Furbo, County Galway
Encyclopedia
Na Forbacha is a settlement with a population of around 800 in Connemara
, County Galway
, Ireland
. It lies along the coast between Barna
and Spiddal
. It is a Gaeltacht
area where Irish
is the main language used in the school, church and at community meetings. The figure for those who self-report as speaking Irish daily is 39%. Furbo is the first village after Galway City where Irish is a community language which becomes more stronger when you get to An Spidéal. The headquarters of the Gaeltacht Authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta
, is located in Furbo.
It has a typical Gaeltacht style of settlement with no village street or centre, but rather comprises around fourteen townlands, most of which run North to South from the bog to the foreshore. Although the settlement is approximately 12 km from Galway city centre it has maintained its rural nature quite successfully in recent years due to strong opposition to large scale development from locals. Due to its proximity to Galway, and consequential pressure from property developers, housing developments generally have an Irish language clause applied. Currently housing developments have a requirement that 80% plus of housing units are reserved for Irish speakers.
The settlement consists of the following townlands: Cnocán an Bhodaigh, an Straidhp, an tSaoirsin, Baile na hAbhann, na Poillíní, Doire Uachtair, Aill an Phréacháin, an Coisméig Mór, na Forbacha Garbha, Seanadh Fhréachóg, and Cnoc na Gréine.
Furbo also boasts a very large community pitch which is used by the local Hurling Club, Football club, and by the nearby Bearna Soccer Club.
Trá na bhForbacha is a pleasant and safe beach for bathing. However, as reported in the Irish Examiner in May 2008, the water off Furbo failed to meet EU bathing standards due to fecal coliforms. It is understood that the pollution problem has been resolved but that Blue Flag status must await clean reports during 2008 and 2009.
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
, County Galway
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,...
. It lies along the coast between Barna
Barna
Bearna is a Gaeltacht village west of Galway city in County Galway, Ireland, on the R336 regional road. Once a satellite of Galway city, the village is now rapidly becoming one of its suburbs. Officially the village is regarded as Irish speaking and is therefore a constituent part of the regions...
and Spiddal
Spiddal
Spiddal is a village on the shore of Galway Bay in County Galway in Ireland. It is west of Galway city on the R336 road. Spiddal is on the eastern side of the county's Gaeltacht near Connemara, and is a tourist centre with a scenic beach, harbour, and shore fishing.-The village:The Mac...
. It is a Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
area where Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
is the main language used in the school, church and at community meetings. The figure for those who self-report as speaking Irish daily is 39%. Furbo is the first village after Galway City where Irish is a community language which becomes more stronger when you get to An Spidéal. The headquarters of the Gaeltacht Authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta , abbreviated ÚnaG, is a regional state agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of nominally Irish-speaking regions of the Republic of Ireland...
, is located in Furbo.
It has a typical Gaeltacht style of settlement with no village street or centre, but rather comprises around fourteen townlands, most of which run North to South from the bog to the foreshore. Although the settlement is approximately 12 km from Galway city centre it has maintained its rural nature quite successfully in recent years due to strong opposition to large scale development from locals. Due to its proximity to Galway, and consequential pressure from property developers, housing developments generally have an Irish language clause applied. Currently housing developments have a requirement that 80% plus of housing units are reserved for Irish speakers.
The settlement consists of the following townlands: Cnocán an Bhodaigh, an Straidhp, an tSaoirsin, Baile na hAbhann, na Poillíní, Doire Uachtair, Aill an Phréacháin, an Coisméig Mór, na Forbacha Garbha, Seanadh Fhréachóg, and Cnoc na Gréine.
Furbo also boasts a very large community pitch which is used by the local Hurling Club, Football club, and by the nearby Bearna Soccer Club.
Trá na bhForbacha is a pleasant and safe beach for bathing. However, as reported in the Irish Examiner in May 2008, the water off Furbo failed to meet EU bathing standards due to fecal coliforms. It is understood that the pollution problem has been resolved but that Blue Flag status must await clean reports during 2008 and 2009.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland.