Delvin
Delvin ([Dealbhna or Dealbhna Mhór] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a small town in north County Westmeath, Ireland located on the N52 road at a junction with the N51 to Navan. The town is 20 km from Mullingar (along the N52) and is the setting of the book Valley of the Squinting Windows by Brinsley MacNamara, described under the fictitious name of "Garradrimna".
in the Main Street (1181)
The word Delvin comes from Delbhna.The tribe settled in the place that is now Delvin, along with a branch of the Soghain, in Tricha céd na Delbna Móire agus na Sogan. [What is that?]
Delvin Castle and Clonyn Castle
The original Delvin Castle (or Nugent Castle), now a ruin, is believed [citation needed] to have been built in 1181 by Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath for his brother-in-law, Gilbert de Nugent. Gilbert De Nugent came to Ireland with Hugh De Lacy in 1171. Gilbert settled on some land in Delvin and was granted the title Baron of Delvin. The ruins of Nugent Castle remain near the center of the town. A second castle was built by Gilbert de Nogent some centuries later, some hundreds of metres from the centre of the Delvin settlement of that time. Today, Clonyn Castle is situated on dominant ground south of Delvin between the N52 and the Collinstown road. An alternative access to the castle grounds exists on this Collinstown road opposite the church. This access also is used by the Delvin golf course club members.
The Barony of Westmeath remained with the Viscounts Gormanston throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was not until the 1990s that the Barony was passed on through the family to the present Baron, Harryman-Preston, JENICO Lee Adam.
Amenities/Facilities
The 18-hole Delvin Castle Golf Club is located near the town. There is a bank branch, school, church, hotel/guest house, a few shops and a take-away in the town. There are also a few pubs on the Main Street, the most popular [citation needed] being O'Shaughnessy's. It is likely [citation needed] that several more amenities will open over the next few years due to the construction of a large housing estate near the town in 2004.
Recently a new hair salon has opened on main street and many new houses have been built since 2004. As of 2007 the town has continued to expand and work on a development in the centre of the village has recently recommenced. Plans have also recently been unveiled for the provision of a new sports and leisure facility within the village. Some outdoor facilities are expected to be available by Summer 2007, while plans for the multi-purpose indoor leisure complex are being prepared and fund raising gathers pace.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Sir Thomas Chapman, 7th Baronet
- Actress Mary McEvoy who played Biddy Byrne in Glenroe is from Delvin.