Early Irish History and Antiquities and the History of West Cork
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This is now only a small village, but was formerly a Parliamentary Borough. The name would indicate some connection with Baal, Beal-ti-mor signifying the great house of Baal. In 1835 the Custom dues amounted to £2,059 18s. 6d.
On the 20th of June, 1631, two Algerian pirate vessels entered the harbour and carried off about one hundred of the English settlers to Algiers. The Earl of Cork wrote to the English Council some time later a letter stating that he feared they would make another attempt with much increased forces, and inflict more serious damages on the inhabitants of the whole coast; and in particular that they would cause the destruction of the pilchard fishery, which produced from £15,000 to £20,000 per year, the most of this money coming from the French and the Hollanders. It is a famous fishing centre, and a pier to facilitate the fisheries is being constructed at a cost of £10,000.