Lanesborough-Ballyleague
Encyclopedia
Lanesborough and Ballyleague (more commonly known simply as Lanesborough or Lanesboro) is a town composed of two villages in the midlands of Ireland
. Lanesborough is on the County Longford
(east) side and Ballyleague on the County Roscommon
(west) side of the River Shannon
. They are located at the northern tip of Lough Ree
on the N63
national secondary road
at its junction with the R371
(at Ballyleague) and R392
(at Lanesborough). The town of Longford is 16 km north-east on the N63, the town of Roscommon
is 15 km south-west on the N63, the town of Ballymahon is 20km south-east on the R392 and the town of Strokestown is 15 km north-west on the R371.
on the east and Connacht
on the west); two separate counties (Longford on the east and Roscommon on the west); two separate Roman Catholic Dioceses (Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
on the east and Elphin
on the west) ; and two separate Roman Catholic parishes (Rathcline on the east and, Kilgefin which consists of Ballyleague, Ballagh and Curraghroe on the west).
The original name of the town, Athliag, means Ford of Stones derived from the flagstones placed across the river to assist the crossing.
The first real bridge was built around 1000AD by Malachy
, High King of Meath with Aide Farrell, King of Connacht
- built to link in the middle in their joint effort to defend against the Vikings. The first more permanent bridge was built in 1140 by Turlough O'Connor, High King of Ireland
.
A further bridge was built in 1667 and survived till 1690 when it was destroyed by Col O'Reilly to stop the Williamite
army under General Kirk.
In 1701 a ferry carrying 46 people to the fair capsized and 35 drowned. Parliament was petitioned for a new bridge, and a stone bridge was erected in 1706, 300' long, 15' wide with 9 arches. Demolished to provide a new bridge in 1844 which contained a swivel arch to allow large boats to pass through. This was removed in the 1960s and replaced by a concrete span in 1971.
and the horse fair are very important for the local economy. Lanesborough-Ballyleague is also a popular stop-over for pleasure boats on the River Shannon
navigation system. The island-studded Lough Ree
is just to the south and stretches almost 30 km to Athlone: while upstream the Shannon meanders 40 km to Carrick on Shannon and beyond to the Shannon-Erne Waterway
.
football teams: Rathcline and St Faithleachs.
Lanesborough also have an Annual Triathlon which consist of 750 m swim, 22 km cycling and 5 km run. It is organised by the Local Two Provinces Triathlon Club. the event is taking place on Saturday July 16th.
and Bord na Móna
are the largest enterprises and provide substantial employment in the town.
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,...
. Lanesborough is on the County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
(east) side and Ballyleague on the County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon 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 town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
(west) side of 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...
. They are located at the northern tip of Lough Ree
Lough Ree
Lough Ree is a lake in the midlands of Ireland, the second of the three major lakes on the River Shannon. Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the Shannon after Lough Derg. The other two major lakes are Lough Allen to the north, and Lough Derg to the south, there are also several minor lakes...
on the N63
N63 road (Ireland)
The N63 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It links the N17 northeast of Galway, to the N5 national primary road in Longford.En route it passes through Mountbellew, Roscommon Town, crosses the River Shannon at Lanesborough.The road is long....
national secondary road
National secondary road
A national secondary road is a category of road in Ireland. These roads form an important part of the national route network, but are secondary to the main arterial routes which are classified as national primary roads. National secondary roads are designated with route numbers higher than those...
at its junction with the R371
R371 road
The R371 road is a regional road in Ireland linking Roosky on the N4 with the N63 in Lanesborough, on the Ballyleague side of the town. The entire route is in County Roscommon except for the first 15 metres on the bridge in Roosky. En route it passes through Scramogue, and Curraghroe.The road is ...
(at Ballyleague) and R392
R392 road
The R392 road is a regional road in Ireland linking Lanesborough, County Longford on the N63 to Mullingar, County Westmeath.Its route takes it in an arch roughly west of the Royal Canal, which it crosses three times. The main town en route is Ballymahon, where it crosses the N55 and the River...
(at Lanesborough). The town of Longford is 16 km north-east on the N63, the town of Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
is 15 km south-west on the N63, the town of Ballymahon is 20km south-east on the R392 and the town of Strokestown is 15 km north-west on the R371.
Geography
The river Shannon divides the two towns. So the two towns are in two separate provinces (LeinsterLeinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
on the east and Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
on the west); two separate counties (Longford on the east and Roscommon on the west); two separate Roman Catholic Dioceses (Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland.-Geographic remit:The diocese is spread over parts of seven counties in the centre of Ireland. It includes almost all of County Longford, half of County Leitrim and parts of counties Westmeath, Offaly, Cavan, Roscommon...
on the east and Elphin
Roman Catholic Diocese of Elphin
The Diocese of Elphin is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam. The current Bishop is Dr. Christopher Jones DD who was appointed in 1994.-Geographical remit:The diocese covers parts...
on the west) ; and two separate Roman Catholic parishes (Rathcline on the east and, Kilgefin which consists of Ballyleague, Ballagh and Curraghroe on the west).
The original name of the town, Athliag, means Ford of Stones derived from the flagstones placed across the river to assist the crossing.
The first real bridge was built around 1000AD by Malachy
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill , also called Máel Sechnaill Mór, Máel Sechnaill II, anglicized Malachy II, was King of Mide and High King of Ireland...
, High King of Meath with Aide Farrell, King of Connacht
Kings of Connacht
The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht . Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD...
- built to link in the middle in their joint effort to defend against the Vikings. The first more permanent bridge was built in 1140 by Turlough O'Connor, High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
.
A further bridge was built in 1667 and survived till 1690 when it was destroyed by Col O'Reilly to stop the Williamite
Williamite
Williamite refers to the followers of King William III of England who deposed King James II in the Glorious Revolution. William, the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, replaced James with the support of English Whigs....
army under General Kirk.
In 1701 a ferry carrying 46 people to the fair capsized and 35 drowned. Parliament was petitioned for a new bridge, and a stone bridge was erected in 1706, 300' long, 15' wide with 9 arches. Demolished to provide a new bridge in 1844 which contained a swivel arch to allow large boats to pass through. This was removed in the 1960s and replaced by a concrete span in 1971.
Amenities
The Lanesborough-Ballyleague area is known for its sports fishing, with many tourists coming to fish for bream, tench, rudd and pike on the Shannon. The largest recorded pike ever caught in Ireland was caught in Lanesborough weighing in at 62.5lbs. The annual RegattaRegatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
and the horse fair are very important for the local economy. Lanesborough-Ballyleague is also a popular stop-over for pleasure boats on 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...
navigation system. The island-studded Lough Ree
Lough Ree
Lough Ree is a lake in the midlands of Ireland, the second of the three major lakes on the River Shannon. Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the Shannon after Lough Derg. The other two major lakes are Lough Allen to the north, and Lough Derg to the south, there are also several minor lakes...
is just to the south and stretches almost 30 km to Athlone: while upstream the Shannon meanders 40 km to Carrick on Shannon and beyond to the Shannon-Erne Waterway
Shannon-Erne Waterway
The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a canal linking the River Shannon in the Republic of Ireland with the River Erne in Northern Ireland. Managed by Waterways Ireland, the canal is in length, has sixteen locks and runs from Leitrim village in County Leitrim to Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh...
.
Sport
The two towns have separate Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
football teams: Rathcline and St Faithleachs.
Lanesborough also have an Annual Triathlon which consist of 750 m swim, 22 km cycling and 5 km run. It is organised by the Local Two Provinces Triathlon Club. the event is taking place on Saturday July 16th.
Economy
The Electricity Supply BoardElectricity Supply Board
The Electricity Supply Board , is a semi-state electricity company in Ireland. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concern in a liberalised and competitive market...
and Bord na Móna
Bord na Móna
Bord na Móna , abbreviated BNM, is a semi-state company in Ireland, created in 1946 by the Turf Development Act 1946. The company is responsible for the mechanised harvesting of peat, primarily in the Midlands of Ireland...
are the largest enterprises and provide substantial employment in the town.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland