Ballynacargy
Encyclopedia
Ballynacargy, or Ballinacarrigy, is a small village in County Westmeath
, Ireland
on the Royal Canal
and the R393
regional road
. The last official commercial navigation of the canal took place in 1955.
which opened in 1817. The origins of the village go back much further. The first recorded reference to it dates from 1537 after the dissolution of the nearby monastery at Tristernagh. Attached to the monastery was a leper hospital, a rarity by that time. It is thought that the village initially grew with the decline of Kilbixy, an important town in County Meath
500 years ago.
The local parish is still called Kilbixy and is home to a mausoleum built by a Lord Sunderlin in 1798.
Northeast of the village are the ruins of Templecross Church from where the ruins of Tristernagh Abbey are visible. Templecross was converted to a Protestant church in the 17th century. The abbey, also known as the Priory of Kilbixy was founded in 1192 by Geoffrey de Constantine. An Augustinian priory, the abbey achieved some fame from its establishment until 1536 when the commissioners of the English King Henry VIII
ransacked and destroyed it.
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, 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,...
on the Royal Canal
Royal Canal of Ireland
The Royal Canal is a canal originally built for freight and passenger transportation from the River Liffey at Dublin to the River Shannon at Cloondara in County Longford in Ireland. It fell into disrepair, but since has been restored for navigation...
and the R393
R393 road
The R393 road is a regional road in Ireland linking Longford to Mullingar in County Westmeath.Its route runs north of the Royal Canal and south of the N4 national primary road – both of which also join Longford to Mullingar, as does the Dublin-Sligo railway line.The road is long.-References:* –...
regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
. The last official commercial navigation of the canal took place in 1955.
History
The village primarily owes its existence to the Royal CanalRoyal Canal of Ireland
The Royal Canal is a canal originally built for freight and passenger transportation from the River Liffey at Dublin to the River Shannon at Cloondara in County Longford in Ireland. It fell into disrepair, but since has been restored for navigation...
which opened in 1817. The origins of the village go back much further. The first recorded reference to it dates from 1537 after the dissolution of the nearby monastery at Tristernagh. Attached to the monastery was a leper hospital, a rarity by that time. It is thought that the village initially grew with the decline of Kilbixy, an important town in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath 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 ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
500 years ago.
The local parish is still called Kilbixy and is home to a mausoleum built by a Lord Sunderlin in 1798.
Northeast of the village are the ruins of Templecross Church from where the ruins of Tristernagh Abbey are visible. Templecross was converted to a Protestant church in the 17th century. The abbey, also known as the Priory of Kilbixy was founded in 1192 by Geoffrey de Constantine. An Augustinian priory, the abbey achieved some fame from its establishment until 1536 when the commissioners of the English King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
ransacked and destroyed it.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland