a village of a few hundred people into a thriving commuter town[12][13] although some locals still refer to it as "the village".[14] The town is one of the key gateways to west Cork, especially for those who arrive by ferry from France. Carrigaline is within the Cork South-Central Dáil constituency.
Carrigaline Pottery, situated in Main Street, closed in 1979, but was subsequently re-opened and run as a co-operative for many years after that. Despite its small size, the village also had a small cinema, owned and run by the Cogan family.[15] Neither the pottery nor the cinema exist today. The Carrigdhoun Weekly newspaper is published in Carrigaline.
The town has four banks and a credit union. There is a long-established Supervalu supermarket, as well as Dunnes Stores, Lidl and Aldi stores. The four-star Carrigaline Court Hotel is located across from the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St John. In addition to retail shops, Main Street has a number of pubs and restaurants. A Dairygold Co-op Superstore is located on Kilmoney Road.
As of the 2016 census, Carrigaline had a population of 15,770.[9] Of this population, 83% were white Irish, less than 1% white Irish traveller, 11% other white ethnicities, 2% black, 1% Asian, 1% other, and less than 1% had not stated their ethnicity. In terms of religion the town is 81% Catholic, 8% other stated religion, 11% with no religion, and less than 1% no stated religion.[16] By the 2022 census, the population had grown to 18,239.[10]
Carrigaline's Roman Catholic church, the church of 'Our Lady and John', was built in 1957.[20] The local Baptist church was founded in 1987.[21] The Church of Ireland (Anglican) church, St Mary's church, dates to 1824.[22]
^Lee, JJ (1981). "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses". In Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A. (eds.). Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
^"Carrigaline". corkbeo.ie. Retrieved 11 August 2022. Carrigaline, located about 20 minutes outside the city, is one of the biggest commuter towns in Cork
^"Carrigaline Demographics". Census 2016 – Small Area Population Statistics. CSO. 2016. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
^"Carrigaline Twinning Association". carrigaline.ie. Carrigaline Community Association Limited. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
^"Clubs and Societies". carrigaline.ie. Carrigaline Community Association Limited. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
