Ballylinan
Encyclopedia
Ballylinan or Ballylynan is a village
on the County Laois
/County Kildare
border in the Ireland
. The name means "Lynan's town", though exactly who Lynan was is now forgotten.
Ballylinan is mainly a farmland area with no real industrialisation, although the building of many new housing developments has changed the area dramatically and increased its population. These developments, some still currently under construction, include "Rahin Wood", "The Village", "White Thorn Grove", "Cottage Gates", and "Gracefield Manor".
The village has a number of shops, a church, a Garda
(police) station, school, garage, and five pubs, the most noted of which is Murphy's often referred to as 'Skinners' by the locals. All of these establishments are on the one road: the N78.
(see Ballylinan GAA
).
, which takes place for two days every year in July.
town of Athy
operated between 1918 and 1963. The line was a freight only service, carrying slate, coal, sugar beet, and occasionally livestock. Some of the trackbed still exists around the Athy area.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
on the 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...
/County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
border in the Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The name means "Lynan's town", though exactly who Lynan was is now forgotten.
Ballylinan is mainly a farmland area with no real industrialisation, although the building of many new housing developments has changed the area dramatically and increased its population. These developments, some still currently under construction, include "Rahin Wood", "The Village", "White Thorn Grove", "Cottage Gates", and "Gracefield Manor".
The village has a number of shops, a church, 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 :...
(police) station, school, garage, and five pubs, the most noted of which is Murphy's often referred to as 'Skinners' by the locals. All of these establishments are on the one road: the N78.
Sport
Ballylinan has a traditional history of excellence in footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
(see Ballylinan GAA
Ballylinan GAA
Ballylinan GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club in Ballylinan, County Laois, Ireland. The club was founded in 1926 and has colours of green and gold....
).
Events
Ballylinan is also host to Ireland's annual metalfest, Day of DarknessDay of Darkness
Day of Darkness is the original name of Ireland's D.O.D. Festival. It happens annually in Ballylinan since 2002 as a metal music festival.The 2002 line-up was headlined by Primordial and was enough of a success to be run for a second year in 2003. Numbers however dwindled that year and a number of...
, which takes place for two days every year in July.
Transport
A railway line linking Ballylinan to the nearby County KildareCounty Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
town of Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
operated between 1918 and 1963. The line was a freight only service, carrying slate, coal, sugar beet, and occasionally livestock. Some of the trackbed still exists around the Athy area.
People
- William Russell GraceWilliam Russell GraceWilliam Russell Grace was the first Roman Catholic mayor of New York City and the founder of W. R. Grace and Company.-Biography:He was born on May 10, 1832 in Ballylinan, County Laois, Ireland....
(1832–1904), the first Roman Catholic mayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the founder of W. R. Grace and CompanyW. R. Grace and CompanyW. R. Grace and Company is a Columbia, Maryland, United States based chemical conglomerate.The company has two main divisions, Davison Chemicals and Performance Chemicals. The Davison unit makes chemical catalysts, refining catalysts, and silica-based products that let other companies make...
, was born in Ballylinan.
- Drian Kenna (1993-2011(if Alex has his way)), born in the SahelSahelThe Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
, raised in Ballylinan, the driest man on the face of the planetPlanetA planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
, his ancestors hail from AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and his birth is said to be directly related to the increase of deforestationDeforestationDeforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
in the Sahara Desert, also responsible for the great drought of 1997 in his native Ballylinan, aside from his general dryness he has a constant boner for Home And AwayHome and AwayHome and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
star Brax, although insists that he is straight. His thick accent is difficult to understand, he talks very slowly, almost pausing after each word, and often stops mid-sentence, this is due to his mouth drying out. He also seems to punctuate each sentance by saying "Lad" in an inquisitive manner and one of his many catchphrases is "Will that affect the deposit?". His favourite fruit are raisins.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland