Education The National Maritime College of Ireland is in Ringaskiddy. This college provides the only training in Ireland of Merchant Navy personnel. The Irish Naval Service also carry out their non-military training in the College.

Military Haulbowline island is connected to Ringaskiddy via a series of two bridges which meet on the intermediate Rocky Island. The postal town for Haulbowline is Cobh, and not Ringaskiddy. This is because the bridges were only constructed in 1967, and prior to that the island had more of a connection with Cobh which is a larger town and closer as the crow flies  Haulbowline is home to the Irish Naval Service. Sections of the former railway line from Cork to Carrigaline and have been converted to a walking and cycling route. Many sections, such as the rock that through Passage West are segregated from road traffic and the amenity is well used. 

History Ringaskiddy village was once right next to the sea, and was a scenic area. A land reclamation project which was necessary for the development of the ferry port meant that the village found itself inland. History (as described in Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837) "... Coolmore, the residence of W. H. Worth Newenham, Esq., [is] situated in a beautiful demesne of 545 acres, with a lofty square tower a little to the east of the house, which commands a magnificent prospect of the town and harbour of Cove, and the rich scenery of the river..."

Tourism While Ringaskiddy itself is not a tourist attraction when a ferry berths the number of foreign registered cars can make it appear like Kinsale, or any other tourist town. As the crow flies the village is near to Spike Island, the former location of Fort Westmoreland (UK)/Fort Mitchel (IE) latterly used as a Prison. It is hoped that this will become a tourist attraction a la Alcatraz, CA, US. However boat trips there would likely be run from Cobh, which has the Titanic footfall and Rail link to Cork City.

Images of Ringaskiddy

Satellite image of Cork harbour today showing the location of Ringaskiddy (© 2006 TerraMetrics, edited by Ringaskiddy.org).

Map of Ringaskiddy circa 1921. At the time the village was right on the coast. Today it is inland due to land reclamation for the ferry terminal.

The area now under grass used to be shoreline (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

The reclamation allowed the creation of a wide main street (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

Ringaskiddy Ferry Terminal. (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

Cobh can be seen looking North across the harbour. (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

The only shop in the village. As the sign hints it used to be a post office also (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

Sam's Bar (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

The Middle House Pub (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

The Ferry Boat Inn (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

This quiet hill could be mistaken for Kinsale... (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

...but its the high voltage power lines, on another hill a few hundred metres to the West remind us it is in Ringaskiddy (© 2007 Ringaskiddy.org).

Coolmore House, faces Drake's Pool (© 2006 Ringaskiddy.org).

Lougbeg Beach, to the south of Ringaskiddy village. Crosshaven can be seen in the centre background, Currabinny Wood can be seen in the right background, and a pharmaceutical facility can be seen in the far right background.(© 2006 Ringaskiddy.org).

Lougbeg Beach, to the south of Ringaskiddy village. An oystercatcher can be seen in the centre(© 2006 Ringaskiddy.org).

Loughbeg Bird Reserve, which is inland from Loughbeg Beach. A Heron can be seen in the centre (© 2006 Ringaskiddy.org).

County Cork (Contae Chorcaí in Irish) is the most southwesterly and the largest of the modern counties of Ireland. The county is often referred to as the "Rebel County" because it has often taken a position in major conflicts different to that of most of Ireland. The county's tourist attractions include the Blarney Stone and Cobh (formerly Queenstown) which was the Titanic's last port of call. The remote west of the county, known as West Cork, is a popular destination for tourists, who visit the small villages and islands including Sherkin, Clear, and Dursey and on the mainland Mizen Head which is the "southwesternmost point in Ireland".