Castlegar (Irish: An Caisleán Gearr, meaning 'short castle')[1] is a village and electoral division in County Galway, just outside the city of Galway, in Ireland. Castlegar is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.[2] It extends from Lough Corrib across to Merlin Park by the old Galway-Dublin road.
Castlegar
An Caisleán Gearr | |
---|---|
Village | |
![]() Ruined tower house (An Caisleán Gearr) at Castlegar | |
Coordinates: 53°18′00″N 9°01′07″W / 53.3°N 9.0185°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Connacht |
County | County Galway |
Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
The eponymous Castlegar Castle, a 15th or 16th century tower house, is historically associated with the Burke (de Burgo) family.[3] Castlegar GAA club is based in the area.
History
editThe name Castlegar is derived from the Irish Caisleán Gearr, meaning "short castle".[1] The small Castlegar Castle, in the middle of the parish, was built by Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde (1572–1635) of Portumna Castle.[4] The castle at Castlegar was a four-storey tower house,[4] now in ruin, which was used as a "guest" castle for the Blake family's Menlo Castle.[citation needed]
Irish language
editAs of 2006, the electoral division of Castlegar (Castlegar ED) had a population of over 1,000 people, of whom 11% spoke Irish daily.[5]
Castles
editCastles in the area include:[citation needed]
- Ballybrit Castle
- Ballindooley Castle (Ballindooly)[6]
- Castlegar Castle (Castle Gar; An Caisleán Gearr)
- Cloonacauneen Castle (Cluanacauneen)[7]
- Killeen Castle (Killeen)
- Menlo Castle (Menlough)[6]
- Merlin Park Castle (formerly Doughiska/Doughiskey)
Villages and townlands
editVillages and townlands in the ecclesiastical parish of Castlegar include:[citation needed]
- Ballybrit (home to Ballybrit Racecourse and the Galway Races)
- Ballindooley
- Ballintemple
- Briarhill
- Bruckey
- Cappanabornia
- Carrabrowne
- Castlegar townland[8]
- Coolough
- Killeen
- Killtulla
- Kyloughter
- Menlo
- Two-Mile-Ditch
Notable people
edit- Blake baronets, were local landowners from 1622 through 1910
- John Connolly and Joe Connolly, hurlers and brothers from the Connolly family, are from Castlegar
Further reading
edit- Ó Laoi, Padraic (1996). History of Castlegar Parish. ASIN B0006FCB88.
References
edit- ^ a b "An Caisleán Gearr / Castlegar (see archival records)". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Parishes - Castlegar". galwaydiocese.ie. Diocese of Galway & Kilmacduagh & Apostolic Administration of Kilfenora. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Excavation report - 1997:194 - Castlegar Castle, Castlegar, Galway". excavations.ie. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Castlegar Castle". visitgalway.ie. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Castlegar Irish language stats 2006" (PDF). ahg.gov.ie (in Irish). Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2013.
- ^ a b Menlo and Ballindooley Castle
- ^ Cluanacauneen and Killeen Castle
- ^ "An Caisleán Gearr / Castlegar (townland)". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 22 September 2023.