introduction

places	description
Bealick Mill	The old mill has been completely restored by FAS over the last couple of years. At the rear is a water wheel powered my a millstream. The River Larne flows alongside and is a good trout fishing spot. The mill is also being developed as a small business park.
The Castle	From the car park of O'Riadas at the top of Masseytown, the remains of the main keep of Macroom Castle can be seen. A castle has stood on this site since Norman times and in its heyday was comparable to The Tower of London. Unfortunately all that remains today is the rear wall of the keep, the castle gate entrance and ruins of some walls.
Castle Grounds	The Castle Demense is probably one of Macroom's best kept secrets. 100's of acres of wooded grounds, secluded riverside walks, panoramic views of the town and Sullane Valley. On a summer's day there is no better place to escape from the world for a few hours.
Bronze Bull	Cork Street Leaving Macroom on the left hand side is a life size cast bronze bull - showing Macrooms' heritage as a mart (cattle) town
Museum , Castle Street	The museum besides having many items of local historical value, has one of the finest collections of the West Cork hooded cloak. The rectory is part of the now closed Protestant Church.
Mart	Macroom has a weekly cattle mart on Tuesdays and sheep on Thursdays. Special sales are held on other days.
Weirs	A very popular place for locals during the summer. Above the weirs the river is ideal for swimming. A river walk extends from the weirs to the town bridge, easiest access to the weirs is down the lane beside McCarthy's Esso service station. There are 2 GAA football pitches below the weirs.
The Gearagh	Three miles from Macroom on the Road to Inchigeela, there is an area of alluvial forest which was formed in the basin of the Lee at the end of the Ice age. This is called the Gearagh, an old Irish name for a wooded river. It is the only extensive remains of Alluvial Forest found in western Europe. It was described by a 17th historian as " an immense plain covered with trees and divided by the River Lee into 1,000 islands". It is a unique place of streams, narrow channels and small islands. Here are found some very rare plant and insect specimens which have been investigated and recorded by famous naturalists and scientists since the 19th century. There are 100's of species of flowers, plants and ferns. During the autumn and winter months migratory birds arrive in vast numbers and flocks of wild duck, snipe, woodcock, curlew, lapwing and swans can be seen on the islands. With foxes, stoats and otters in abundance the area is a treasure trove of wildlife.