Moate
Encyclopedia
Moate is a town
in County Westmeath
, Ireland
.
The name An Móta is derived from the term motte-and-bailey
as the Normans
built an example of this type of fortification here. The earthwork is still visible behind the buildings on the main street.
The town later became an important marketplace and Quaker village. There are several extant examples of Quaker houses on the main street, which itself is typical of an Irish marketplace (similar example in Ballymahon
, County Longford
).
between Kinnegad
and Athlone. Before July 2008, this was the N6 road, a national primary route and Moate was a serious traffic bottleneck. The new M6 motorway
bypasses the town. A disused railway line runs through the town. Built by the Midland Great Western Railway
to connect Dublin and Galway which is now served by the Irish Rail route
). Athlone lies 12 km west, along the N6.
Moate is a growing town with many new businesses including a supermarket (SuperValu
), hardware store, an internet café-computer shop, a pizzeria, a petrol station, a pub, a post office, a credit union, a library, a hair dresser, a bank, a sport shop, a hotel and over twelve public houses. It has been the site of many new building ventures in recent years; for example, at the site of the old convent there now stands a complex of apartments and shops.
Moate has a strong musical tradition with many young bands emerging from the town. There is also a recording studio.
The town's theatre and arts centre is called Tuar Ard and was once the site of St. Patrick's Hall, yet another national school for a time. It is now a venue for plays, seminars, classical and rock concerts, and presentations.
The Dún na Sí heritage centre on the west side of town includes County Westmeath's genealogy centre, a restaurant, recreations of various types of indigenous dwellings, and preserved farm machinery.
The former gaol, part of the old courthouse, now contains a small museum housing artefacts found in the area dating from the Stone Age through to the modern era.
The principle secondary school in the town is Moate Community School, which opened a new building in 2002 containing a gymnasium, four new science laboratories, a home economics room, art room, lecture hall, technical drawing classroom and an oratory as well as general classrooms and offices. It has approximately 1,000 students (including Moate Business College) and a staff of 72. Moate Business College, which is a PLC college, provides courses including performance arts and information technology.
. On 16 December 1983, Patrick Kelly, who was from Moate, was attempting to free American businessman Don Tidey, who had been kidnapped by the IRA
. Along with Garda
recruit Gary Sheehan, he was killed in a shoot-out with Provisional IRA gunmen at Derrada Woods, Ballinamore
, Co Leitrim.
(1979) starring Sean Connery
and Donald Sutherland
were filmed on the railway near Moate, and the train station depicted as Ashford is actually Moate station.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
The name An Móta is derived from the term motte-and-bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
as the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
built an example of this type of fortification here. The earthwork is still visible behind the buildings on the main street.
The town later became an important marketplace and Quaker village. There are several extant examples of Quaker houses on the main street, which itself is typical of an Irish marketplace (similar example in Ballymahon
Ballymahon
Ballymahon on the River Inny is a town in the southern part of County Longford, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the N55 National secondary road and the R392 regional road. Ballymahon derives its name from Gaelic Baile Mathuna Town of Mahon...
, 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...
).
Location
The town is on the R446 roadR446 road
The R446 road is one of Ireland's newest regional roads, having been classified following the opening in 2006 of the N6 High Quality Dual Carriageway which by-passes the old route....
between Kinnegad
Kinnegad
Kinnegad or Kinagad is a town in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is near the border with County Meath, at the junction of the N6 and the N4 - two of Ireland's main east-west roads...
and Athlone. Before July 2008, this was the N6 road, a national primary route and Moate was a serious traffic bottleneck. The new M6 motorway
M6 motorway (Ireland)
The M6 motorway is a motorway in Ireland, which runs from Dublin to Galway. The M6 extends from its junction with the M4 at Kinnegad all the way west to the outskirts of Galway City, but the Athlone bypass and the approach to Galway city - while of dual carriageway standard - have not been...
bypasses the town. A disused railway line runs through the town. Built by the Midland Great Western Railway
Midland Great Western Railway
The Midland Great Western Railway was the third largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland. It was incorporated in 1845 and absorbed into the Great Southern Railway in 1924. It served part of Leinster, County Cavan in Ulster and much of Connaught...
to connect Dublin and Galway which is now served by the Irish Rail route
Rail transport in Ireland
Rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...
). Athlone lies 12 km west, along the N6.
Moate is a growing town with many new businesses including a supermarket (SuperValu
SuperValu (Ireland)
SuperValu is a supermarket chain in Ireland and Spain, owned by the Musgraves wholesaler firm. Its headquarters is located in Cork and has stores across the entirety of Ireland.-Company structure:...
), hardware store, an internet café-computer shop, a pizzeria, a petrol station, a pub, a post office, a credit union, a library, a hair dresser, a bank, a sport shop, a hotel and over twelve public houses. It has been the site of many new building ventures in recent years; for example, at the site of the old convent there now stands a complex of apartments and shops.
Culture and heritage
The town has a long established Gaelic Football club known as the Moate All Whites (the team plays in white strip). The club's name and colour are based on the colour of the religious habits worn by the Carmelite White Friars, a long established Moate institution.Moate has a strong musical tradition with many young bands emerging from the town. There is also a recording studio.
The town's theatre and arts centre is called Tuar Ard and was once the site of St. Patrick's Hall, yet another national school for a time. It is now a venue for plays, seminars, classical and rock concerts, and presentations.
The Dún na Sí heritage centre on the west side of town includes County Westmeath's genealogy centre, a restaurant, recreations of various types of indigenous dwellings, and preserved farm machinery.
The former gaol, part of the old courthouse, now contains a small museum housing artefacts found in the area dating from the Stone Age through to the modern era.
Transport
- Moate railway station opened on 1 August 1851, closed for goods traffic on 2 December 1974 and closed for passenger traffic on 27 January 1987.
- The town is well served on bus routes with the Bus ÉireannBus ÉireannBus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
number 20 bus going every two hours towards both Dublin and Galway.
Education
Moate has two primary schools, St. Brigid's National School (co-educational) and St. Oliver Plunkett Boys' Primary School.The principle secondary school in the town is Moate Community School, which opened a new building in 2002 containing a gymnasium, four new science laboratories, a home economics room, art room, lecture hall, technical drawing classroom and an oratory as well as general classrooms and offices. It has approximately 1,000 students (including Moate Business College) and a staff of 72. Moate Business College, which is a PLC college, provides courses including performance arts and information technology.
Patrick Kelly Memorial Park
In December 2008 a memorial park was opened in Moate, named after the only Irish soldier to die in combat on home soil since the end of the Irish Civil WarIrish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
. On 16 December 1983, Patrick Kelly, who was from Moate, was attempting to free American businessman Don Tidey, who had been kidnapped by the IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
. Along with Garda
Garda
Garda may refer to:* An Garda Síochána, the national police of the Republic of Ireland* Lake Garda, a lake in northern Italy.* Garda , a commune on the shores of the Italian Lake Garda in the province of Verona....
recruit Gary Sheehan, he was killed in a shoot-out with Provisional IRA gunmen at Derrada Woods, Ballinamore
Ballinamore
Ballinamore is a small town in County Leitrim, Ireland, from the border with Northern Ireland. It is located on the R202 regional road where it is joined by the R199 and R204. means "mouth of the big ford", and the town is so named because it was the main crossing point of the Yellow River,...
, Co Leitrim.
Film: The First Great Train Robbery
Parts of the film The First Great Train RobberyThe First Great Train Robbery
The First Great Train Robbery — known in the U.S. as The Great Train Robbery — is a 1979 film directed by Michael Crichton, who also wrote the screenplay based on his novel The Great Train Robbery...
(1979) starring Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
and Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland
Donald McNichol Sutherland, OC is a Canadian actor with a film career spanning nearly 50 years. Some of Sutherland's more notable movie roles included offbeat warriors in such war movies as The Dirty Dozen, , MASH , and Kelly's Heroes , as well as in such popular films as Klute, Invasion of the...
were filmed on the railway near Moate, and the train station depicted as Ashford is actually Moate station.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland