Oughterard

Oughterard
Uachtar Ard
Town
Oughterard
Oughterard
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°25′00″N 9°20′00″W / 53.4167°N 9.3333°W / 53.4167; -9.3333Coordinates: 53°25′00″N 9°20′00″W / 53.4167°N 9.3333°W / 53.4167; -9.3333
Country Ireland
Province Connacht
County County Galway
Elevation 68 m (223 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Urban 2,605
 • Rural 10,618
Time zone UTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference M113415

Oughterard (Irish: Uachtar Ard) is a small town on the banks of the Owenriff River close to the western shore[1] of Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland. The population of the town in 2006 was 1,305. Located some 26 km northwest of Galway on the N59 road. Oughterard is the chief angling centre on Lough Corrib,[2] and is also known as the 'Gateway to Connemara' as it is on the border of Connemara.

Places of interest

Three kilometres outside the town stand the ruins of Aughnanure Castle, a well-preserved example of a Norman tower house.[3] Much of the surrounding area was occupied by the O'Flaherty clan, but was taken over by Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster, in 1256. Ross Castle is also located a number of kilometres outside Oughterard. The mansion, which is visible today, was built by the Martin family in the 17th century but there is some evidence still present of the original castle structure, built in the 15th century by the O'Flaherty family, in its foundation. There is also a golf course within the grounds of Ross Castle.

The 'Quiet Man Bridge' is located 8 kilometres past Oughterard, down the Leam Road, which was the setting for the 1950s film The Quiet Man starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

Also close to Oughterard, the Glengowla Mines (abandoned in 1865) is noted for its rare octahedral crystals of fluorite and quartz.

Demography

As per Census 2006 the population of Oughterard was 1,305 (after 1,209 at Census 2002);[4] for the urban area the number for 2006 was 2,557 people (after 2,380 at Census 2002).[5]

Education

Oughterard and the Owenriff River c.1890-1910

Oughterard has a primary school, 'Scoil Chuimín agus Caitríona',[6] and a co-educational voluntary secondary school, St Paul's.[7]

Transport

Oughterard railway station opened on 1 January 1895 and closed on 29 April 1935. There are daily buses going from and to Galway and Clifden along the N59. City Link and Bus Éireann are the two bus services that travel to and from Galway. It passes through Oughterard at various times throughout the day and stops on the main street.

Sport

Sports clubs in the area include Oughterard GAA club (Corribdale), Oughterard Association Football Club (New Village), Oughterard Rugby Club (Cliden Road), and Corrib Basketball (Main Street).

People

See also

References

  1. ↑ Map of Ireland (click to enlarge)
  2. ↑ O'Reilly, Peter (2003). Rivers of Ireland. 7 Corve St., Ludlow, Shropshire, UK: Merlin Unwine Books. p. 174. ISBN 1-873674-53-8.
  3. ↑ "Heritage Ireland - Aughnanure Castle". heritageireland.ie. Office of Public Works. Retrieved 9 February 2018. the castle is a particularly well-preserved example of an Irish tower house
  4. ↑ Census 2002/2006 for Oughterard, p. 49
  5. ↑ Census 2002/2006 for Oughterard (urban area), No. 159, p. 72
  6. ↑ "Scoil Náisiúnta Uachtar Árd". OughterardNS.ie. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "School Homepage". St Paul's Oughterard. Retrieved 19 February 2017. St. Paul's Secondary School is a co-educational voluntary secondary school situated in Oughterard, Co. Galway
  8. ↑ "Kings of the West". Connacht Tribune. 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018.
  9. ↑ Beatty, Jack (2000). The Rascal King: The Life and Times of James Michael Curley, 1874-1958. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. p. 293. ISBN 978-0-306-81002-2.
  10. ↑ "Footballers and film stars – is this the most talented family in Galway?". Connacht Tribune. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
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