Tobercurry
| Tobercurry Gaelic: Tobar an Choire | |
| County Sligo | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | G520114 |
| Location: | 54°2’60"S, 8°43’60"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,747 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Tubbercurry |
| Postcode: | F91 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Sligo |
Tobercurry or Tubbercurry is the second-largest town in terms of both population and land area in County Sligo.[2] It lies at the foot of the Ox Mountains, on the N17 national primary road. The name is from the Irish Tobar an Choire, meaning 'well of the corrie'.
History
The earliest mention of Tobercurry is from 1397 when a battle took place in the town between two O'Connor families, the O'Connor Don from Roscommon and the O'Connors from Sligo town. St Naithí and St Attracta are the patron saints of the area.
Events
Tubbercurry boasts three of the most popular and successful festivals in the West of Ireland - the South Sligo Summer School of Irish traditional music, song and dance, held each year during the second week in July, the Old Fair Day Festival held annually in early August and the Western Drama Festival, held each year in early March. These events attract large numbers of performing artists and cultural tourists from all over the world.
Sport
The local sports scene comprises Gaelic football and Hurling teams (Tubbercurry GAA), Real Tubber F.C. an association football club, and South Sligo A.C. in athletics. There is a golf course on the town's edge - Tubbercurry Golf Club. Other sports are catered for including Badmintion, Handball and Karate.
Education
Tubbercurry is home to Saint Attracta's Community School, which was opened after the merger of Banada Abbey Secondary School and the Marist Convent. St Attracta's C.S. was opened in November 2002.
Transport
- Currently public transport to the town is provided with a bus service which connects Tobercurry directly with Galway, Sligo, Castlebar, Westport and Tuam, as well as frequent services to nearby Ireland West Airport.
- Tubbercurry railway station opened on 1 October 1895, closed for passenger traffic on 17 June 1963 and finally closed altogether on 3 November 1975.[3]
Notable people
- Michael Fingleton, former chief executive of Irish Nationwide Building Society and key figure in the Irish financial crisis[4]
- Tadhg Dall Ó hÚigínn, noted sixteenth-century bardic poet, was a powerful figure in Tubbercurry.
References
- ↑ http://cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Table%205.pdf
- ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ↑ "Tubbercurry station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
- ↑ "MICHAEL FINGLETON THE CV". Irish Independent. 2004-02-22. http://www.independent.ie/business/michael-fingleton-the-cv-477533.html. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Tobercurry) |