[5] The old Irish name for the east side of the village was Cros tSeáin or "John's Cross", from which the English name derives.

[2][5] Crosshaven was originally a Viking settlement, part of what was known as the 'Ostman's Tancred', after Cork city became a fortified English stronghold.

[7] There is no evidence for this story,[8] which is first recorded in 1750 by Charles Smith,[9] who places it in 1589 after the Spanish Armada;[10] Julian Corbett in 1890 said it could only have happened in during the 1573–75 campaign of the 1st Earl of Essex.

[14] Originally a fishing village,[3] in the late 19th and into the 20th century, tourism became important to the town,[4] which has 5 beaches within a 2-mile radius.

[citation needed] In the 1970s and 1980s, environmental concerns came to the fore as a large industrial estate was built across the river in Ringaskiddy.

[citation needed] The town is situated on the R612 regional road, and served by a single bus from Cork city centre via Carrigaline.

[25] Notable residents have included the father of Bob Geldof, who was manager of the local Grand Hotel for a time,[26] and Chelsea FC's all-time 2nd greatest scorer, Bobby Tambling.