Ballymote
Ballymote
Baile an Mhóta | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Ballymote Castle | |
  Ballymote Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 54°05′23″N 8°31′00″W / 54.0896°N 8.5167°WCoordinates: 54°05′23″N 8°31′00″W / 54.0896°N 8.5167°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Sligo |
| Elevation | 69 m (226 ft) |
| Population (2016)[2] | 1,549 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Eircode routing key | F56 |
| Telephone area code | +353(0)71 |
| Irish Grid Reference | G662150 |
Ballymote (Irish: Baile an Mhóta, meaning 'town of the motte/mound') is a market town in southern County Sligo in the province of Connacht, in the north-west of Ireland. It lies in the barony of Corran.
The Norman Ballymote Castle dates from the 1300s and the Book of Ballymote was written in or near the town in the 1390s.
Demography[]
In 1900 Ballymote had a population of 1,145,[3] compared to 1,549 in 2016.[2]
Economy[]
In addition to shops and other services, there are factories just outside Ballymote at Ballybrennan, and a small business park at Carrownanty on the R296 Road to Tobercurry.[4][5] There is a livestock mart and a microbrewery.[6][7] The wider area is mainly agricultural,[8] with many people commuting to Carrick on Shannon and Sligo town for work.[9]
Sport[]
A number of sports are played in the town, including Gaelic football and athletics at Corran Park and soccer at Brother Walfrid Memorial Park. The town had had a nine-hole golf course on the outskirts of the town since 1943 (though some claim 1930s), which relocated c. 1993. and which closed in 2019 as financially unviable with dwindling membership.[10][11]
Heritage and culture[]
The Ballymote Heritage Group was founded on 30 May 1984. At the bank holiday at the beginning of August they organise a heritage weekend with a variety of events and an annual publication, The Corran Herald.[12][13]
The Irish Raptor Research Centre near Templehouse Lough was originally set up for research purposes but since 2003 demonstrates the fun and educational Eagles Flying Show as well.[14]
A children's playground has been created at Town Park. A miniature railway has been in operation there on some summer weekends.[15]
Landmarks[]
Buildings[]
It is a historic town, with Ballymote Castle, the last and the mightiest of the Norman castles in Connacht.[16] This castle, dating from 1300, was built by Richard de Burgh. It also has a Market House, a three-bay, two-story building formerly used by the South Sligo Adult Community Mental Health team of the Health Service Executive.
There has been a library in the town since 1949. Originally run from the Loftus Hall it was relocated to the former courthouse in 1984 before moving in 2011 to its current location on Teeling Street.[17]
September 11 memorial[]
The then Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, unveiled Ireland's national monument to the 69th Infantry Regiment (aka The Fighting 69th) and Michael Corcoran in Ballymote on 22 August 2006. At the foot of the monument is a piece of steel from the World Trade Center in New York, which was attacked on September 11, 2001. The steel was donated by the family of a local man who died in the attack.
Transport[]
Ballymote lies on regional roads R293, R295 and R296, and on the main Dublin to Sligo railway line. Ballymote railway station opened on 3 December 1862.[18]
The town is also served by Ireland West Airport that is located approximately 30 minutes away.
Annalistic references[]
From the Annals of the Four Masters:
- M1300.3.The castle of Ath-Cliath-an-Chorainn (i.e.of Ballymote) was commenced by the Earl.
- M1317.5.The castle of Ath-cliath an Chorainn (i.e. of Ballymote) was demolished.
People[]
Some well-known people from Ballymote and the surrounding areas include:
- Feldmarschall The 3rd Earl of Carlingford (1639–1704) – the head of an old Hiberno-Norman family, he became a senior-ranking commander in the Imperial Army and the Army of the Holy Roman Empire, the armed forces of the Habsburg dynasty.[a] Lord Carlingford was born in Ballymote.
- Michael Corcoran, brigadier general of the 69th Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War
- Paddy Killoran (1903–1965), one of the finest exponents of the South Sligo Style of Fiddle playing was born near Ballymote.[19]
- Sophia McColgan, recipient of the 1998 Irish Person of the Year award on behalf of her family for her courage in bringing a familial abuse story to public attention.[20]
- John Perry, a Teachta Dála and Minister of State for Small Business in the 31st Dáil
- Eamon Scanlon, a Teachta Dála in the 32nd Dáil, previously a Senator in the 22nd Seanad
- Feldmarschall Nicholas Graf von Taaffe and 6th Viscount Taaffe (1685–1769) - senior-ranking military commander in the Holy Roman Empire (also known as the Austrian Empire). Born in Ballymote, the Graf was a cousin of The 3rd Earl of Carlingford.
- Brother Walfrid, the founder of Glasgow Celtic Football Club
See also[]
- List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland
- List of market houses in the Republic of Ireland
- Henry Taaffe, 12th Viscount Taaffe
Notes and references[]
Notes[]
- ^ Habsburg has been commonly and incorrectly spelled Hapsburg in many sources
References[]
- ^ "Ballymote Castle". irishstones.org. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Actual and Percentage Change 2011 to 2016 by Alphabetical List of Towns, CensusYear and Statistic". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Description of County Sligo from Atlas and Cyclopedia of Ireland (1900)". Library Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
- ^ Ballymote-Tobercurry, Municipal District (28 November 2016). "Minutes of the meeting of the Municipal District of Ballymote-Tobercurry" (PDF). Sligo County Council. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "Ballymote Business Park could create 200 new jobs". The independent.
- ^ "Focus on Ballymote Mart Day in our Rural Life Feature". The Sligo Champion. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "The White Hag Brewery". The White Hag. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ Development Planning Unit (2012), p. 3.
- ^ Development Planning Unit (2012), p. 28.
- ^ "Ballymote Golf Club". Discover Ireland. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Ballymote Golf Club closes down". 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Welcome to Ballymote Heritage Sligo". Ballymote Heritage Group. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "The Corran Herald Previous Issues". Ballymote Heritage Group. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "About Us". Eagles Flying. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Council urged to help get Ballymote mini-train back on track". Sligo Champion. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Ballymote Castle". Irelandseye.com. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
- ^ "New Community Library and Fire Station in Ballymote" (PDF). The Corran Herald. No. 44. The Ballymote Heritage Group. 2011. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Ballymote station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
- ^ "Tour 2 - Paddy Killoran, 1904-1965 (P)". Coleman Country. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ McKay, Susan (2004) [1998]. Sophia's Story. Gill & McMillan. ISBN 978-0717137923.
- Development Planning Unit (September 2012). Ballymote Local Area Plan 2012–2018 (PDF) (Report). Sligo Count Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ballymote. |
Ballymote travel guide from Wikivoyage- . Encyclopædia Britannica. 3 (11th ed.). 1911.
- Ballymote Town Website
- Ballymote Parish
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