BANDON

bandon, or bandonbridge, a market-town of county cork, ireland, in the south-east parliamentary division, picturesquely situated in a broad open valley on both sides of the river bandon. pop. (1901) 2830. it is 20 m. s.w. of the city of cork by the cork, bandon & south coast railway. it is an important agricultural centre and there are distilleries, breweries and flour-mills. the open park of castle bernard (earl of bandon), on the riverside, is attractive, and 2 m. below bandon on the river is innishannon, the head of navigation. bandon was founded early in the 17th century by richard boyle, earl of cork, and was incorporated by james i. it returned two members to the irish parliament and thereafter one to the imperial parliament until 1885. after the destruction of the walls by the irish in 1689, bandon long resisted the admission of catholic inhabitants.