Durrus
Durrus (Irish: Dúras)[2] is a village and civil parish in West Cork in Ireland. It is situated ten kilometres (6 mi) from Bantry in County Cork, at the head of the Sheep's Head and the Mizen Head peninsulas.
Durrus is on the Wild Atlantic Way driving route which spans the Irish coastline from the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork. A number of public gardens have been established in the area, including 'Kilvarock' and 'Cois Abhann'.
Durrus was known in mid-19th century as both Four Mile Water (after the nearby river) and Carrigboi (from Carraig Bhuí, the Irish for Yellow Rock). There are a number of variations and derivations given in the Irish language for the village's name, including Dubh Ros (black or dark headland) and Dúras (as used on local road signs).[3]
Evidence of prehistoric settlement in the area include a stone row at Moulinward and a stone circle at Dunbeacon (both dated to the Bronze Age c.2200 BC-600 BC).[4][5] There are also standing stones (gallauns) at Ballycomane, Kealties, and Parkana. The Coolcoulaghta Standing Stones stand in a field approximately three kilometres (2 mi) southwest of Durrus.
There are a number of Iron Age ringforts in the townlands of Ballycomane, Brahalish, Clonee, Drumtahaneen, Dunbeacon, Gortyalassa, Kealties, and Rushineska.[6]
The village is the location of Cool na Long castle, a fortified house built by the McCarthy (Muclagh) family in the 17th century.[7]
