Ballybay
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Ballybay
Béal Átha Beithe | ||
---|---|---|
Town | ||
Eircode routing key A75 | ||
Telephone area code | +353(0)42 | |
Irish Grid Reference | H743188 |
Ballybay (
Geography
The town is the meeting point for roads going to Monaghan, Castleblayney, Carrickmacross and Clones. The town grew up from the convergence of the roads. The town is built beside a large lake, Lough Major (In Irish "Lough Mór") and the smaller Lough Minor. The Dromore River also runs through the south of the town, past Pearse Brother's Football Grounds, and past the Riverdale Hotel.
History
The town was founded in the eighteenth century by members of the Jackson family. They worked in the linen industry . The Town Council was established in 1870. The town was famous and the town was named 'Ballybea' but now, it is called 'Ballybay'. It was a famous town where there were markets, fairs, public meetings, arrangements, parade marshals and events for all organisers. It was a fair town at that time. The linen industry was booming during this time. It was declining in an area such as Ballybay due to the mechanisation of the site, the power sail and the power of the steam boiler.
During the First World War, the town was established as a major horse trading post, supporting trades such as harness makers, blacksmiths, blacksmiths and nailers.
The town commissioners had meetings in 1871 with bank representatives, businessmen, and various people who were interested in the development of the town. In terms of town layout, water supply, street lighting and a waste management plan were established.
After that, markets and events were taking place in the centre of the town and there were goods such as linseed, a bag of corn, meat, horses and farm fruit.
Buildings of note
Ballybay Market House is a four-bay two-storey building built in 1848.[3]
Ballybay also used to have a hotel, Riverdale, as well as Ballybay Community college, the local secondary school.[citation needed]
Transport
Rail transport
Ballybay railway station opened on 17 July 1854, was closed to passenger traffic on 14 October 1957 and finally closed altogether on 1 January 1960. Part of the station office can be seen today. The railway line was opened in 1849 and extended west to Ballybay in 1854. After that, the railway system was named after the Northern Irish Railway and the Ulster Railway. It was called the Great Northern Railway (GNR). Emilie Leslie was involved in the planning of the railway. It was agreed that the station would be built to the south of the originally planned location and that the goods warehouse would be built to the east of the station house itself. The people were still using the train during the Second World War and more staff were hired at this time.
Coach/bus transport
Local Link route M2 links the village with Monaghan several times daily Mondays to Saturdays inclusive. Collins Coaches provide a daily service from the town to Dublin via Carrickmacross, Ardee and Slane.[4] Bus Éireann route 162 serves the town on schooldays linking Ballybay to Doohamlet, Castleblayney, Newbliss, Clones and Monaghan.[5]
Religious Services
There are three churches in the town today:
- Saint Patrick's Church - Roman Catholic Church (Roman Catholic Diocese of Clogher)
- Second Presbyterian Church Ballybay - Presbyterianism
- Christ Church Ballybay - Church Of Ireland (Diocese of Clogher (Church of Ireland))
Tourism
Today the town welcomes tourists and bird watchers who frequent the town to make use of the newly renovated lake district built around the local Lough Major.[citation needed] The town is also a destination for fishermen who travel to the town to take part in various fishing competitions. Many tourists travel to The Ballybay Wetlands Centre, which is a popular area for birdwatchers and hikers.[citation needed]
Notable people
Sport
The local
In popular culture
The singer / songwriter
The singer / songwriter Tommy Makem wrote a lighthearted song about the town, "In the Town of Ballybay".
The Jackson family of Ballybay were involved with the United Irishmen movement.
International relations
Twin towns – Sister cities
Ballybay is twinned with the town of Osterhofen/Gergweis in Bavaria.
On 4 November 2008 an informal reception was held in Ballybay Town Council chambers for a visiting group from Osterhofen / Bavaria who were dressed in traditional Bavarian costume. The visit was organised in celebration of the 50th visit to the town by Karl–Heinz Herzegger, who had been instrumental in the setting up of the original twinning agreement.[9]
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Market Houses in Ireland
References
- ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Ballybay". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 14 February 2018.[permanent dead link]
- Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Ballybay Market House, Main Street, Church Street, Ballybay, MONAGHAN". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Collins Coaches Dublin Commuter Timetable" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ "Bus Éireann Table 162" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ "Descendants of Hugh Jackson". Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
- ^ "The Silver Bowl: Lisnaboe JACKSONs".
- ^ "LAUDERDALE COUNTY, ALABAMA: HISTORY OF THE SHOALS". TimesDaily. 25 February 1999. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
- ^ "Town Twinning - Ballybay and Gergweisweb". Ballybay - Clones Municipal District. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
External links
- Media related to Ballybay at Wikimedia Commons
- Ballybay.ie (Ballybay-Clones Municipal District website)
- Monaghan County Council