Rosmuck
Encyclopedia
Rosmuc or Ros Muc is a village in the heart of the Conamara Gaeltacht
of County Galway
, Ireland
. It lies halfway between the town of Clifden
and the city of Galway
. It is estimated that people first settled in Rosmuc in 400, one hundred years before Naomh Briocán (Saint Briocán) brought Christianity to the area. That is to say that there are people that have been in Rosmuc for one thousand five hundred years. Irish is the predominantly spoken language. The District Electoral Division of Turlough, Rosmuc, state that Rosmuc is the most strongly Irish-speaking area in the country. According to an analysis of the census a total of 91.9% of adults over nineteen years old said they spoke Irish on a daily basis. The population of Rosmuc is estimated to be around five hundred people. For the past thirty years there has been a decline in the population, this is mainly due to emigration, although the tide of emigration has subsided in recent years due to the robust nature of the Irish economy. The village is the birth-place of a former president of the Gaelic League, Proinsias Mac Aonghusa
.
It is believed that the name 'Ros Muc' comes from the old Irish "the peninsula of rounded hills", ros meaning "peninsula" and muc meaning "rounded hills" or "Pig". Alternatively, the etymology could literally be ros muc—"the pig's head peninsula" (communication by boat between the area and neighbouring islands in Ceantar na nOileán being common up until the early 20th century, and the appearance of the peninsula from the sea was said to resemble that of a pig's head).
The area has many literary figures, notably Irish revolutionary and education/language activist Patrick Pearse
(Pádraig Mac Piarais) who had a summer residence there in the early 1900s (now a National Monument
/Heritage Site open to the public), and who set many of his short stories in the area. Another writer was Pádraic Ó Conaire
, who wrote a number of short stories partly set in the region, including M'asal Beag Dubh (My Little Black Donkey) and the novella Deoraíocht (Exile). The area is recognized as one of the strongest remaining Gaeltacht areas in South Connemara.
Pádraig Pearse, who was involved in the 1916 revolution in Dublin had a cottage in Rosmuc where he wrote many of his pieces. It was in Rosmuc that he wrote his famous oration given at the grave of Ó Donnabháin Rosa (O'Donovan Rossa) in 1915, which included the immortal words " ... but, the fools, the fools, the fools! — They have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace."
Based in Rosmuc is Cumann Sacar Naomh Briocain (affiliated with the FAI and playing in the Galway district league) Naomh Briocain also has players from neighbouring parishes, most notably Cill Chairain, Carna and Letir Mor.
Rosmuc along with its neighbours Camus and An Sraith Salach have a GAA Football between them called Na Piarsaigh.http://www.cumannpeilenabpiarsaigh.ie
Rosmuc has had a long term relationship with Coláiste na bhFiannhttp://www.colaistenabhfiann.com as it provides host accommodation for students learning Irish during the summer months.
Town Lands in Rosmuc
Gleann Chatha, An Gort Mór, Inbhear, Turlach, Ros Dubh, An Tamhnaigh Bhig, Snámh Bó, Cill Bhriocáin, An Aill Bhuí, An tOileán Mór, An Turlach Beag, Salalaoi, An Baile Thair, An Siléar, Inis Eilte, An Cladhnach, Cladach ó Dheas, Gairfean, Ros Cíde, Doire Iorrais
Irish dancing festival the first weekend following St. Brigid's Day (1 February), Rosmuc's traditional first day of spring.
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...
of 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 halfway between the town of Clifden
Clifden
Clifden is a town on the coast of County Galway, Ireland and being Connemara's largest town, it is often referred to as "the Capital of Connemara". It is located on the Owenglen River where it flows into Clifden Bay...
and the city of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
. It is estimated that people first settled in Rosmuc in 400, one hundred years before Naomh Briocán (Saint Briocán) brought Christianity to the area. That is to say that there are people that have been in Rosmuc for one thousand five hundred years. Irish is the predominantly spoken language. The District Electoral Division of Turlough, Rosmuc, state that Rosmuc is the most strongly Irish-speaking area in the country. According to an analysis of the census a total of 91.9% of adults over nineteen years old said they spoke Irish on a daily basis. The population of Rosmuc is estimated to be around five hundred people. For the past thirty years there has been a decline in the population, this is mainly due to emigration, although the tide of emigration has subsided in recent years due to the robust nature of the Irish economy. The village is the birth-place of a former president of the Gaelic League, Proinsias Mac Aonghusa
Proinsias Mac Aonghusa
Proinsias Mac Aonghusa was a vice-chairman of Ireland's Labour Party. He was a broadcaster for Radio Éireann , and for RTÉ, UTV and the BBC...
.
It is believed that the name 'Ros Muc' comes from the old Irish "the peninsula of rounded hills", ros meaning "peninsula" and muc meaning "rounded hills" or "Pig". Alternatively, the etymology could literally be ros muc—"the pig's head peninsula" (communication by boat between the area and neighbouring islands in Ceantar na nOileán being common up until the early 20th century, and the appearance of the peninsula from the sea was said to resemble that of a pig's head).
The area has many literary figures, notably Irish revolutionary and education/language activist Patrick Pearse
Patrick Pearse
Patrick Henry Pearse was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916...
(Pádraig Mac Piarais) who had a summer residence there in the early 1900s (now a National Monument
National Monument (Ireland)
The Irish state has officially approved the following List of National Monuments of Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, a structure or site may be deemed to be a "National Monument", and therefore worthy of state protection, if it is of national importance...
/Heritage Site open to the public), and who set many of his short stories in the area. Another writer was Pádraic Ó Conaire
Pádraic Ó Conaire
Pádraic Ó Conaire was an Irish writer and journalist whose production was primarily in the Irish language.-Life:Ó Conaire was born in Galway in 1882. His father was a publican, who owned two premises in the town...
, who wrote a number of short stories partly set in the region, including M'asal Beag Dubh (My Little Black Donkey) and the novella Deoraíocht (Exile). The area is recognized as one of the strongest remaining Gaeltacht areas in South Connemara.
Pádraig Pearse, who was involved in the 1916 revolution in Dublin had a cottage in Rosmuc where he wrote many of his pieces. It was in Rosmuc that he wrote his famous oration given at the grave of Ó Donnabháin Rosa (O'Donovan Rossa) in 1915, which included the immortal words " ... but, the fools, the fools, the fools! — They have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace."
Based in Rosmuc is Cumann Sacar Naomh Briocain (affiliated with the FAI and playing in the Galway district league) Naomh Briocain also has players from neighbouring parishes, most notably Cill Chairain, Carna and Letir Mor.
Rosmuc along with its neighbours Camus and An Sraith Salach have a GAA Football between them called Na Piarsaigh.http://www.cumannpeilenabpiarsaigh.ie
Rosmuc has had a long term relationship with Coláiste na bhFiannhttp://www.colaistenabhfiann.com as it provides host accommodation for students learning Irish during the summer months.
Town Lands in Rosmuc
Gleann Chatha, An Gort Mór, Inbhear, Turlach, Ros Dubh, An Tamhnaigh Bhig, Snámh Bó, Cill Bhriocáin, An Aill Bhuí, An tOileán Mór, An Turlach Beag, Salalaoi, An Baile Thair, An Siléar, Inis Eilte, An Cladhnach, Cladach ó Dheas, Gairfean, Ros Cíde, Doire Iorrais
Town festival
The area has a traditional Sean-nósSean-nós song
Sean-nós is a highly ornamented style of unaccompanied traditional Irish singing. It is a sean-nós activity, which also includes sean-nós dancing...
Irish dancing festival the first weekend following St. Brigid's Day (1 February), Rosmuc's traditional first day of spring.
Former Residents
Rosmuc's most famous resident and historic landmark is Pearse's Cottage, which attracts up to ten thousand visitors each year. It was April 1903 when Paraic Pearse first came to Rosmuc as an examiner for Conradh na Gaeilge. Rosmuc and it's people made an impression on him like no other place had previously and because of this he decided to build a holiday home there. He bought a site from Jeanín Mhichíl Grealish, a beautiful spot with a magnificent view of Loch Eiliúrach. Máirtín Labhráis Nee and Tom Labhráis Nee built a two bed roomed-thatched cottage for him. Bartley Mannion did the carpentry work on the cottage.- Patrick NeePatrick NeePatrick Nee is an Irish-American immigrant, former member of the Mullen Gang, Vietnam vet, and the bestselling author of the memoir A Criminal and an Irishman; The Inside Story of the Boston Mob-IRA Connection.-Early life:Nee was born in Ros Muc, an Irish language speaking village in the...
, an Irish-American mobster and bestselling author from South Boston, MassachusettsSouth Boston, MassachusettsSouth Boston is a densely populated neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, located south and east of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. One of America's oldest and most historic neighborhoods, South Boston was formerly known as Dorchester Neck, and today is called "Southie" by...
is a native of Rosmuc. - Sean (John) Mannion, world class light middleweight boxer, now a professional trainer and also is heavily involved in youth boxing in the area.
See also
- Connacht IrishConnacht IrishConnacht Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in the province of Connacht. Gaeltacht regions in Connacht are found in Counties Mayo and Galway...
- List of towns and villages in Ireland