Glenamoy
Glenamoy is also an electoral division (ED) in the local electoral area of Belmullet. As of 2022, Glenmoy ED had a population of 205 people. It is a Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area.
Geography
Topography
The electoral division of Glenamoy includes the following six townlands:
- Bellagelly North (Béal a Ghoile meaning "mouth of the stomach")
- Bellagelly south (Béal a Ghoile meaning "mouth of the stomach")
- Glencullin Lower (Gleann Chuilinn Íochtarach)
- Glenturk Beg (Gleann Toirc Beag)
- Glenturk More (Gleann Toirc Mór)
- Muingingaun (Moing Iongáin meaning "stream of the talons")
Other townlands in the area include:
- Baralty (Barr Altaigh meaning "hills/cliffs/anything high")
- Bunalty (Bun Altaigh meaning "base of the hills/cliffs")
- Srahnaplaia (Srath na Pláighe meaning "holm of the plague")
- Pollboy (Poll Buí meaning "yellow hole")
- Lenarevagh (An Léana Riabhach meaning "grey meadows")
The townlands of Glenamoy make up the inland portion of Kilcommon parish which is, in the main, a coastal area. Much of Glenamoy is remote in nature and consists of large expanses of blanket bog. The electoral division of Glenamoy covers an area of approximately 14,500 acres (59 km).
Rivers which flow through the area include the Glenamoy River, which rises in Glencalry (Belderrig) townland and ultimately flows into Sruwaddacon estuary and Broadhaven Bay. The Owenmore River flows via Carrowmore Lake into Blacksod Bay where a tributary of it (known as the Munhin River) connects the area with the Ulster Cycle saga of Táin Bó Flidhais.
The habitations in Glenamoy are spread out across a wide area; This is a remnant of the Rundale system of agriculture which was once commonplace in the area.
Glenamoy bog complex
The Glenamoy bog complex is a large site situated in the north-west of Erris, incorporating both inland and coastal regions. The climate is wet and oceanic and there are frequent strong winds across the area which is largely treeless and relatively exposed. The bog complex area is drained by four main river systems - the Glenamoy, the Muingnabo, the Belderg and the Glenglassra rivers. Extreme oceanic blanket bog dominates the site in its inland areas. Sea cliffs dominate the coastline and there are a number of steeply sided islands off the coast which are sometimes used for summer grazing of livestock.
History
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of possible crannógs in the townland of Bellagelly North. The Record of Monuments and Places records a ringfort site in Muingingaun townland.
During the 19th century, several shooting lodges were used by the local landlords and landed gentry to host shooting parties. As of the late 19th century, a number of lace schools (associated with the Congested Districts Board) operated in the broader Erris area.
On 21 September 1922, during the Irish Civil War, a detachment of pro-Treaty National Army troops were ambushed by Anti-Treaty IRA forces at Glenamoy. Following the arrival of National Army reinforcements, a lengthy gun battle broke out - described in some sources as the "Battle of Glenamoy". In all, six pro-Treaty and ten anti-Treaty combatants are killed.
Religion
The local Catholic church, St Paul's Church, is one of five churches within Kilcommon Erris parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killala. Prior to the construction of this church, masses were held in the old school building nearby. The foundation stone for the church was laid in August 1935, and it was completed in 1936. One of the stained glass windows is attributed to Earley Studios Limited in Dublin. The church was closed for restoration in 2020, and subsequently re-opened to parishioners.
Amenities and sport
The area is served by an An Post post office, and adjoining petrol station. A health centre, with limited opening hours, is located nearby. The Glenamoy (Gleann na Muaidhe) Garda station also has limited operating hours. As of 2023, the Glenamoy national (primary) school, Scoil Náisiúnta Gleann na Muaidhe, had just 4 pupils enrolled.
The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, CLG Cill Chomáin, is based at Lenarevagh townland near Glenamoy.
See also
- Barroosky, a neighbouring ED and townland within Kilcommon parish
References
- ^ "Gleann na Muaidhe/Glenamoy". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "S.I. No. 54/2012 — Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2012". irishstatutebook.ie. Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "S.I. No. 435/1998 - County of Mayo Local Electoral Areas Order, 1998". Irish Statute Book. November 1998. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "FP009 - Population and Actual and Percentage Change 2016 to 2022". data.gov.ie. Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
Gleann na Muaidhe, Co.Mayo, 29056 [..] Electoral Division [..] Population - 2022 [..] 205
- ^ "Glenamoy Electoral Division, Co. Mayo". townlands.ie. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "Site Synopsis - Glenamoy Bog Complex" (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ Record of Monuments and Places - County Mayo (PDF), Dublin: National Monuments and Historic Properties Service, 1996
- ^ "Erris Lace Schools". laceschool.com. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fierce Fighting in Mayo". Drogheda Independent. 23 September 1922.
- ^ Langan, Thomas (1987). "The Battle of Glenamoy". North Mayo Historical Journal. 2 (1) – via goldenlangan.com.
- ^ "National Army Killed Civil War". Irishmedals.org. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Sixteen killed in Mayo encounter". Irish Independent. 19 September 1922.
- ^ "North Mayo Fight: Losses on Both Sides". Irish Examiner. 25 September 1922.
- ^ "5 Churches | Parish Of Kilcommon Erris, County Mayo, Ireland". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ Noone, Fr Sean (1991). Where The Sun Sets (1st ed.). Naas: The Leinster Leader. pp. 155–254. ISBN 0951817906.
- ^ "Saint Paul's Catholic Church, Bunalty, Gleann na Muaidhe [Glenamoy], Mayo". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "Appeal to help with upgrade and repair of Glenamoy church". Mayo Advertiser. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Major fundraising underway to repair Glenamoy Church". midwestradio.ie. 5 December 2020.
- ^ "North Mayo church looking for donations to repair damage". Connaught Telegraph. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Resumption of services". Saint Paul's Church Glenamoy Restoration Fund Facebook Page. 2021 – via Facebook.com.
- ^ "Post Office Locator - An Post Gleann na Muaidhe". An Post. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Health Centres in Mayo". Health Service Executive. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Written answers - Thursday, 29 September 2011 - Department of Justice, Equality and Defence - Garda Stations". Houses of the Oireachtas. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2024 – via kildarestreet.com.
- ^ "Station Directory - Gleann na Muaidhe (Glenamoy)". garda.ie. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Directory - S N Gleann na Muaidhe (Glenamoy National School) 13882L". gov.ie. Department of Education. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "CLG Cill Chomáin". cillchomaingaa.ie. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
Cill Chomain GAA, Lenarevagh, Glenamoy, Ballina Co.Mayo