Brow Head
Ceann Bró
Etymology: Irish bró, "millstone"
Brow Head is located in Ireland
Brow Head
Brow Head
Coordinates: 51°26′52″N 9°46′20″W / 51.44778°N 9.77222°W / 51.44778; -9.77222
CountryIreland
CountyCork

Brow Head (Irish: Ceann Bró)[1] is the most southerly point of mainland Ireland. It is in the rural townland of Mallavoge near Crookhaven in County Cork, Ireland. It is 3.8 km east of Mizen Head at latitude 51.43ºN.[2]

History

Ptolemy's Geography (2nd century AD) described a point called Νοτιον (Notion, "southern promontory") which referred to Brow Head.[3] Evidence of ancient settlement on the headland includes a ringfort and possible promontory fort site in Mallavoge townland.[4]

Also located in the townland is a ruined three-storey signal tower, built in 1804 following an attempted French attempted invasion of Bantry, to defend against further potential incursions.[5][6]

Copper mining took place at Brow Head during the 19th century and evidence of mines and miners' houses remain.[7][8] The first copper ore was extracted here in 1852 and mining continued intermittently until c. 1906.[8]

The ruins of an early 20th century Marconi station are also on the headland.[5][9] The Brow Head station was raided and destroyed by a local detachment of the Irish Republican Army, during the Irish War of Independence in August 1920.[10][11][12]

In 2016, Brow Head was used as a filming location for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.[13][14]

References

  1. ^ "Ceann Bró/Brow Head". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Ireland - Geographical facts and figures". Wesleyjohnson.com. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
  3. ^ "Ireland" (PDF). Romaneranames.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  4. ^ Archaeological Survey of Ireland, CO152-012---- [..] Promontory fort - coastal [..] CO152-013---- [..] Ringfort - cashel [..] Townland: Mallavoge
  5. ^ a b "Browhead Signal Station, Mallavoge, Cork". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Brow Head Signal Tower". castles.nl. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  7. ^ "The Mizen Peninsula - Brow Head". Cork Guide. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
  8. ^ a b "Brow Head" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Marconi nurtured his Irish connection". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 9 February 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Cork". Cork Examiner. 24 August 1920. In the early hours of Saturday morning the Signal Station at the Brow Head was raided by masked and armed men
  11. ^ "Irish Disorder". The Observer. 28 August 1920 – via trove.nla.gov.au. An armed force of Sinn Feiners surprised a coastguard at Brow Head, County Cork, and removed a large quantity of stores
  12. ^ Lloyd's Calendar. Lloyd's of London Press. 1924. p. 64. Brow Head Signal Station destroyed by fire and bombs (Aug. 31)
  13. ^ "Entrepreneurial Force is strong in West Cork as Star Wars fever takes over". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  14. ^ "The stars head West as secret of Crookhaven is now 'outed'". southernstar.ie. Southern Star. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2023.

External links

Atlantic from Brow Head
Peninsulas of Ireland
Places in County Cork
Category