Drumconrath
Encyclopedia
Drumconrath or Drumcondra (historically Drumconra, from ) is a small historic village situated in north County Meath
, Ireland
. It is twinned with the village of Saltmills, County Wexford
. The strong bond between the two villages was forged in the 1950s when engineers from Drumconrath helped to rebuild the historic bridge in Saltmills. Sadly, Saltmills has since fallen on hard times and have requested additional aid in recent times. The parish borders County Louth
and is also close to the borders of Counties Monaghan
and Cavan
.
The parish has a population of 2,967 while the village itself has 420 people The area of the parish is 7566 acres (30.6 km²).http://www.drumconrathparish.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=476&Itemid=128.
There has been a settlement here since before 200BC evident through the ancient pathways and ringforts at Corstown and Drumsilagh. The battle of Ballyhoe took place nearby of which folklore says that a treasure was thrown into the lake during the battle and when a true Irish Gael on a white horse comes he will swoop into the lake and take it.
Ancient folklore tells of a dragon that roamed the deep waters and dense forests surrounding Lough Braken. This dragon was said to hold the key to becoming a true Gael. Slay the dragon and you and your clan become true Irish men. The legend tells of a brave and noble tribe from the ancient land of Druminshin that dared to enter the dragons lair and slay the beast. This is how villagers from Drumconrath became known as the "True Men of Ireland".
It was literally "beyond the Pale" being the first Gaelic
Settlement you meet leaving the Pale from Ardee. It was a hostile place for the English who left the safety of the Pale and frequent battles took place in the village.
The remains of a monastery wrecked by Henry VIII
overlook the stunning Lough Braken lake. Here, the stunning views of Mourne Mountains in one direction and the Dublin Mountains in the other can been seen quite clearly.
During the 1798 rebellion, five parishioners where killed by the Louth Miltia for refusing to allow them entry to the Church in the village. The area had strong Ribbonmen support (a forerunner to the Irish Republican Army
) and six men from the area were hung for their part in the infamous burning of the Wildgoose Lodge nearby.
The village kept its Republican ideals and many of the local men fought in the Tan War and the Civil War with nearby Kingscourt Brigade, the families of the Hickeys, Keenans and Andy Doyle featuring prominently. In fact, it is recorded that this Brigade fired the last shot of the Tan War at 11:20 on 11 June 1921, twenty minutes after the truce.
Set in forested drumlin
countryside and surrounded by small lakes, it is a long-established angling centre with many picturesque walking areas. Lough Bracken and the smaller lakes of Corstown and Balrath and the River Dee are situated in this area.
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...
, 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,...
. It is twinned with the village of Saltmills, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford 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 Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
. The strong bond between the two villages was forged in the 1950s when engineers from Drumconrath helped to rebuild the historic bridge in Saltmills. Sadly, Saltmills has since fallen on hard times and have requested additional aid in recent times. The parish borders County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
and is also close to the borders of Counties Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
and Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
The parish has a population of 2,967 while the village itself has 420 people The area of the parish is 7566 acres (30.6 km²).http://www.drumconrathparish.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=476&Itemid=128.
There has been a settlement here since before 200BC evident through the ancient pathways and ringforts at Corstown and Drumsilagh. The battle of Ballyhoe took place nearby of which folklore says that a treasure was thrown into the lake during the battle and when a true Irish Gael on a white horse comes he will swoop into the lake and take it.
Ancient folklore tells of a dragon that roamed the deep waters and dense forests surrounding Lough Braken. This dragon was said to hold the key to becoming a true Gael. Slay the dragon and you and your clan become true Irish men. The legend tells of a brave and noble tribe from the ancient land of Druminshin that dared to enter the dragons lair and slay the beast. This is how villagers from Drumconrath became known as the "True Men of Ireland".
It was literally "beyond the Pale" being the first Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
Settlement you meet leaving the Pale from Ardee. It was a hostile place for the English who left the safety of the Pale and frequent battles took place in the village.
The remains of a monastery wrecked by 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...
overlook the stunning Lough Braken lake. Here, the stunning views of Mourne Mountains in one direction and the Dublin Mountains in the other can been seen quite clearly.
During the 1798 rebellion, five parishioners where killed by the Louth Miltia for refusing to allow them entry to the Church in the village. The area had strong Ribbonmen support (a forerunner to the 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...
) and six men from the area were hung for their part in the infamous burning of the Wildgoose Lodge nearby.
The village kept its Republican ideals and many of the local men fought in the Tan War and the Civil War with nearby Kingscourt Brigade, the families of the Hickeys, Keenans and Andy Doyle featuring prominently. In fact, it is recorded that this Brigade fired the last shot of the Tan War at 11:20 on 11 June 1921, twenty minutes after the truce.
Set in forested drumlin
Drumlin
A drumlin, from the Irish word droimnín , first recorded in 1833, is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine.-Drumlin formation:...
countryside and surrounded by small lakes, it is a long-established angling centre with many picturesque walking areas. Lough Bracken and the smaller lakes of Corstown and Balrath and the River Dee are situated in this area.