This constituency includes the following townlands: Bridgetown, Blossom Park, Dromada Beg Urban, Rathcallan Urban, Ladysbridge and Rathcallan Wood.

30 years ago or more this area had 15 homes. Blossom Park and Rathcallan Wood did not exist and in their place was a field on my family’s farm that we know as the bridge field. Half of the homes were also businesses. This included 2 pubs, 4 shops, a Post office and shop and a blacksmiths forge. Bridgetown had one home (Bob Lees), Ladysbridge had one home known to us then as Scullys, Dromada Beg Urban had 9 homes and Rathcallan Urban had 4 homes one of which had a Pub and the National School.

For the children growing up in the village and surrounding area the shops in this part of the village were known as Statia’s, Tilly’s , Woods (Aunty Mae’s to me as Mrs Woods was my grand-aunt), Lees and the Post office which was run by a man called Dick White. John Joe Cahill and his wife Maureen had the Thatch pub then and the O'Neills also had a pub. John Joe was a blacksmith and had his forge at the side of the Thatch just opposite Motherway’s on the Bohillane road.

Just behind the Thatch Pub was the School and that was in use until 1972 when it was closed and the Kilcredan School was opened amalgamating the 3 schools in the parish. The school had 2 teachers. The master, who had classes from 3rd to 6th class and the Mistress, who had the infants to 2nd class. At that time when preparing for Communion and Confirmation is was just a case of going across the road to the church. The master lived in the house beside the school. The school was built in 1891 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1991. Many of the former teachers and pupils gathered on that occasion for tea and to reminisce about times past. Besides the Master's house were two adjoined cottages. After that there were no other houses.

As the years passed an additional house was built in Bridgetown and 3 were built in Rathcallan Urban. In 1993 Blossom Park was built with the addition of 5 houses and in 2000 building started in Rathcallan Wood . When complete there were 32 houses in the estate.

So, big changes have happened over the years. The original Thatch pub burned down in the mid-nineties and was rebuilt. This is the existing pub in Ladysbridge. The 5 shops are gone but we have the garage and post office run by the O’ Flynn family who had a shop originally on the Ballymacoda road opposite the church car park. John Joe had retired but there is a DVD video on his work as a blacksmith. There are now 56 houses in this constituency. Some families have lived here all their lives, some grew up in this area, had moved away and have moved back and some are families new to this area.

By Rosemarie Motherway.

Councillors for this area: Margaret Motherway

The townland of Ightermurragh is nestled between Ladysbridge and Ballymacoda. The story of how Ightermurragh got its name is a very interesting one. In the early 17th century, the then Seneschal of Imokilly was dying and had no male heir. He gathered his three daughters and allowed them to choose which of his lands they wanted to inherit in order of seniority. The eldest daughter chose 'The Wheaten Inch', the area now known as Castlerichard and built her homestead there. The middle daughter requested and was granted the green hill - now known as Knockglass. The youngest then declared 'Agus an t-iochtar mo rogha' - the lower (land) is my choice - and from that time on Ightermurragh was named.

The youngest daughter was named Margaret Fitzgerald and her ambition was to build a castle far superior both in dimensions and comfort to that of her sisters. She married Edmund Supple and in 1641 they built Ightermurragh Castle near the southern bank of the river Womanagh. Although now a ruin, it is still an impressive sight standing four storeys tall with a cross-shaped plan. The main building runs east and west and measures 72 feet long by 32 feet wide. The walls are 5 feet thick and the castle originally was 5 stories in height. The castle had tall chimney stacks and mullioned windows and must have looked quite impressive. The main entrance is on the first storey. On the second storey, a lintel over the fireplace bears an inscription in Latin which includes their names and the date of construction. The castle had an amazing 12 fireplaces and 44 windows. They didn't have much opportunity to enjoy the comforts of their castle however, as it was captured soon after completion. The young couple had to flee with their baby daughter during the rebellion of 1641. When their daughter grew up, she married a Killeagh gentleman named Capel. In the time of Cromwell, the castle was confiscated and given to Boyle, in whose family it remained for generations.

Another area of note well worth a visit is the old graveyard in Ightermurragh. It was the site of an original Church of Ireland church but only a tiny section of a gable wall of this structure remains today. The grounds are very well kept. There is a Chest and a Table Tomb, along with iron-railing surround for several headstones. The Earl of Shannon buried three of his servants here and erected a headstone in their memory. On the external wall a plaque has been erected to commemorate Michael O'Brien of this townland, who was one of the Manchester Martyrs. There is also a monument to the Manchester Martyrs in the centre of the village in Ladysbridge. The graveyard has been painstakingly mapped by members of the Community Council historic committee. See http://historicgraves.com/graveyard/ightermurragh/co-igma for more information.

There is a vacancy for councillors for this area.
 

This constituency consists of 5 townlands , Kilcraheen, Ballyfleming , Gortcorcoran , Curraghlea and Gortavella.

The Population is 80 approx over 18's. A derelict building which was an old school still stands in the townland of Ballyfleming. This school was was active from 1842 to 1887 when Kilcredan old school opened. The building measured 38ft x 18 x 10. About 100 children were on the roll and the teacher's salary was £8 per year.

There is a vacancy for councillors for this area.

The townland of Kilcredan has a long history with education in the parish. It goes back to a hedge school being on a board of education file in 1826 and after that the old Kilcredan school was in place from the last decade of the 1800s up to 1972 when the present school was opened.
 
Kilcredan church and graveyard can be traced back to records of 1244. Historic Graves | The on-line graves and graveyards finder is a great website to get a lot of information on this and other graveyards in the parish.
 
Ballydaniel is another townland with a lot of links with local history, the most famous link being Fr. Peter O'Neill whose history goes back to the time of the United Irishmen. From Ballydaniel there are stunning views over Youghal bay.
 
BLCC councillors for this area are Denis McCarthy and Janice O'Leary.

This contituency contains the townlands of Curraheen, Shanakiel, Yellowford and Fanisk and has 34 houses.

The poet Pádraig Piaris Condúin was born in this area. He emigrated to America. He wrote poetry which appeared in national school books. His plaque can be seen on the wall of Ballymacoda Community Hall.

The River Womanagh, the longest river in East Cork, flows along the border of this constituency. It is a renowned river for trout fishing.

The house that is now occupied by Cormac Lynch was once a police R.I.C. barracks between 1850 and 1900.

The councillors for this area are Maary Kenefick and Mary Rohan.

Situated at the eastern end of the parish Aghavine townland (meaning arable land) is beside the Womanagh River which separates our parish from Youghal. The river runs into the sea at Ring point. The townland is roughly 500 acres of arable land but nearer the river marsh land. Currently there are 22 houses in Aghavine stretching from Bainin's cross at one end to the ScrathRook bend on the Killeagh road to the Crompaun Bridge crossing the Womanagh river on the Youghal road. The constituency ends at the stream on the Ballymacoda road after the O'Donoghue homestead. It has many Irish placenames such as Pairc Na Cruaithe, Rathard, Pairc Dhala. As with all townlands of the parish emigration over the years has played a part in everyone's life.Each house has seen someone emigrate since the 1800s.

Fr O Neill's Sportsfield complex was developed in 1984 but prior to this the sportsfield was a mile or so from where you see it now , also in Aghavine but nearer to the village of Ballymacoda and near where the McCarthys are living now. From a historical view Peter O Neill Crowley was born in Aghavine in what is now the home of the Rooney family. He fought in the uprising in 1867, was shot in Kilclooney Wood and is buried in Ballymacoda Churchyard.

Gortavadda (meaning long field) is a small townland between Aghavine and Ballydaniel. It has a little river or stream running through it and is a natural habitat for wild life. It consists of only a few houses and the land is the same as Aghavine both arable and marshland.

The councillors for this area are Andy Jackson and Ellen Jackson.
 

Constituency K is made up of the townlands of Knockadoon, Ballyskibole and Ring. It is bounded by the Ballymacoda Bay Special Protection Area to the North West and Capel Island and Knockadoon Head Nature Reserve to the East.

Other notable points of interest are the old signal tower in Knockadoon alongside the World War 2 lookout post and the old Coastguard station in Ring. The view East from Knockadoon is dominated largely by Capel Island. Originally a lighthouse was to be erected on the island but it was never finished as it was deemed that the lighthouses in Youghal and Ballycotton were sufficient. The building was capped off and the result is the magnificent tower we see there today.

Farming and fishing are the dominant forms of commercial activity in the constituency with other commercial endeavours including a caravan park, a horse training facility and also some Arts and Crafts activities.

Wildlife is mainly of the avian variety with a diverse range including Peregrines, Chough, Little Egrets, Oystercatchers, Cormorants, etc. Otters and Seals are some of the more unusual mammals in the parish.

There is a vacancy for councillors for this area.

Constituency Q is made up of the town lands of Bohillane, Gortstoke, Parknahyla, Glenagare East, Dromada Beg, Dromada Mor and Glenagare West.

Bohillane is an area which exhibits the remains of an ancient church and graveyard. The ruins of Bohillane Church are situated within the grounds of Bohillane Graveyard. The churchyard of Bohillane or Boughellane which is only about 50 feet square, lies on the top of a hill about five miles to the north-east of Cloyne.

The earliest inscribed headstones within the graveyard date back to 1704. The graveyard and the ancient remains which it encases are enclosed by a stonewall, erected in 1831 by the last rector of Bohillane, Rev. William Chatterton as is recorded upon a plaque placed near the entrance gate of the graveyard.

Councillors for this area are Mattie Kenneally and Sheila Hayes.

Constituency R is made up of the townslands of Garranassig, Rathcallan, and Part of Knockglass.
 
The current BLCC Councilor is Rosemarie Motherway.
 
Garranassig House was formerly a Landlords house by the name of Bartrum. One notable site in the area is Bohillane Churchyard which borders Garranassig and is worth a visit:
 
BOHILLANE CHURCHYARD - James Coleman in ‘Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland, Vol. VII, 1907-08.´ Transcribed by Anita Sheahan Coraluzzi -The little churchyard of Bohillane, or Boughellane, which is only about 50 feet square, lies on the top of a hill about five miles to the north-east of Cloyne, and possesses the rather unique character of being walled in by a stone wall. This wall was due to a Protestant clergyman, as shown by the tablet inserted in the pillar of the gateway leading into it on the roadside, there being an unused space intervening between the outer gateway and the churchyard proper. The inscription on the gateway is as follows:- ‘The Rev. William Chatterton has caused this churchyard of Boughlaune to be enclosed at his own expense July 1881.´ The walls of the old church here can still be traced, being about 33 feet long by 12 wide, and less than 2 feet high, and running from north to south. The graveyard is kept quite free from weeds. There are only two modern headstones, and not more than fourteen or fifteen in all. The following are the inscriptions on the older ones:-
 
BURKE - Erected by Patrick Burke of/ Ballybimikin in memory/ of his Father David Burke (remainder covered up)
COLBERT - Erected/ by William Colbert in Memory/ of his Father Patrick Colbert/ late of Ballybraher who dep/ this life 31 May 1815 aged 55 years/ his Sister Bridget died Dec 1833/ aged 30 years/ Also his Mother Bridget Colbert/ died 3 May 1835 aged 58 years. May they rest in peace Amen
DALY/GUIRY - Erected by/ John Daly/ in memory of his wife Johanna Guiry/ who depd this life Sept the 5th 1813 Aged 57 years. May she &c.
DONOVAN - Here/ lyeth the Body of/ William Donovan who departed this Life January the 18th 1772 Aged 55/ years Also his Wife/ Anne Fitzgerald who deceased the 8th of December 1791/ Aged 62 years
KINELEY - Here/ lyeth the body of/ William Kineley who died January the 7th, 1788/ Aged 27 years
LINAHAN - Here/ lies the Body of/ Edmund Linahan/ who deceased March 14th 1769/ Aged 58 years
MEHIGAN - Erected by David/ Mehigan in memory/ of his Father John Me/ higan who died the 28 of June 1794(? poss 1704) Aged/ 66 years/ May he &c.
O BRYAN - Erected/ By Jeremiah O´Bryan in Memory of his Father John O´Bryan who died the May/ 1788 Aged 77 years. His Mother Margaret (remainder covered up)