Great Island is an island in Cork Harbour, at the mouth of the River Lee in Ireland. The largest town on the island is Cobh, and the island's economic and social history has historically been linked to the naval, ship-building, and shipping activities in the town's environs. Located close to Cork city, as of the 21st century, a key economic driver is tourism – including the cruise tourism attracted by the Port of Cork berthing facilities on the island.
History
The ancient name of the island was Oilean Ard na Neimheadh, the "High island of Neimheadh". Neimheadh was, according to the 11th centuryLebor Gabála Érenn, the leader of a group who invaded the area in prehistoric times. Archaeological evidence of prehistoric and early medieval settlement on Great Island is recorded on the Record of Monuments and Places of the National Monuments Service. This includes records of ringfort, fulacht fiadh, holy well and bee bole structures. overlooks the narrowest crossing and only road bridge to the mainland By the early 13th century, the island was under the control of the Anglo-Norman Hodnett family. The Hodnetts built several structures, including Belvelly Castle, to defend the island and its approaches. The island and its defenses were taken by the de Barra family in the 14th century. The Barry family retained power in the area for several centuries, and the island became known as Oileán Mór an Barraigh, meaning "Great island of the Barrys". In the 18th and 19th centuries, due to the strategic importance of the island within Cork Harbour, several coastal defence fortifications were built on Great Island. These included the construction of Cove Fort in the 18th century and several Martello towers in the 19th century. The largest settlement on Great Island, Cobh, saw significant development during the 19th century and early 20th century, coinciding with additional expansion in shipping and naval activity in the area.
Location and access
Great Island is located in Cork Harbour on Ireland's south coast, and is made-up of the civil parishes of 'Clonmel' and 'Templerobin'. The island is connected by road bridge to Fota Island to the north – which, in turn, connects via a causeway to the mainland. This road bridge, Belvelly Bridge, was built in 1803 at one of the narrowest points in the channels around Great Island. At more than 200 years old, it is the only road bridge to the island. A railway bridge and rail line also runs out through Fota Island to Great Island. Railway stations on Great Island include Carrigaloe station and Rushbrooke station, and the terminus at Cobh. A ferry service also connects the island to the mainland. During regional windstorms in 2017, downed trees and high winds resulted in the closure of the only road bridge to Great Island, as well as the cancellation of ferry and rail services, leaving 12,000 residents "stranded". This led to some calls for a review of emergency access provisions and plans for the island.
Land use and economy
In the 19th century Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Great Island is described as "very fertile" with its "light productive soil" supporting agricultural uses with "two-thirds under tillage, and the remainder in pasture or included in demesnes". Lewis also describes the island's location, environment and climate as factors "induc many genteel families to settle here". As of the 21st century, land use on Great Island remains primarily agricultural and residential in nature, and the island has a population of between 12,000 and 14,000. While some of this population work on the island, as of the early 21st century, an increasing percentage of the island's residents fall within the commuter area for Cork city, and connect via road, Cork Commuter Rail and bus services to Cork. Residential developments are mainly concentrated around Cobh, with other populated townlands and settlements on the island including Ballymore, Ballynoe, and Belvelly. Prior to the 21st century, land use included industrial zones, such as the former Irish Fertilizer Industries plant at Marino Point, and the Verolme Cork Dockyard at Rushbrooke. The latter was involved in the construction of vessels for the Irish Naval Service, such as the LÉ Eithne. Many of these heavy industries have since closed, though some smaller boatbuilding companies are still based at Cobh. Tourism is now an economic driver on this island, and Great Island is the location of the only dedicated berth for visiting cruise ships in the Republic of Ireland.
Ecology
There are several proposed conservation sites and green areas on and around the island. These include Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve, Marlogue Wood, and the Great Island Channel Special Area of Conservation. The latter, the Great Island Special Area of Conservation, proposes conservation controls to protect the animal and bird habitats of the area's salt marshes. While larger fish species are less common in the Great Island Special Area of Conservation, a large blue shark was recorded just off the island in mid-2018.
