Fermoy is a thriving commercial town with a population almost 6,000, situated on the River Blackwater, about 30 km north of Cork City, to which it is connected by the newly constructed M8 motorway.

The Irish name of the town, Mainistir Fhear Maí, meaning Monastery of the Welcome Plain, refers to a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century and a ford on the Blackwater, around which the town grew up.

Tradition has it that the first Military force, Militia, to come to Fermoy did so from the South in the year 1797 and camped and watered their horses at a stream on the South side of the town. The place where this occurred is believed to be the stream at Fant's Cross at Strawhall.

This was the beginning of Fermoy as a Garrison town. You can find out more about Fermoy's history on Paudie McGrath's very comprehensive website dedicated to the town.