Ballybunion
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Infobox settlement Ballybunion or Ballybunnion (Template:Irish place name)<ref name="logainm">Template:Cite web</ref> is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland, on the Wild Atlantic Way, Template:Convert from the town of Listowel. As of the 2022 census, Ballybunion had a population of 1,618.<ref name="census2022"/>
Name
The Placenames Database of Ireland associates the town's Irish language name, Template:Lang or the 'town(land) of An Buinneánach', with the Anglo-Norman surname "Bunyan".<ref name="logainm"/> The Bunyan (Bonzon) family were historically associated with Ballybunion Castle.<ref name="history">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes promontory fort and ring fort sites in the townlands of Ballybunion and Doon West.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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Ballybunion Castle was built in the early 16th century, on the site of an earlier promontory fort, by the (Geraldine) Fitzmaurice family.<ref name="mega">Template:Cite web</ref> It was destroyed by Lord Kerry in 1582. The castle was associated with the Bunyan family until the late 16th century, when William Óg Bunyan's lands were confiscated following the Desmond Rebellion.<ref name="history"/> The castle has been a protected national monument since the 1920s.<ref name="mega"/> A number of buildings within the town itself date to the 19th century, with the former Church of Ireland church (now a public library) and the Roman Catholic church dating to 1879 and 1897 respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tourism
Ballybunion has two main beaches, divided by the ruins of Ballybunion Castle on the cliff top overlooking the sandy beaches. The Ladies Beach is to the right and the Men's Beach to the left – names arising from the fact that both sexes previously swam on separate beaches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Further to the left of the Men's Beach lies the Long Strand, a 3.2 km stretch of sand, overlooked by the sand dunes of Ballybunion Golf Club.
In the summer, Ballybunion attracts tourists, and the beaches near Ballybunion are a common surfing site, with a dedicated surf school on the Men's Beach. Other traditions include seaweed baths, featuring sea water with serrated wrack. The town itself has a number of restaurants, pubs and cafes, and schools.
Sport
Golf
Ballybunion Golf Club was founded in 1893 and was previously ranked at number seven in Golf DigestTemplate:'s "100 Best Courses Outside the USA".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There are 2 courses, the Old Course and the Cashen Course, both situated beside the beach. The club hosted the Murphy's Irish Open in 2000 and the Palmer Cup in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Located on Sandhill Road, the club has the largest, most formidable sand dunes in Ireland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Notable holes on the Old Course include the par-3 7th hole known as “Watson’s,” named after Tom Watson, who famously played the course during the 1981 Irish Open. Other notable professional golfers who have played the Old Course include Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Ian Baker-Finch. There have been other notable guests that have played there including in 2001 the late astronaut Neil Armstrong.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A statue in the town commemorates a golfing visit, in 1998, by then US President Bill Clinton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gaelic football
The local Gaelic football team, Beale GAA club, is named for a small townland a couple of miles up the coast from Ballybunion. Founded in 1972, the club's colours are green and red.<ref name="ballybunionIE">Template:Cite web</ref> It fields teams in competitions organised by the North Kerry Football Board.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The club's grounds, at Stack Park, are situated off Sandhill Road.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This floodlight pitch provides training and matches for several divisions of players (incl under 8s, 10s, junior, and senior) as well as ladies football.Template:Citation needed
Health and leisure
Ballybunion Health & Leisure Centre opened in 2007 and is situated on Kit Ahern Road.<ref>Health & Leisure Centre Template:Webarchive</ref>
Notable people
- Patrick Joseph James Keane (1872–1928), Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento in California<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Denis "Ogie" Moran (b. 1956), Gaelic footballer
- Eoin Liston (b. 1957), Gaelic footballer
- Richard Wall (b.Template:Birth based on age as of date) film and TV actor<ref name="kerryman2007">Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
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Ladies and Mens Beach
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Main street
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Ballybunion Golf Club
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Bill Clinton Statue
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