Letterard
Encyclopedia
Letterard is a townland located in the parish of Moyrus or Carna, Connemara on the West Coast of the Republic of Ireland
. It is located in County Galway and has an overall population of 103 which is relatively big when compared to other townlands in the area. To the west of Letterard is Bertrabhoy Bay which once housed a massive fish farm. Across the bay from Letterard is Roundstone which is lit up beautifully at night and there is also a great view of the Twelve Bens
from Letterard. The word Letterard itself means high area and Letterard is all a high area with a cliff on one side called Áill Dá Bhinn which in itself means to gables suggesting the two cliffs and on the other side is Garraí Na bPoll which means hole withina piece of land suggesting the valley between the two cliffs. Letterard is also located in the Connemara
Gaeltacht
so most of the population around 90% speak Gaeilge or Gaelic Irish. Letterard is more commonly called Leitir Árd or Leitreach Árd by locals and others from Connemara due to the Irish language. Before the Great Famine
struck Ireland the population of Letterard was around 800 people and it dramatically dropped to just over 100 by the end of the famine. Letterard has one of the biggest populations in the Carna area apart from Carna itself but it is the less known of the townlands. The ratio of young people compared to adults is slightly scary as the majority of the townland is taken up by adults over 30s or children under 10 years old with a gap in the middle between the ages of 10–30 years old. Due to the recession the population of Letterard is on the rise as more people are returning home and in another decade or two it will probably be declared a village.
Letterard was once home to a fish processing factory owned by Gaelic Seafoods which then went out of business in the early 2000s. There is still a small group of fishermen who use the old jetty and factory to store fish and to park their boats. It was once a big producer of mackerel
and other pollack
but in the 2000s the number of fish in the bay dropped dramatically and money became scarce forcing them to close down the business. It was also a huge provider of local jobs and it provided over 62 jobs between fisheries and office workers.
A boatbuilding yard was once located in Letterard but in 2004 a ship left the shipyard after it was fixed by the owner of the yard. The owner was asked if he could come with them to show them the way and he went. The ship later went up on rocks at Duck Island off the coast of Maínis
killing all on board and the shipyard was shutdown.
There is a number of smaller areas located within Letterard
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 located in County Galway and has an overall population of 103 which is relatively big when compared to other townlands in the area. To the west of Letterard is Bertrabhoy Bay which once housed a massive fish farm. Across the bay from Letterard is Roundstone which is lit up beautifully at night and there is also a great view of the Twelve Bens
Twelve Bens
The Twelve Bens, or Twelve Pins , is a mountain range of sharp-peaked quartzite ranges located northeast of Roundstone in Connemara in the west of Ireland. Dedicated fell runners attempt to hike all twelve peaks in a single day...
from Letterard. The word Letterard itself means high area and Letterard is all a high area with a cliff on one side called Áill Dá Bhinn which in itself means to gables suggesting the two cliffs and on the other side is Garraí Na bPoll which means hole withina piece of land suggesting the valley between the two cliffs. Letterard is also located in the Connemara
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:...
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...
so most of the population around 90% speak Gaeilge or Gaelic Irish. Letterard is more commonly called Leitir Árd or Leitreach Árd by locals and others from Connemara due to the Irish language. Before the Great Famine
Great Famine
Great Famine may refer to any of several historical famines:* The Great Famine of 1315–1317 in northern Europe* The Great India Famine of 1344-1345...
struck Ireland the population of Letterard was around 800 people and it dramatically dropped to just over 100 by the end of the famine. Letterard has one of the biggest populations in the Carna area apart from Carna itself but it is the less known of the townlands. The ratio of young people compared to adults is slightly scary as the majority of the townland is taken up by adults over 30s or children under 10 years old with a gap in the middle between the ages of 10–30 years old. Due to the recession the population of Letterard is on the rise as more people are returning home and in another decade or two it will probably be declared a village.
Letterard was once home to a fish processing factory owned by Gaelic Seafoods which then went out of business in the early 2000s. There is still a small group of fishermen who use the old jetty and factory to store fish and to park their boats. It was once a big producer of mackerel
Mackerel
Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They may be found in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel , enter bays and can be...
and other pollack
Pollack
Pollack is a surname, and may refer to:* Alan W. Pollack, musicologist* Andrea Pollack , swimmer* Ben Pollack , drummer and bandleader* Brittany Pollack, New York City Ballet dancer* David M. Pollack, , American football linebacker...
but in the 2000s the number of fish in the bay dropped dramatically and money became scarce forcing them to close down the business. It was also a huge provider of local jobs and it provided over 62 jobs between fisheries and office workers.
A boatbuilding yard was once located in Letterard but in 2004 a ship left the shipyard after it was fixed by the owner of the yard. The owner was asked if he could come with them to show them the way and he went. The ship later went up on rocks at Duck Island off the coast of Maínis
Maínis
Maínis is an island off the Conamara coast in the heart of the Conamara Gaeltacht. The island is close to Carna and linked to the mainland by a bridge. It is noted for its isolation and rugged beauty....
killing all on board and the shipyard was shutdown.
There is a number of smaller areas located within Letterard
- Damhros: A peninsula located to the South West of Letterard
- Crumpán: A small hilly area to the South East
- Béal Carra: A small peninsula to the West of Letterard, with a pier
Famous Residents
- Johnny Mháirtín Learaí MacDonnacha: Famous sean-nós singer, known in Scotland.
- Senator Margaret Craven: The Maine Senator was born in Letterard and later moved to America when she was still a teenager .She was elected a Senator in Maine in 2009. She returned to Letterard in 2010 to her nearest relation Eileen Connelly, the wife of Margarets brother Josie who died in the boating tradegy off the Carna coast.