Carrigaline, Ireland 5.47

Carrigaline is a commuter town in County Cork, Ireland. It is about 14 km south of Cork city which can be reached by car in 25 minutes (along the R611, which passes through the town, and then the N28 Ringaskiddy–Cork road). Carrigaline has grown rapidly in recent years, from a village of a few hundred people into a thriving town, although many locals still refer to it as "the village". The town is one of the key gateways to West Cork, especially for those who arrive by ferry from France.Carrigaline is also the name of the parish containing Carrigaline town.EconomyThe town had the world-famous Carrigaline Pottery, situated in Main Street, which closed in 1979, but was subsequently re-opened and run as a co-operative for many years after that. Unusually for an Irish village of its then size, it had a small cinema, owned and run by the Cogan family. Neither the pottery nor the cinema exist today. The Carrigdhoun Weekly newspaper is published in Carrigaline.The town has four banks and a credit union. There is a long-established Supervalu supermarket, as well as a Dunnes Stores and Lidl. The four-star Carrigaline Court Hotel is located across from the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St. John. Main Street has a selection of pubs and restaurants, as well as a variety of retail shops. A Dairygold Co-op Superstore is located on Kilmoney Road.