Bantry - People

People

  • Bantry is the birthplace of William Martin Murphy, formerly a wealthy Catholic businessman and MP at Westminster. He gained notoriety in Irish history in his opposition to Jim Larkin and James Connolly and their trade union, the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, during the Dublin Strike and Lockout in 1913. By 1913 he was chairman of the Dublin United Tramway Company and owner of Clery's department store and Imperial Hotel. He also controlled the Irish Independent newspaper which is still printed.
  • Bantry is also the birthplace of Tim Healy (1855–1931). He was a prominent and controversial Irish nationalist. Later he became a Home Rule MP in Westminster and led a faction of the party after it split in 1891. He became the first Governor-General of the Irish Free State.
  • Legendary 19th century lightweight boxing champion Jack McAuliffe is a notable sportsman born in Bantry.
  • Paris-based Irish-language poet Derry O'Sullivan has written several poems about his native Bantry. One of them, his elegy for a stillborn child, 'Marbhghin: Glaoch ar Liombo', was singled out by the Cambridge History of Irish Literature (2006) as "one of the most achingly beautiful Irish poems of the twentieth century."
  • Graham Canty, current Cork Football captain is from Bantry and plays for Bantry Blues along with rugby star, Colm O'Leary also hails from Bantry and is often seen sporting his signature dalmatian suit.
  • The musical duo Métisse were based in Bantry during the early part of their career.

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