Ballyferriter
Encyclopedia
Baile an Fheirtéaraigh (ˈbˠalʲə ənˠ ɛɾʲˈtʲeːɾˠiː, )), also known as An B[h]uailtín, is a Gaeltacht
village in County Kerry
, Ireland
. It is in the west of the Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle) peninsula and according to the 2002 census, about 75% of the town's population speak the Irish language
on a daily basis. The village is named after the Norman-Irish
Feiritéar family who settled in Ard na Caithne
in the late medieval period and of whom the seventeenth-century poet and executed leader, Piaras Feiritéar
, remains the most famous member. The older Irish name for the village An B[h]uailtín ("the little dairy place") is still used locally.
The village lies at the base of Croaghmarhin hill near Cuan Ard na Caithne
(formerly also called Smerwick harbour) on the Dingle
peninsula, on regional road R559 which loops around the west of the peninsula, beginning and ending in Dingle
Town. It has three pubs: Tigh Uí Chatháin, Tigh Uí Mhurchú, Tigh an tSaorsaigh, and one hotel, Óstán Cheann Sibéal (formerly Tigh Peig's). It also has a school, church, museum, Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne http://www.westkerrymuseum.com, the offices of the local Co-op, Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne http://www.cfcd.ie and a Garda
station. The village is alive with Irish
students throughout the summer, both youngsters and adults, as courses are held in the local national school and in other venues in the village (http://www.oidhreacht.ie/cursaigaeilge.asp#mareolas) (http://www.colaiste.ie). UCC also owns a house there that facilitates year-long study for students at a higher level.
Between Baile an Fheirtéaraigh and Cuan Ard na Caithne is Dún an Óir (the Fort of Gold), an Iron Age
promontory fort
, which was the location of the Siege of Smerwick, an infamous massacre in 1580. A 600-strong Spanish and Italian papal invasion force which had come as part of the Second Desmond Rebellion
of James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald
were besieged and massacred by the English crown forces of Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton
. A visit to the museum (Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne) is a good way to learn more about this and other archaeological monuments in the area.
Under a placenames order in 2004, the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Éamon Ó Cuív
declared that on maps and signage the Irish name, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, must be used.
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
village in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It is in the west of the Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle) peninsula and according to the 2002 census, about 75% of the town's population speak the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
on a daily basis. The village is named after the Norman-Irish
Hiberno-Norman
The Hiberno-Normans are those Norman lords who settled in Ireland who admitted little if any real fealty to the Anglo-Norman settlers in England, and who soon began to interact and intermarry with the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. The term embraces both their origins as a distinct community with...
Feiritéar family who settled in Ard na Caithne
Ard na Caithne
Ard na Caithne , meaning height of the arbutus or strawberry tree, known as Smerwick in English, in the heart of the Kerry Gaeltacht is one of the principal bays of Corca Dhuibhne. It is nestled at the foot of An Triúr Deirfiúr and Cnoc Bhréanainn, which at is the highest mountain in the Brandon...
in the late medieval period and of whom the seventeenth-century poet and executed leader, Piaras Feiritéar
Piaras Feiritéar
Piaras Feiritéar was an Irish poet.Feiritéar was a Norman-Irish lord of Baile an Fheirtéaraigh in Corca Dhuibhne. Although best known as a poet, it was his role as a leader of the nascent Catholic Irish community of Norman- and Gaelic- Irish origin which ultimately lead to his execution in...
, remains the most famous member. The older Irish name for the village An B[h]uailtín ("the little dairy place") is still used locally.
The village lies at the base of Croaghmarhin hill near Cuan Ard na Caithne
Ard na Caithne
Ard na Caithne , meaning height of the arbutus or strawberry tree, known as Smerwick in English, in the heart of the Kerry Gaeltacht is one of the principal bays of Corca Dhuibhne. It is nestled at the foot of An Triúr Deirfiúr and Cnoc Bhréanainn, which at is the highest mountain in the Brandon...
(formerly also called Smerwick harbour) on the Dingle
Dingle
Dingle is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula, it sits on the Atlantic coast, about 49 kilometres southwest of Tralee and 71 kilometres northwest of Killarney....
peninsula, on regional road R559 which loops around the west of the peninsula, beginning and ending in Dingle
Dingle
Dingle is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula, it sits on the Atlantic coast, about 49 kilometres southwest of Tralee and 71 kilometres northwest of Killarney....
Town. It has three pubs: Tigh Uí Chatháin, Tigh Uí Mhurchú, Tigh an tSaorsaigh, and one hotel, Óstán Cheann Sibéal (formerly Tigh Peig's). It also has a school, church, museum, Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne http://www.westkerrymuseum.com, the offices of the local Co-op, Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne http://www.cfcd.ie and a Garda
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
station. The village is alive with Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
students throughout the summer, both youngsters and adults, as courses are held in the local national school and in other venues in the village (http://www.oidhreacht.ie/cursaigaeilge.asp#mareolas) (http://www.colaiste.ie). UCC also owns a house there that facilitates year-long study for students at a higher level.
Between Baile an Fheirtéaraigh and Cuan Ard na Caithne is Dún an Óir (the Fort of Gold), an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
promontory fort
Promontory fort
A promontory fort is a defensive structure located above a steep cliff, often only connected to the mainland by a small neck of land, thus utilizing the topography to reduce the ramparts needed. Although their dating is problematic, most seem to date to the Iron Age...
, which was the location of the Siege of Smerwick, an infamous massacre in 1580. A 600-strong Spanish and Italian papal invasion force which had come as part of the Second Desmond Rebellion
Second Desmond Rebellion
The Second Desmond rebellion was the more widespread and bloody of the two Desmond Rebellions launched by the FitzGerald dynasty of Desmond in Munster, Ireland, against English rule in Ireland...
of James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald
James FitzMaurice FitzGerald
James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald was a member of the 16th century ruling Geraldine dynasty in the province of Munster in Ireland. He rebelled against the crown authority of Queen Elizabeth I of England in response to the onset of the Tudor conquest of Ireland and was deemed an archtraitor...
were besieged and massacred by the English crown forces of Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton
Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton
Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton was a baron in the Peerage of England, remembered mainly for his memoir of his father, and for participating in the last defence of Calais.-Life:...
. A visit to the museum (Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne) is a good way to learn more about this and other archaeological monuments in the area.
Under a placenames order in 2004, the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Éamon Ó Cuív
Éamon Ó Cuív
Éamon Ó Cuív is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency since 1992 and was previously a member of Seanad Éireann.-Early life:...
declared that on maps and signage the Irish name, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, must be used.