Very little is known about the Famine of 1847 apart from the mass emigration in the West of Ireland, Claregalway included. Many people went to America from Claregalway on ships. One such case for example was that of two brothers from Clogher. One died on the way and was thrown over-board. The other brother got… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Local History
To have an address in Tón Rua or Tonroe may not seem so glamorous at first when “Red Bottom/Arse” could be a possible translation of this placename; some people may even prefer to opt for Lydican instead. But in fact the more accurate translation is not only much more earth friendly but it would seem… Read more »
RE: Townland Names—Baile Chláir/Baile Cláir na Gaillimhe Claregalway Amenity Group received a letter from Galway County Council stating that Claregalway is described in Irish as Baile Chláir. It was then forwarded to the Ordnance Survey Office in Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 and the following is the reply we received: Tagraím do litir faoin Iogainm Baile… Read more »
Describing his journey around Lough Corrib, Richard Hayward in his book The Corrib Country (Dundalgan Press, 1968, p.133) had this to say about Claregalway: We shall not long have regained and travelled along the road to Galway before we notice a complete change in the landscape, for the country now for miles around is a… Read more »
‘Carved or hewn in stone’—as were the Ten commandments—is an expression that has come to mean permanence or durability. The placing of name stones at the head of a village bohereen (bóithrin)—in ancient Ireland a bye-road or laneway wide enough to accommodate two cows (Bó) with their calves and yearlings—has given rise to some discussion… Read more »
There was a mission in Claregalway Parish in 1942. It started on the 14th June and finished on the 28th June. There were two Jesuit Priests, Fr Paul O’Flanagan and Fr Michael Mallin. Fr Mallin was a son of Michael Mallin the 1916 leader who was executed after the Easter Rising. The first Mass each… Read more »