Ballymote

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 west of Ireland. It lies in the barony of Corran.

Ballymote

Baile an Mhóta
Town
Ballymote Castle
Ballymote
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 54°05′23″N 8°31′00″W
CountryIreland
ProvinceConnacht
CountyCounty Sligo
Elevation69 m (226 ft)
Population
 (2016)[2]
1,549
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid ReferenceG662150

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, Ballymote factories at Ballybrennan and a small business park at Carrownanty the R296 Road to Tobercurry.[4][5] There is a livestock mart and a microbrewery.[6][7] The wider area is mainly argicultural,[8] with many people commuting to Carrick on Shannon and Sligo town for work.[9]

Sport
See also: Ballymote GAA

A number of sports are played in the town, including Gaelic football and athletics at Corran Park and soccer at Brother Walfrid Memorial Park. There is a nine-hole golf course on the outskirts of the town.[10]

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.[11][12]

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.[13]

A children's playground has been created at Town Park. A miniature railway has been in operation there on some summer weekends.[14]

Landmarks

Buildings

It is a historic town, with Ballymote Castle, the last and the mightiest of the Norman castles in Connacht.[15] 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.[16]

September 11 memorial
Ireland's National Monument to Fighting 69th in Ballymote

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.[17]

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
Commemorative sculpture of Brother Walfrid

Some well-known people from Ballymote and the surrounding areas include:

See also
Lord Edward Street, Ballymote

Notes and references

Notes
  1. Habsburg has been commonly and incorrectly spelled Hapsburg in many sources

References
  1. "Ballymote Castle". irishstones.org. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. "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.
  3. "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.
  4. 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.
  5. "Ballymote Business Park could create 200 new jobs". independent.
  6. "Focus on Ballymote Mart Day in our Rural Life Feature". The Sligo Champion. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  7. "The White Hag Brewery". The White Hag. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  8. Development Planning Unit (2012), p. 3.
  9. Development Planning Unit (2012), p. 28.
  10. "Ballymote Golf Club". Discover Ireland. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  11. "Welcome to Ballymote Heritage Sligo". Ballymote Heritage Group. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  12. "The Corran Herald Previous Issues". Ballymote Heritage Group. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  13. "About Us". Eagles Flying. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  14. "Council urged to help get Ballymote mini-train back on track". Sligo Champion. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  15. "Ballymote Castle". Irelandseye.com. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
  16. "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.
  17. "Ballymote station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
  18. "Tour 2 - Paddy Killoran, 1904-1965 (P)". Coleman Country. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  19. McKay, Susan (2004) [1998]. Sophia's Story. Gill & McMillan. ISBN 978-0717137923.
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