Múscraí (Muskerry) (Gaeltacht Mhúscraí)

The Cork Gaeltacht in the hills of Muskerry, a Munster-Irish community with a rich song tradition.

Gaeltacht Mhúscraí (the Muskerry Gaeltacht) lies in the hills of west County Cork, around villages such as Baile Mhúirne (Ballyvourney), Cúil Aodha and Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh. It is one of the main Munster-Irish Gaeltachtaí.

The area has a strong tradition of poetry, song and music. The composer Seán Ó Riada, who did much to revive Irish traditional music, made his home in Cúil Aodha and founded a famous male-voice choir there.

At a glance

• The Cork Gaeltacht, in the hills of Muskerry (Múscraí).
• Centred on Baile Mhúirne, Cúil Aodha and Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh.
• A Munster-Irish community with a rich song tradition.
• Home of the composer Seán Ó Riada and his Cúil Aodha choir.

In County Cork

Múscraí (Muskerry) is in County Cork, Corcaigh in Irish, which means “marsh”.

More in Cork

• Blarney Castle (Caisleán na Blarnan): A medieval stronghold famous for the Blarney Stone and the 'gift of the gab'.
• The River Lee (An Laoi): The river that splits to cradle Cork city on an island.
• Mizen Head (Carn Uí Néid): Ireland's most south-westerly point, reached by a spectacular arched bridge.
• Gougane Barra (Guagán Barra): A serene mountain lake and island oratory, source of the River Lee.

Other places of this kind

• Connemara Gaeltacht (Conamara): The largest and best-known Irish-speaking region, a wild landscape of bog, mountain and Atlantic coastline.
• Gweedore Gaeltacht (Gaoth Dobhair): The largest Gaeltacht parish in Ireland, in northwest Donegal, and a stronghold of Ulster Irish and traditional music.
• Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle Peninsula) (Corca Dhuibhne): The Dingle Peninsula Gaeltacht, a Munster-Irish heartland rich in early Christian sites and Ogham stones.
• An Rinn (Ring) (An Rinn): A small but proud Gaeltacht on the southeast coast, and the main surviving Irish-speaking community in the region.
• Ráth Chairn (Ráth Chairn): Ireland's youngest Gaeltacht, created in 1935 when Irish-speaking families were resettled from Connemara.

The Irish name

The Irish form of Múscraí (Muskerry) is Gaeltacht Mhúscraí. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.