Oldcastle, County Meath: Difference between revisions
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The town has a wide range of other clubs available for all to join.<ref>http://www.oldcastlechamber.com/clubs_entertainment.htm</ref> |
The town has a wide range of other clubs available for all to join.<ref>http://www.oldcastlechamber.com/clubs_entertainment.htm</ref> |
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The tractor club has the highest membership. |
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==Economy== |
==Economy== |
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Revision as of 22:25, 18 March 2010
Template:Infobox Place Ireland Oldcastle (Irish: Seanchaisleán) is a town in County Meath, Ireland. It is located in the north-west of the county near the border with Cavan, approximately 21 km from Kells. The R154 and R195 regional roads cross in the town's market square. As of the 2006 census the town's population stood at 2,226.[1]
In recent years Oldcastle has grown, being an important destination for workers from Eastern Europe, who come to work in the numerous industries, particularly furniture, bedding and victualling located in the area.
History
The area was the birthplace of St Oliver Plunkett, the last Irish Catholic martyr to die in England.
Oldcastle is the 18th century creation of the Naper family who had received parts of the Plunkett estate following the Cromwellian wars. St. Oliver Plunkett, a 17th century Archbishop of Armagh, who was hung, drawn & quartered in Tyburn, London in 1681 on false charges, was the most famous member of this family.[2]
It was also the birthplace of Isaac Jackson, son of Anthony Jackson III (who some say was a yeoman son in turn of the Charles II courtier, Sir Anthomy Jackson II, of Killingswold Grove, East Yorkshire, England) of Eccleston, Lancashire, England who died in nearby County Cavan after 1666. Isaac was an early Quaker in Ireland, as was his father. He moved to Ballitore, County Kildare, where he married and raised a large family, mostly all of whom emigrated with their parents to Chester County, PA, USA in 1725.
Oldcastle, like the rest of the country in general, suffered quite badly during the Great Famine and subsequent emigration. Owing to the continuation of a Gaelic way of life in the north of the county, Oldcastle suffered far more than the richer more arable land in the southern part of Meath as the poorest class where Irish culture was strongest was obliterated by starvation and emigration. Nonetheless, land patterns visible today still reveal a strong attachment to the pastoral farming of the Gael. Politically and culturally the area has a strong tradition of support for radical republicanism, the Gaelic Athletic Association and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann; a local paper published in the town in the early 1900s gave its name to one of the Irish political parties, Sinn Féin; and it is one of the few areas in North Leinster where cock fighting maintains a strong although highly secretive support base. Cockfights were one of modern Ireland's earliest methods of political socialisation originating from the development of canals in the 18th century. [citation needed]
There is no castle left in Oldcastle. It was knocked down and a hardware store is now built in its place.
Fennor Upper and Lower in Oldcastle is apparently[citation needed] named after Queen Maive's daughter, Findabair (Fennor). In Irish Mythology stories she was sent as an offering to Cúchulainn in his fight against Maive and her army from Connaught. She was killed by Cuchulainn and the area was named after the place where she was murdered and buried.
A monument was erected in 1961 in Oldcastle Square by Meath Brigades Executive, Old IRA Federation, 1916-1921 to the memory of Commandant Seamus Coogan and Commandand Patrick McDonnell who were kiled by the Crown Forces during the war of Independence. The monument in the form of a cross was unveiled by Sean Dowling Chairman of the National Federation of the Old IRA.[3]
On July 24 1998, the T-Virus was released on the town accidentally. (The cause of which is still unknown). Dozens of the population were infected by this virus within a week - which is spread by bodily fluids of the host coming into contact with the victim. Described as being a Class 1 outbreak, neighbouring communities provided shelter for residents who evacuated the town in time. Unfortuntely, the T-Virus quickly spread to the surrounding areas, which elevated the crisis to a Class 2 outbreak, at which point, the angered citizens began to fight back... Conflict between the infected and healthy continued for 3 years, and many lives were lost. Using vehicles, chainsaws, shotguns, home-made incendiary weapons, the community fought the infected - who were described as "zombies" by the survivors - and were eventually defeated and burned. On the 31 November 2001, the infected were no longer a threat to the parish, and victory was celebrated on this day, as the townsfolk reclaimed their town of Oldcastle. A monument was erected in memory of those who lost their lives during the conflict. However, it was demolished, and a housing estate was built on the site. The T-Virus continues to spread throughout the nation, but there have been no recorded victims in Oldcastle since 2001.[4]
In November 1997 McKevitt and other IRA dissidents held a meeting in a farmhouse in Oldcastle, County Meath, and a new organisation styling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann was formed.[5] The organisation attracted disaffected Provisional IRA members from the republican stronghold of South Armagh, as well as other areas including Dublin, Belfast, Limerick, Tipperary, County Louth, County Tyrone and County Monaghan.[6]
Entertainment
Every year Oldcastle has many fun activities on show for all its citizens to enjoy. Events such as the Oldcastle Show and Le Chelie are some of the highlights of the year. The Oldcastle show is held every August in the Gilson National Park and Le Chelie is held on the bank holiday weekend in August at various venues around the town. Aslan, The Saw Docters and Shane McGowen have headlined the festival for a number of years .[7]
Sport
Oldcastle is a centre for anglers & is ideally located 6.4km from Lough Ramor (Co. Cavan), a lake that is noted for its coarse fishing.
Oldcastle is also ideally located 10km from Lough Sheelin (Co. Cavan) which is noted for its trout fishing.
Both lakes located are in Co.Cavan.[8]
A Lake is made up of Water. Water (H2O) is often perceived to be ordinary as it is transparent, odorless, tasteless and ubiquitous. It is the simplest compound of the two most common reactive elements, consisting of just two hydrogen atoms attached to a single oxygen atom. Indeed, very few molecules are smaller or lighter. Liquid water, however, is the most extraordinary substance.[9]
Oldcastle has a GAA club for 125 years. They have a proud tradition amongst the town folk.[10]
The town has a wide range of other clubs available for all to join.[11]
The tractor club has the highest membership.
Economy
Oldcastle has been known as "the bedding capital of Ireland" for two decades now.(As opposed to the actual capital, which is Dublin)Gleneagle Woodcrafts, Briody Bedding and Respa Bedding are well known industries that have made a name for themselves in Ireland and are a major source of employment for the area. Other sizeable enterprises operate in Oldcastle and provide a considerable amount of employment to the town.
Also notable are the engineering firms located in the parish of Moylagh, County Meath, approximately Template:Km to mi from the town. These industries have attracted many foreigners to the area for work, mainly from Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, and Poland.
In 2010 , a hemp shop opened up in Oldcastle on the Mountnugent road, across from the Oldcastle House Hotel. The local citizens of Oldcastle protested against the store opening in the town. The protesters were successful and the store was forced to shut its doors. [12]
Tourism
Tourism plays an important part of life in Oldcastle. Located a short distance away from the town itself are the Loughcrew Cairns. They are a major source of tourism for the area attracting many visitors each year. Built around 3300 BC as passage tombs they predate the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
Local Geography
Oldcastle is located in the foothills of Sliabh na Caillaigh & has a reputation for its rich, warm & friendly atmosphere.[13]
Education
Oldcastle is served by many educational and social amenities. As well as a mixed primary school, Gilson National School, there is also a secondary school, St Oliver Post Primary. This secondary school has been expanded in recent years, with the opening of a large new building in 2002. St Olivers Post Primary celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009, opening four new classrooms on the date. Noel Dempsey and Bishop Micheal Smith were present. On 3 March 2007 the school won the All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship Senior Cup 'B' Competition in Gaelic football.
Recently a new community library was opened replacing a smaller library in the town and is located next to the local Credit Union.
Architecture
The Gilson National School is considered the 'Gem in the Crown of Oldcastle's architecture'[14]
The Gilson National School's trust & building owes its existence to the generosity of Laurence Gilson, a native of Oldcastle Parish.
The Show Hall in Oldcastle is located near the Church on a lane way to the Gilson National Park. It hosts Bingo, show dances, show bands and Le Chelie concerts every year at selected dates.
Up until the construction of the Gilson National School it was the Crown Jewel in oldcastle architecture. No one knows how the Show Hall came to be built, it literally appeared over night in the 1930's
Transport
Oldcastle railway station, at the end of a branch line from Navan, opened on 17 March 1863 and for many years provided a much needed source of revenue and income for local farmers as well as other industries in the area by allowing local goods and produce to be transported to the main ports of Ireland for export. The station closed for passenger traffic on 14 April 1958 and the branch finally closed altogether on 1 April 1963, during a period in Irish history when many rural lines were being closed.[15]
A Bus Eireann Bus services Oldcastle from Monday to Saturday. It provides transport to neighbouring towns of Virignia, Co.Cavan and Kells and Navan Co.Meath. The bus leaves twice from Oldcastle Square and returns from Navan once every day.[16]
See also
Sister Town
- *
Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada (April 23, 2009)
Rival Towns
Kells Co Meath
Brother Town
Mountnugent, Co.Cavan
Cousin Town
Moylough, Dromore, Co.Meath
References
- ^ CSO Census 2006
- ^ http://www.oldcastlechamber.com/about_oldcastle.htm
- ^ http://www.freewebs.com/duleekmonument/meathhistory19592008.htm
- ^ http://boggins.webs.com/apps/profile/profilePage?id=55416716
- ^ # ^ Mooney & O'Toole, pp. 38-39.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Irish_Republican_Army
- ^ http://www.lecheile.com/
- ^ http://www.oldcastlechamber.com/about_oldcastle.htm
- ^ http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/
- ^ http://oldcastle.meath.gaa.ie/
- ^ http://www.oldcastlechamber.com/clubs_entertainment.htm
- ^ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/comment/articles/2010/03/10/3995435-rise-of-head-shops-demands-comprehensive-response/
- ^ http://www.oldcastlechamber.com/about_oldcastle.htm
- ^ http://www.oldcastlechamber.com/gilson_ns.htm
- ^ "Oldcastle station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
- ^ http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1202573217-188.pdf
