Mullagh, County Cavan
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Mullagh
An Mullach | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Cavan |
| Elevation | 107 m (351 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Urban | 1,137 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | N690852 |
| Website | www.mullagh.ie |
Mullagh (Irish: An Mullach, meaning 'The Mound') is a village (and a parish) in County Cavan, Ireland. It had a population of 1137 in 2011. It lies in the south-east of the county, at the junction of the R191 and the R194 regional roads near the town of Virginia in County Cavan and the border with both Kells and the village of Moynalty in County Meath.
It contains a heritage centre dedicated to St Kilian, who was born in Mullagh c 640 and was martyred in Würzburg in Franconia in northern Bavaria, Germany, in circa 689. The centre also has an exhibition related to ogham script and the development of illuminated manuscripts.
The Catholic church, a Victorian neo-Gothic structure located 400m from the village on the Virginia Road (R194), is named in memory of its patron, Saint Kilian. It was built in the late 1850s.[1] Ruins of an earlier church, known as the Teampeall Ceallaigh, remain in what is now part of the Church of Ireland grounds located approximately 600m along the same road.
The village is situated approximately 2 kilometers from the border with County Meath and the province of Leinster, which is marked by the River Borora, which flows into the Owenroe River at Mullagh Bridge.
The environs of the village have witnessed substantial housing and industrial development in recent years. Mullagh's proximity to the new M3 motorway has had the effect of bringing Mullagh and south County Cavan within commuting distance from Dublin and larger towns in Leinster.
Amenities
Amenities locally include Mullagh Lake and Hill Walk (2 kilometers outside the village on the Virginia Road), Tennis Court and People's Park on Mullagh Fair Green, Children's Playground beside the St. Kilian's Heritage Center. The Edwin Carolan Memorial Park located on the Moynalty Road which includes a full size GAA pitch (open to all sports), a 440 metre track around its perimeter, a multi purpose Sports Centre and Gym. In the winter, the track is lit each night from 7.30 to 10pm or so to facilitate walking and running.
Local community organisations
Local community organisations include a vibrant men's and ladies GAA club, Cúchulainns GFC, Community Games (athletics club), a Drama Society (Millrace Drama Group) a Golf Society, Friendship Club, Parent and Toddler Group, Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. Separate committees include the Mullagh Tourism & Community Development Committee, Mullagh Tidy Towns, and St Kilian's Housing Association which has recently provided 12 units for the elderly.
In April 2013, Millrace Drama Group won the All-Ireland Confined Drama Final in Rossmore, Co Cork, with 'Trad’ by Mark Doherty. Liam Daly won the Best Actor on the same night. 'Trad’ tells the hilarious tale of Da (Liam Daly) who learns that his 100-year-old son Thomas (Darragh Smith) has fathered a child many years ago. This information forces them to travel a journey to find this child and successor to the family line. They encounter an aged and cranky old woman called Sal and also a hard drinking priest Fr Rice who helps them piece some history together on their quest to locate Thomas’ son. Conor Shaffrey from Moynalty plays the dual role of Sal and Fr Rice in this production. Their journey is choreographed brilliantly and well complemented by the traditional music produced by two musicians from Carnaross, Stephen O’Brien and Willie Corrigan, which creates a powerful feeling to this production
Transport
Bus Éireann route 108 provides three journeys a day (one on Sundays) to Kells via Moynalty and three journeys a day (one on Sundays) to Bailieborough [2] Onward connections to Dublin and Dublin Airport are available at Kells (Irish: Ceanannas Mór).
Events
Mullagh Fair Day
History of Fair: The Mullagh Fair was one of the best and biggest in the North East, its proximity to the Virginia Road railway station ensured that cattle purchased in Mullagh could easily be transported to ports in Dublin and Drogheda. However the opening of the Mullagh mart in 1957 finally brought to a close a long chapter in the history of Mullagh, since the first charters and licences were granted in 1621.
Present day: The Mullagh Tourism & Community Development Committee re-established the Fair Day in 1997 to ensure that the present population kept in touch with their rich historical past. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest one day shows in the North East with something for young and old alike. The Fair takes place each year on the 2nd Sunday in September.
Historic associations
The V. Rev. Dr Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, wrote parts of Gulliver's Travels and The Tale Of The Tub whilst staying near Mullagh. Dean Swift was staying at the country home of his cleric friend The Rev. Thomas Sheridan at Quilca House, which is close to the old, historic Mullagh village. Other notable descendants from the (Quilca) Sheridan family are the 18th century playwright Thomas Sheridan and notable writer Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
The original historic village of Mullagh was situated over a kilometre north-west of the present village close to Mullagh Lake, just off the Virginia Road, but there no longer remain any distinguishing features.
People
Television actor T. P. McKenna (All Creatures Great and Small, Inspector Morse) and film, television and stage actor Brían F. O'Byrne (Frozen, Intermission, Brooklyn's Finest, Million Dollar Baby, FlashForward, Prime Suspect (U.S.), Love/Hate) both hail from Mullagh.
See also
References
- ^ Mulligan, Kevin V., The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster - Armagh, Cavan and Monaghan (popularly known as the Pevsner Guide to South Ulster). Yale, New Haven and London, 2013.
- ^ "Bus Eireann Timetable" (PDF). Buseireann.ie. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
