THE FLAX & FLOUR MILLING INDUSTRY
Carrigaline once boasted a Flax mill which was unusual to the south as the linen industry tended to be predominantly in the north of the country. It lasted only short time and closed in the early 20’s due to lack of demand after the war. The building was then turned into the Crystal Ballroom and in more recent years the funeral home replaced it.
As mentioned earlier, the land around Carrigaline was rich with the resulting development of the Milling industry and associated agricultural enterprises. The milling industry had it’s ups and downs over the centuries- the Roberts family being much involved.- the remains of the lower mill still remains next to the main street , The upper Mill was located near Beaver Lodge next to the pottery site. The remains of the weir and sluice gates are at Ballea Bridge. The Cantillon family ran a successful Bakery in the main street until the eighties.
Ballea Bridge
The Carrigaline Mills
Remains of the Flour Mill behind Robert’s Shop still there, privately owned, and a reminder of Carrigaline’s once thriving Milling Industry. Much of this building has now been made into apartments and retail units.
 The Flour Mills c1880
Carrigaline was a thriving market town since the last century and the venue for one of the biggest Animal fairs in the country attracting buyers from far and wide. With the creamery being placed in the centre of the village until 20 years ago. A local co- operative has taken it’s place.
Within the village the thriving Pottery was to become the major employer employing over 200 people at its peak. Also, the bakery and creamery created great employment. This agricultural and industrial wealth enabled a community of approx. 800 to remain in the locality.
Demise of the Flax Industry
The flax industry continued for a few years in the early twenties again which was slightly unique as the Flax and Linen industry was concentrated mostly in Northern Ireland. It closed after a few years and the premises situated near Forde’s Funeral Home became a Dance Hall run by one of the colourful characters of Cork, the late Jown W. Reidy. He was an independent member of Cork Corporation with the witty slogan of “The needy need Reidy and Reidy needs your votes”. At the time of elections when Dev and other parties would have massed pipe bands, John W decided to have dance bands which drew massive crowds but not a great number of votes. Advertisements would appear on the evening echo against a background of Palm trees indicating Carrigaline as one of the most romantic places on earth. What the locals thought was another thing but the great character died young and the ballroom was bought as a Parish halland it served as such for many years. However it fell into need of repair and also new fire regulations and in 1980 it was decided to build a new Community hall on a vacant site on the Church Road. It was funded by local efforet and grants under the youth employment scheme and opened by President Hillery in 1986. The old Church of Ireland school situated the site of the permanent TSB bank also served as a Community hall for many years and the Community Association held many of their origianl meetings there.
 Shandon Bells, Cork
-Trade between Carrigaline and it's major city Cork has always been busy.
This section is under revision during this month. The extract from Sean O'Mahony's book 'The History and Folklore of Carrigaline' is not available at present due to copyright restrictions. Please come back next month to check for updated material
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