Bandon, or BANDONBRIDGE

Bandon, or BANDONBRIDGE, a town of County Cork, Ireland, on the Bandon, 20 miles SW. of Cork by rail. Bandon was founded in 1608 as a Protestant colony by the first Earl of Cork, was incorporated by James I., and now belongs chiefly to the Duke of Devonshire. Brewing, distilling, and tanning are the chief industries. The pop., which was 6131 in 1871, had diminished to 3488 in 1891. Up till 1885 Bandon returned one member to the House of Commons.—The river Bandon rises in the Carberry Mountains, and at its mouth forms the harbour of Kinsale. Spenser describes it as 'the pleasant Bandon, crowned by many a wood.' It has a course of 40 miles, for 15 of which it is navigable to Innishannon, 4 miles below Bandon.