Dunmore (County Galway)

Dunmore (Irish Dún Mór ) is a town in County Galway, Ireland, to the 122 townlands and places Dunmore and Garrafrauns with a total of 1,404 inhabitants ( 2006) count. The name of the place and its foundation dates back to a fortress of the kings of Connacht, which is particularly associated with the name of Toirrdelbach Ó Conchobhair († 1156 ).

Geographical location

Dunmore is located in the extreme north of County Galway, bordering County Mayo County Roscommon in the northwest and in the northeast. Next adjacent Liskeevy in the West, Tuam in the south and the east Boyounagh. Through the village runs in a north -south direction, the N83, which connects the village to Ballyhaunis and Tuam. Other roads are the R328, which leads from Ballindine by Mountbellew Bridge, and the R360 that connects with Dunmore, Williamstown. Dunmore is located at the Sinking River, which flows into the River Clare. The municipality is located in a ground moraine with Eskern, reach heights of up to 140 meters and thus up to 60 meters rise above their surroundings.

History

A neolithic Hofgrab in Town Country Fleascach Mhór on the slopes of Slieve Dart is evidence of early farming settlement in the region. The North Galway and in particular, the region is rich in Raths, which probably date from the early Iron Age, but partly also to the 17th century were used. These annular plants were preferred applied on slopes or hilltops. In his work Neary is facing a total of 140 such facilities in the municipality. The majority of this council has just a simple ring-shaped structure consisting of a rampart and a ditch, but there are also representatives with two or three rings. In the townland Kilnalappa, about four kilometers north-east from the center, Woodbed Rath, a very well maintained property is located on a hill with three rings, deep trenches, a stone fortification of the inner box with about 30 meters in diameter and a suspected basement.

The creation of an early Christian monastery in Dunmore has not been established, although there are indications in the literature, but go back to a confusion with Donaghpatrick by Mervyn Archdall in Monasticon Hibernicum. The foundation of the town and the name that translates to " great fortress " means going back to one of the less important branches of the kings of Connacht. It is believed that this fort had their place where later the castle Dunmore Castle has been built, which is located on the R328 about half a kilometer west of the modern town center. In 1133 the fortress was captured and burnt by the combined forces of the kings of Desmond and Thomond, Mac Cormac Conchobar Ua Briain and Carthaig.

Dunmore fell in 1235 as part of the conquest of Connacht by Richard de Burgh and was awarded as fief to Piers de Bermingham († 1254 ). It was first built in Dunmore a moth, probably on the basis of the previous fortress. But there is also a tradition that dates the establishment of the moth 1225 and Hosty Merrick attributes, which was later sold by the family de Bermingham. However, the construction of the castle dates back to the family de Bermingham and even in mid -13th century. Direct to the castle is a small village, as in Athenry, which was, however, burned down in 1249 by the sons of the king of Connacht developed.

Walter Mor de Bermingham, 9th Baron of Athenry, founded in 1425, the monastery Dunmore for the Augustinian brothers, probably with brothers from banada. When the monastery during the Reformation should be repealed middle of the 16th century, Lord Bermingham continued successfully for obtaining one with the argument that it was founded by his family, and that it was very poor and without significant land holdings so that the crown of which could hardly benefit. Although the brothers had to flee occasionally, so they remained in Dunmore for a long time until 1809, the last brothers to Athlone attracted. The structural substance had suffered considerably in the 18th century. Nevertheless, the Augustinian Friars of the choir area of ​​the church was still used as Anglican parish church after the departure.

North of the Sinking River, on Church Street, which leads to Ballyhaunis, was probably a medieval parish church. In their place is still only an older cemetery to find. North-east of a small makeshift Catholic church was built in the 19th century first, which was then in 1842 replaced by a larger church. 1859 was built by the architect John Sterling Butler a tower. This church was demolished after 1968 a new church was erected on the High Street.

Culture

Dunmore is known for its established in 1968 to mark the inauguration of the new church church choir Dunmore Church Choir, which includes about 50 members and is repeatedly occurred internationally, including 1996 in twin city cross Rien, 2007 in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and 2011 in Toronto.