Ballyhide
Encyclopedia
Ballyhide is a rural townsland and village in the extreme South Eastern corner of County Laois
, Ireland
at the border with County Carlow
. The nearest urban centre is Carlow
town which is 3 kilometres to the North East. It is located in the Luggacurren Local Electoral District.
at the border with Crossneen, another townsland. Most of the population are employed in Carlow
town although some also work in the Clogrennane Lime plant which is situated 2.5 kilometres to the South West,some travel as commuters as far as Dublion and some also farm the land in this highly agricultural area. Dairying is a major agricultural enterprise.In the arts, Kathleen O'Rourke who grew up here went to school in Graiguecullen has a short animated film nominated for the 2010 Oscars in LA California.
and the County boundary between County Laois
and County Carlow
, to the East by Crossneen and to the North by Springhill which are other townslands within the same parish. The River Fuishoge also runs through the area and is a tributary of the Barrow. The area lies at the foot of a 336m high hill referred to as Rossmore, Killeshin hill and often on maps as Slieve Margy.
landlord family, who owned much of the lands in the area prior to the Irish War of Independence
. The Primary Valuation of Ireland or 'Griffiths Valuation', carried out in Laois in 1851/52 refers to the local landlord as Horace Rochfort Esq. The mansion was burned down, leaving it in its current state. Although there is some dispute and little evidence relating to who burned it down, one local story is that the local Irish Republican Army
Flying column
burned the Rochforts out in revenge for the eviction of a woman who couldn't pay the rent when her husband died. Another story is that her sons burned the house and kidnapped the Rochfort's two sons. Although no evidence is available to verify either story a column was known to have been active in the area and the house certainly did not survive the war.
Ballyhide's location on the banks of the Barrow has led to the areas popularity as fishing spot. In particular, the stretch of river where the small canal rejoins the Barrow, locally known as Lanigans Lock, is well known for trout
fishing and was a very popular swimming spot although Laois County Council
have posted signs warning of the dangers of swimming in the water here. A walkway known as the Barrow track runs from Milford, downriver of Ballyhide through this area and into Carlow town.
clubs. There are two clubs in the parish, Graiguecullen GAA and Killeshin GAA
and Ballyhide residents usually elect to play for one or the other. However, there is no doubting where their loyalties lie when it comes to intercounty football as being so close to the border, they are always sure to let you know that they are from the Laois side of the border and that they will be wearing blue and white whenever Laois GAA
play. Many Ballyhide people also use the sports facilities in or around Carlow town such as the Carlow Lawn Tennis Club or Carlow Golf Club or play soccer with Killeshin or with Graiguecullen based clubs St Patricks Boys FC or St Fiaccs FC.
.
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, 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...
at the border with County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The nearest urban centre is Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
town which is 3 kilometres to the North East. It is located in the Luggacurren Local Electoral District.
Demographics
The most densely populated area of Ballyhide is a small village situated beside the River BarrowRiver Barrow
The Barrow is a river in Ireland. It is one of The Three Sisters; the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore. The Barrow is the longest and most prominent of the three rivers...
at the border with Crossneen, another townsland. Most of the population are employed in Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
town although some also work in the Clogrennane Lime plant which is situated 2.5 kilometres to the South West,some travel as commuters as far as Dublion and some also farm the land in this highly agricultural area. Dairying is a major agricultural enterprise.In the arts, Kathleen O'Rourke who grew up here went to school in Graiguecullen has a short animated film nominated for the 2010 Oscars in LA California.
Geography
Ballyhide is bordered to the South by the River BarrowRiver Barrow
The Barrow is a river in Ireland. It is one of The Three Sisters; the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore. The Barrow is the longest and most prominent of the three rivers...
and the County boundary between County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
and County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, to the East by Crossneen and to the North by Springhill which are other townslands within the same parish. The River Fuishoge also runs through the area and is a tributary of the Barrow. The area lies at the foot of a 336m high hill referred to as Rossmore, Killeshin hill and often on maps as Slieve Margy.
Landmarks
The dilapidated ruin of a mansion often referred to locally as Rochfort's Castle or the Black Castle sits at the foot of the hill overlooking Ballyhide which was the home the Rochfort's, an Anglo-IrishAnglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
landlord family, who owned much of the lands in the area prior to the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
. The Primary Valuation of Ireland or 'Griffiths Valuation', carried out in Laois in 1851/52 refers to the local landlord as Horace Rochfort Esq. The mansion was burned down, leaving it in its current state. Although there is some dispute and little evidence relating to who burned it down, one local story is that the local Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
Flying column
Flying column
A flying column is a small, independent, military land unit capable of rapid mobility and usually composed of all arms. It is often an ad hoc unit, formed during the course of operations....
burned the Rochforts out in revenge for the eviction of a woman who couldn't pay the rent when her husband died. Another story is that her sons burned the house and kidnapped the Rochfort's two sons. Although no evidence is available to verify either story a column was known to have been active in the area and the house certainly did not survive the war.
Ballyhide's location on the banks of the Barrow has led to the areas popularity as fishing spot. In particular, the stretch of river where the small canal rejoins the Barrow, locally known as Lanigans Lock, is well known for trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
fishing and was a very popular swimming spot although Laois County Council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
have posted signs warning of the dangers of swimming in the water here. A walkway known as the Barrow track runs from Milford, downriver of Ballyhide through this area and into Carlow town.
Sport
The people of Ballyhide have divided loyalties when it comes to Gaelic FootballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
clubs. There are two clubs in the parish, Graiguecullen GAA and Killeshin GAA
Killeshin GAA
Killeshin GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club in the village of Killeshin, County Laois, Ireland.The club colours are green and white, with a white sash and the club grounds, which are near the County Carlow border, are called Pairc Uisean.Killeshin has never won the Laois...
and Ballyhide residents usually elect to play for one or the other. However, there is no doubting where their loyalties lie when it comes to intercounty football as being so close to the border, they are always sure to let you know that they are from the Laois side of the border and that they will be wearing blue and white whenever Laois GAA
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
play. Many Ballyhide people also use the sports facilities in or around Carlow town such as the Carlow Lawn Tennis Club or Carlow Golf Club or play soccer with Killeshin or with Graiguecullen based clubs St Patricks Boys FC or St Fiaccs FC.
Education
Most young people from Ballyhide attend school at primary level in either Scoil Chomhgáin Naofa, Killeshin or St Fiaccs National School, Graiguecullen. They then go on to study at second level in any of Carlows second level schools such as St Leo's College, Carlow for girls, the Christian Brothers Academy for boys or mixed schools such as Carlow Vocational School, Gaelcholáiste Ceatharlach or Presentation College. Boys may also chose to go the famous Laois football school St. Mary's Knockbeg CollegeSt. Mary's Knockbeg College
St. Mary's Knockbeg College is a Roman Catholic, all-boys secondary school located on the Laois/Carlow border in Ireland, approximately 3 km from both Carlow town and Graiguecullen. A former seminary school for the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, it was founded in 1793...
.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland