Newcestown
Baile Nua

The West Cork
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Baile Nua · Co. Cork

The West Cork farming village where the bassist of "Purple Haze" spent his final decades. His grave is visited by Hendrix fans who come out of nowhere.

Newcestown is a small agricultural village between Bandon and Dunmanway — the kind of place where you arrive without planning to. Stone walls, bog country, the road narrower than it ought to be. There's a church, some scattered houses, a pub. Nothing special. Except—

Noël Redding moved here in 1972. Bass player for the Jimi Hendrix Experience — the man who played on "Purple Haze," "Foxy Lady," "Are You Experienced." He left London, left the music industry, left the noise. Came to rural Cork and stayed for thirty-one years. Joined the farming community, played gigs in local pubs when the mood took him, lived quiet.

He's buried in Newcestown churchyard now, since 2003. Over the years, Hendrix fans found the grave — pilgrims from places he'd never been, coming to a West Cork churchyard to stand at a bass player's stone. The visits happen. The fans come. The village knows what happened here, even if the village never asked for it.

Population

~400

Coords

51.7919° N, 8.8050° W

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Stories & lore.

The reason to come back. The things every local will eventually tell you about, usually after the second pint.

The Hendrix bassist in a farming village

Noël Redding — from Purple Haze to West Cork

Noël Redding was the bassist in the Jimi Hendrix Experience — the band that changed rock music, 1966 to 1969. He played on the album that defined an era, then walked away. Moved to Cork in 1972 at age thirty-two. Married, farmed, played pub gigs, lived like a man who'd had enough of fame. He died in 2003, buried in Newcestown churchyard. Every year, Hendrix fans find their way to a small Irish village to stand at his grave. The irony would have amused him.

Getting there.

By car

Between Bandon (10km east) and Dunmanway (10km west). Take the N71 south from Cork to Bandon, then the smaller roads west. The village isn't signed. You'll know it when the road gets too narrow.

By bus

Bus Éireann runs to Bandon and Dunmanway, but Newcestown itself isn't a stop. Taxi or rental car from either town.

By train

No train. Nearest is Bandon or Cork Kent. Plan on a car.

By air

Cork Airport is 50km. Dublin is 250km.