Eyrecourt
Encyclopedia
Eyrecourt, historically known as Donanaghta , is a village in County Galway
, Ireland
. Eyrecourt is on the R356 regional road
12 km west of the Banagher
bridge over the River Shannon
.
in Galway City, were an English family who came over with Cromwell. Their former residence, Eyrecourt Castle
(now a ruin), provides the large metal gateway at the eastern end of main street and the 100 acre (0.404686 km²) castle lawn beyond. The family were for many years closely associated with the local hunt, the Galway Blazers.
. In the evenings numerous groups and classes use the Village Hall, for pilates, martial arts, scouting and art classes.
Eyrecourt is approximately 40 minutes from Galway and one hour and twenty minutes from Dublin - both these journey times are likely to reduce with the completion of the N6 dual carriageway/motorway (Due to open 21 December 2009).
Each year in June it hosts a large festival of early machinery, the Eyrecourt Vintage Festival, when ancient tractors, steam-engines and a variety of early farm machines have a chance to run again.
It is home to the musician and whistler Roger Whittaker
.
with the village of Gouesnach in Brittany
.
Within the village are two churches; the Catholic Church of St Brendan which has some notable stained glass windows, (the work of John Early of Dublin) and the Church of Ireland Church of St John the Baptist (an Anglo Gothic structure built in 1867).
Meelick
has the oldest Catholic church with continuous use since 1414 AD, Dunanughta was the church with the highest altitude in East Galway.
Clonfert has the grave of Saint Brendan ("The Navigator"), the ancient Cathedral and famous doorway, the 14th century statue of Our Lady of Clonfert and Emmanuel House of Providence. Clonfert Cathedral
is the oldest continually operating church in Ireland.
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of 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,...
. Eyrecourt is on the R356 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...
12 km west of the Banagher
Banagher
Banagher is a town in Ireland, located in the midlands on the western edge of County Offaly in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. The name Banagher comes from its Irish name which translates to English as "the place of the pointed rocks on the Shannon"...
bridge over the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
.
History
The Eyres after whom the village is named, as well as other places such as Eyre SquareEyre Square
John F. Kennedy Memorial Park is an inner-city public park in Galway, Ireland, formerly officially named Eyre Square and still widely known by that name...
in Galway City, were an English family who came over with Cromwell. Their former residence, Eyrecourt Castle
Eyrecourt Castle
Eyrecourt Castle was an Irish 17th century country house in Galway which became a ruin in the 20th century. The house, the surrounding estate, and the nearby small town of Eyrecourt all took their name from Colonel John Eyre, an Englishman who was granted a large parcel of land in recognition of...
(now a ruin), provides the large metal gateway at the eastern end of main street and the 100 acre (0.404686 km²) castle lawn beyond. The family were for many years closely associated with the local hunt, the Galway Blazers.
Amenities
The village stands midway along the Beara Breifne Greenway; an historic Waymarked Way for walking, cycling and heritage first established in 1603. Eyrecourt is served by three public houses, a post office, library, village store, garage and fast food outlet, pharmacy, tractor dealer, medical centre, primary school, numerous small enterprises and the Meelick-Eyrecourt GAA clubMeelick-Eyrecourt
Meelick-Eyrecourt is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in the east of County Galway, Ireland.-History:Meelick-Eyrecourt GAA club is a small GAA club which has managed to produce some of Ireland's best known hurlers...
. In the evenings numerous groups and classes use the Village Hall, for pilates, martial arts, scouting and art classes.
Eyrecourt is approximately 40 minutes from Galway and one hour and twenty minutes from Dublin - both these journey times are likely to reduce with the completion of the N6 dual carriageway/motorway (Due to open 21 December 2009).
Each year in June it hosts a large festival of early machinery, the Eyrecourt Vintage Festival, when ancient tractors, steam-engines and a variety of early farm machines have a chance to run again.
It is home to the musician and whistler Roger Whittaker
Roger Whittaker
Roger Whittaker is an Anglo-Kenyan singer-songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of over 55 million. His music can be described as easy listening. He is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability...
.
International relations
Eyrecourt is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with the village of Gouesnach in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
.
Parish
Eyrecourt in the south east corner of County Galway incorporates the ancient ecclesiastical centres of Dunanaughta, Clonfert and Meelick and is bounded by the Rivers Shannon and Suck for 16 miles (25.7 km).Within the village are two churches; the Catholic Church of St Brendan which has some notable stained glass windows, (the work of John Early of Dublin) and the Church of Ireland Church of St John the Baptist (an Anglo Gothic structure built in 1867).
Meelick
Meelick, County Galway
Meelick is a townland on the River Shannon in Ireland. It lies some 4 km southeast of Eyrecourt in County Galway.- Oldest Catholic Church in use :...
has the oldest Catholic church with continuous use since 1414 AD, Dunanughta was the church with the highest altitude in East Galway.
Clonfert has the grave of Saint Brendan ("The Navigator"), the ancient Cathedral and famous doorway, the 14th century statue of Our Lady of Clonfert and Emmanuel House of Providence. Clonfert Cathedral
Clonfert Cathedral
Clonfert Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Clonfert, County Galway in Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin...
is the oldest continually operating church in Ireland.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- List of steam fairs
- Market Houses in IrelandMarket Houses in the Republic of IrelandMarket houses are a notable feature of many Irish towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper floor was...