Swinford
Swinford
Béal Átha na Muice (Irish) | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 53°56′30″N 8°57′00″W / 53.9417°N 8.9500°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Connacht |
County | County Mayo |
Elevation | 65 m (213 ft) |
Population | 1,394 |
Irish Grid Reference | M376997 |
Swinford (
Etymology
The origins of the name "Swinford" are disputed. Two primary theories exist; the first suggests that the original name of the town was "Swineford", derived from a pig market held regularly in the town.[4] The official Irish language name for the town is "Béal Átha na Muice", which is "mouth of the ford of the pigs" in English. The second theory as to the origin of the Swinford name is that it has always been named Swinford, and that the name Swinford is derived from Swinford, Leicestershire. The Brabazon family, who founded the town, originally came to Ireland from Leicestershire in the 1700s.[5]
History
Origins and early history
Swinford was created as a planned town by the
The Protestant church, which still stands today, was built in 1810, while a courthouse was constructed in 1840.
In 1855, the Sisters of Mercy established a presence in the town, building a convent near the parish church. They took over operations at the workhouse during the 1880s. In 1906 they established a primary school and a secondary school for girls in the town. In 1916 the Sisters of Mercy took over Brabazon estate house and converted it into a school.[5]
During the 1890s a bridge was constructed in Swinford to allow the entry of a railway through the town as well as the establishment of Swinford railway station.[5] It was also during the 1890s that a Catholic church was built.[7]
Swinford Revolt
On 25 August 1903, Dillon, addressing a meeting of his constituents at the Swinford Workhouse, spoke vehemently against the doctrine of conciliation. This divided the Party and led to the departure of
War of Independence
Swinford, like other areas in the West of Ireland, was the site of a number of actions during the
According to the Galway Observer of Saturday, 24 July 1920, in an article entitled "Shots in Swinford":
A military patrol of the Border regiment from Claremorris was fired at on Saturday night at Swinford and two soldiers were severely wounded. The soldiers halted at Swinford courthouse, from which four streets branch and immediately shots were fired at them by unknown parties. The lorry was riddled in several places with several bullets.
The military returned the fire, discharging as many as 500 rounds, with what result did not transpire. The wounded soldiers were conveyed to Claremorris, where their wounds were dressed prior to removal to the Curragh Hospital.[10]
On 19 August 1920, IRA members broke into the goods shed at Swinford Railway station and destroyed 10 tons of food and fuel belonging to British security forces.
Local folklore has it that other British patrols were ambushed in rural areas outside the town, and that local Volunteers from the (Old) Irish Republican Army climbed onto the roof of the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks (now the site of the Gateway Hotel) and burnt it to the ground by breaking slates and pouring petrol into the building.
During this period British soldiers were also billeted in the town.
Transport
Swinford railway station opened on 1 October 1895, closed for passenger traffic on 17 June 1963 and finally closed altogether on 3 November 1975.[14]
Culture
Swinford hosts one of County Mayo's largest summer festivals and has done since the mid-1980s: Siamsa Sráide Swinford, (Fun in the Streets of Swinford). This street festival of pageantry,
Swinford is used for the filming of TV show Hardy Bucks, as the fictional town of Castletown.
Education
Up to the mid-1980s the town had 3 second-level schools: St. Patrick's college, St. Mary's Convent and the vocational school. All three schools amalgamated in August 1992 to become Scoil Muire agus Padraig.[16] [17] There is also a national school called Scoil Maire Agus Treasa or Swinford National School.[citation needed]
People
- Thomas Martin Aloysius Burke, bishop of Albany (New York)[18]
- Pádraig Carney (1928–2019), Mayo inter-county Gaelic footballer[19]
- Mary Davis, disability rights activist[20]
- Bernard Durkan, TD for Kildare North constituency[21]
- Joseph Patrick Lydon, Olympic medalist in boxing and soccer[citation needed]
- Enda Marren, former member of the Council of State and of the Law Reform Commission[22]
- Ulick McEvaddy, owner of Omega Air[23]
- Caitríona Ruane, Stormont Minister for Education and South Down MLA[24]
- Chris Tordoff, known as Francis 'The Viper' Higgins. Actor, Comedian and YouTube personality[citation needed]
- Michaela Walsh, shotputter and hammer thrower[25]
See also
References
- ^ "Sapmap Area: Settlements Swinford". Census 2016. Central Statistics Office. April 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ "Béal Átha na Muice / Swinford (see archival records)". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland.
- ^ "Swinford – Set dancing". Western People. 10 January 2007. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
- ^ "History Of Swinford". Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Comer, Michael. "History of Swinford Co Mayo". Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "The Brabazon Estate, Swinford in Co. Mayo". Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ a b c "Swinford History in Co. Mayo". Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ISBN 9780631195429.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7171-6197-3.
- ^ "Shots in Swinford". Galway Observer. 24 July 1920. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ Cecil John Charles Street (1921). "The administration of Ireland, 1920 by I.U."
- ^ "August 1920". Chronology of Irish History 1919 – 1923. Archived from the original on 12 February 2005.
- ^ "Sentences — Results of Recent Court Martial at Galway — Six Months for Acting as Republican Policeman". Connacht Tribune. 27 November 1920.
- ^ "Swinford station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
- ^ "Swinford comes alive for annual Siamsa festival". Western People. 21 July 2004. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
- ^ "Adjournment Debate – School Accommodation". Dáil Éireann Debates. Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. 17 September 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern): The school came into operation as a result of an amalgamation of the existing secondary school, Meanscoil Mhuire agus Phádraig, and the local vocational school in August 1992.
- ^ "Post Primary Schools in County Mayo". Educationireland.ie. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
- ISBN 9781555863234.
- ^ "Mayo All-Ireland winner Padraig Carney dies aged 91". rte.ie. RTÉ. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Who are the seven people bidding to be the next president of Ireland?". bbc.com. BBC. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Profile: Bernard Durkan (FG)". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Kenny tribute to Enda Marren". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Brothers with altitude". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 28 August 1999. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "'Remarkable' Swinford native recognised for her exceptional work". advertiser.ie. Mayo Advertiser. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Swinford athlete Michaela Walsh is Young Mayo Person of the Year 2018". con-telegraph.ie. Connaught Telegraph. 18 January 2018. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018.