Glenbower Wood is situated in the village of Killeagh,
in East Cork, Ireland.

Glenbower gets it's name of "gleann-bodhar" or "Deafening Glen" from the noise the Dissour makes when rushing headlong in winter through the valley. This glen and the surrounding area was known locally as the "Maiden Estate", to distinguish it from the other forfeited properties. It remained in the same family since 1172, when, it is claimed, it was granted to Phillip de Cappell, lineal ancestor of Sir Arthur de Cappell Brooke, who in the 1830's built the present road and bridges through the wood. At this time a contemporary writer stated that the sides of Glenbower were richly wooded, and that it was one of the few remnants of the ancient forest which once covered the country. It's steep slopes being inaccessible and useless for agriculture, it escaped both the axeman and intensive grazing over the centuries when the Irish countryside was generally denuded of it's timber. The wood was acquired by the then Forest and Wildlife Service (now Coillte) in 1933 and many stands of coniferous trees were planted in the following decades. In recent years much of this timber has been felled and a replanting programme is ongoing. Flowing through Glenbower is the Dissour River which gets it's name from the Gaelic "Dis" and "Ur" or "Twice Wetted", from the belief that in producing linen long ago, one wetting of the flax in the waters of the stream was as good as two wettings in other water.

Glenbower Wood Lake Ltd.

Like many other towns and villages Killeagh has its own development groups, but unlike the other villages the work of the Glenbower Wood and Lake Ltd., in recent years has been outstanding. Working as a totally voluntary group they have raised sufficient funds locally to purchase the site of the lake and a large amount of the mature woodland and have developed the area as a natural parkland. They also raised sufficient capital to have engineering surveys conducted of the lake site and have received estimates for the rebuilding of the dam. It should be noted that these surveys included a flood study for the project. Along with this they have started to research the developing of the old mill site with the intention of providing a heritage area including the renewal of the old mill wheel.

The restoration of the lake is seen as a symbol of determination to the people of Killeagh to preserve their heritage, and with this in mind a good liaison with them will ensure a successful future for this development. With this in mind the group are quite prepared to enter into a long term lease with the Regional Fishery Board / Central Fishery Board. It is anticipated that a construction with modern materials and modern methods could provide amenities for centuries long after the area is developed.