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Annagassan

Coordinates: 53°53′N 6°21′W / 53.883°N 6.350°W / 53.883; -6.350
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Annagassan
Áth na gCasán
Village
Annagassan bridge
Annagassan bridge
Annagassan is located in Ireland
Annagassan
Annagassan
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°53′N 6°21′W / 53.883°N 6.350°W / 53.883; -6.350
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyCounty Louth
Population
 (2016)[1]
201

Annagassan (Irish: Áth na gCasán, meaning 'ford of the paths')[2] is a village in the townland of Ballynagassan, County Louth, Ireland. It sits where the River Glyde enters the Irish Sea.

History

Annagassan was first mentioned as Linn Duachaill in AD 841 when the establishment of a Viking longphort was recorded.[3][4] It is unclear whether the longphort at Annagassan continued under the Dublin Viking regime after 852 since the location is not mentioned for seventy years.[5] The longphort is estimated to have been 1.18 kilometres from north to south. Within this area, the earthwork of Lisnarann may have acted as the citadel.[5] Thomas Wright was the first to record this area in 1748 and described it as a ‘Danish fort by the pass of the Llyns, upon the banks of the sea’.[6] The first material evidence of a Viking presence was a honestone discovered during a field survey of the site in a field near a laneway off Castle bellington.[6] In 2007, John Nicholls conducted a geophysical survey that revealed a substantial anomaly spanning roughly 120 meters which likely extended the full 250 meters distance to the sea.[7] The longphort itself was discovered in 2010 during a small research excavation.[8][5]

In 827, the Annals of Ulster record that the Vikings attacked the Ciannachta people of Louth and north Meath. These early raids were sporadic coastal attacks by small seaborne forces; however, from the 830s, a new phase was characterised by larger fleets, which penetrated up navigable rivers and plundered extensive inland areas. There is a legend that one such Viking was stranded after a raid and settled there. The locals believe this Viking heritage is evidenced by the long-held residence of a seafaring man of "mythic proportions" and wild Scandinavian appearance and demeanour, known to the villagers as "The Bear".

Annagassan was once as important as the Viking settlement at Dubh Linn (The Black Pool).[9] The modern village is generally believed to be built on what archaeologists consider to be a man-made polder structure, constructed to provide shelter for the fjord. The original settlement was located further upstream; navigation was considerably easier on the River Glyde in the 9th century before the intervening build-up of sediment.

Village life

The Glyde Inn is the main social centre of the village. The restaurant and traditional Irish bar is family owned and has won several awards in recent years, being named National Pub of the Year in 2018, and Best Pub in Ireland in 2023. Notable dishes served include the Viking Burger and local seafood dishes. As well as the Glyde Inn, Sláns Bar is close by, and is also popular within the village.

Annagassan is known for its bread production. O'Neill's Bakery has been produced in the village for over 50 years and is distributed to retailers across the county. The family-owned business bake bread, brack, cakes and other confectionary.

Annagassan's heritage is immortalised through its old style. This can be seen through a number of landmarks in the village, such as Annagassan Bridge over the River Glyde, the old mill building, and the disused water tower. The settlement is a classic fishing village, and the harbour still houses a number of fishing vessels that regularly set out during the summer months for crab claws and other sea critters. In recent years, the harbour has become a popular spot for campervans when the weather is nice.

Annagassan beach stretches the full length of its coastline, beginning at the mouth of the River Glyde. The beach is used by walkers and swimmers throughout the year, and extends further onto Salterstown beach, which has become very popular in recent times.

From 2008 to 2013, Annagassan celebrated its Viking heritage by hosting the annual Viking Festival. The festival was a showcase of Viking culture and included events such as sword fighting, dress up competitions, music, food and other sources of entertainment. The festival would end with a parade to the harbour in which a large wooden longboat was carried, and then burned in a bonfire. The voluntary organising committee were forced to put an end to the festival in 2014 due to insurance issues, however the annual Viking 10k run still takes place to this day. Hundreds of runners complete the circuit every year, which encircles Annagassan village, Salterstown and the surrounding areas. The race celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022

In sport, the local GAA club Naomh Fionbarra and St. Anne's GFG compete in Gaelic football. They field both men's and women's teams, and cater for several age groups from children all the way to senior teams. They play their home matches at John Markey Park in Annagassan. They have rivalries with other local clubs, the O'Connells in Castlebellingham, and the Dreadknots in Clogherhead.

The local school is St. Finian's of Dillonstown, as is the closest church.

Transport

Old style bilingual AA fingerpost

Bus Éireann route 168 provides nine daily journeys to Dundalk, and nine daily journeys to Drogheda, on weekdays. The route also passes through Dromiskin, Castlebellingham, Clogherhead, Termonfeckin and Baltray.[10]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sapmap Area - Settlements - Annagassan". Census 2016. Central Statistics Office. April 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Annagassan" A Dictionary of British Place-Names. A. D. Mills. Oxford University Press, 2003. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Solihull Libraries. 16 April 2008
  3. ^ Connolly S.J. (1998). The Oxford Companion to Irish History. Oxford University Press. p. 580. ISBN 0-19-211695-9.
  4. ^ Roesdahl, Else (2016). The Vikings (Third ed.). Penguin Books. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-141-98476-6.
  5. ^ a b c Kelly, Eamon (2015). Clarke, Howard (ed.). The Vikings in Ireland and Beyond: Before and After the Battle of Clontarf. Dublin: Four Courts Press. pp. 55–92.
  6. ^ a b McKeown, Micheál (2005). "Annagassan, A Study of the Viking Longphort". Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society. 26 (1): 67–79.
  7. ^ Clinton, Mark (2014). "The Viking Longphort of Linn Duachaill: A First Report". Peritia (24): 123–140.
  8. ^ Etchingham, Colmán (2015). The Vikings in Ireland and beyond: Before and after the Battle of Clontarf. Dublin: Four Courts Press. pp. 117–28.
  9. ^ Macauley, Conor (24 October 2011). "Linn Duchaill: Ireland's unlikely Viking capital". BBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Bus Éireann Route 168, Dundalk - Drogheda". buseireann.ie. 2 March 2023.
  11. ^ Alison Comyn (22 September 2022). "Narnia author CS Lewis links with Louth celebrated in new book". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
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