Rocky Island (Irish: Oileán Cathail)[1] is located in Cork Harbour, Ireland. Situated between the naval base on Haulbowline Island and the mainland, a gunpowder magazine was constructed on the island by the Board of Ordnance in 1808.[2][3] Used for military storage into the 20th Century, the stores were re-purposed for use by Irish Steel until 2002. It was redeveloped between 2005 and 2007,[4] and is now home to the Island Crematorium, the first crematorium in the Republic of Ireland outside of Dublin.[5]
Native name: Oileán Cathail | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rocky Island | |
 Location of Rocky Island within Cork Harbour | |
  Rocky Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | County Cork, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 51°50′14″N 8°18′05″W / 51.83722°N 8.30139°W |
| Administration | |
| Province | Munster |
| County | Cork |
| Water body | Cork Harbour |
Two bridges connect Rocky Island with the mainland and with Haulbowline. The bridges carry the single lane L2545 roadway.[citation needed]
Island crematorium
editIn the early 19th century, the centre of the rocky landscape of the island was excavated and a matching pair of triple-vaulted magazines were constructed; the magazine compound was hidden behind a perimeter of natural rock and a rocky outcrop was retained between the two magazines, on which a watch tower was built. One of the two magazines remains, accessed by a tunnel through the rock; inside the compound there is a courtyard at either end, linked by pair of passageways which flank the main magazine.[6] Following its redevelopment as a crematorium, the central vault of the magazine serves as a 'spiritual space' for funeral services, the north vault contains the 'family and refreshment areas' and the south vault contains the 'staff areas' (including the cremator).[7]
Gallery
edit-
Entrance to the former magazine compound -
Tunnel leading from the entrance to the courtyard -
Courtyard and exterior of the magazine building -
'Spiritual space' inside the former magazine
References
edit- ^ "Placenames Commission Database entry - Oileán Cathail / Rocky Island". Irish Placenames Commission. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "Island Crematorium - History". IslandCrematorium.ie. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "The Island Crematorium, Rocky Island, County Cork". Buildings of Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "Projects - Conservation - Former Magazine, Rocky Island, Co. Cork". Jack Coughlan Associates. Architects and Conservation Consultants. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "Rocky Island, Cork Harbour". Cork City Library. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ The Island Crematorium: history
- ^ The Island Crematorium: videos & photos
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