Duncannon
| Duncannon Irish: Dún Canann | |
| County Wexford | |
|---|---|
 Watchtower at Duncannon Fort | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | S728082 |
| Location: | 52°13’16"N, 6°55’55"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 305 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
Duncannon is a village in southwest County Wexford. Bordered to the west by Waterford Harbour and sitting on a rocky headland jutting into the channel is the strategically prominent Duncannon Fort, which dominates the village.
Primarily a fishing village, Duncannon also relies on tourism and is situated on the marked "Ring of Hook" drive. Duncannon beach is a mile long.
Duncannon Fort, which was built in 1588, was used as a location for the opening scenes of the 2002 remake of 'The Count of Monte Cristo'.[1] After being closed for some time, Duncannon Fort reopened to the public in 2016 when guided tours recommenced.
History
According to legend, the settlement at Duncannon dates back to the time of Fionn mac Cumhaill[2] (Finn McCool) and the Fianna in the 3rd century AD.
Duncannon was of strategic importance as its fort commanded the bay giving sea access to Waterford harbour. As a result, it was centrally involved in wars and sieges during the 17th and 18th centuries.
During the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–1652), the fort at Duncannon was initially occupied by English soldiers and used as a base for an attack on nearby Redmond's Hall (now Loftus Hall). During this period, it was besieged three times. In 1645, it was taken by an Irish Confederate army under general Thomas Preston. Its English garrison surrendered after lengthy bombardment, during which their second in command Larcan was killed, and a ship, The Great Lewis, trying to bring supplies to the garrison was sunk with the loss of 200 lives. During the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Duncannon was besieged again,[3] as part of the Siege of Waterford, firstly in November 1649 by Oliver Cromwell and Michael Jones in 1649. The fort's Irish garrison held out, and the siege was abandoned in December of that year. However, in July 1650, Henry Ireton renewed the siege, and the fort and town surrendered after the fall of Waterford.[4]
In 1659 and 1660, Duncannon was the only town to remain openly loyal to Edmund Ludlow after forces loyal to General George Monck took control of Dublin and other towns.[5]
In the Williamite war in Ireland (1689–1691) James II, after his defeat at the battle of the Boyne, embarked at Duncannon for Kinsale and then to exile in France. Later his son in law and enemy William of Orange, marched on its cobblestones as the town and fort surrendered to his army without resistance.[6]
The fort at Duncannon was one of the few places in county Wexford that did not fall to the rebels during the 1798 rebellion though a force sent out from the fort to defend Wexford town was defeated at the battle of Three Rocks. The fort and town then became a sanctuary for fleeing loyalists and troops in south Wexford and was also used as a prison and place of execution for suspected rebels.
Duncannon's strategic importance continued to be recognised throughout the 19th century. Napoleon sought and got intelligence on its strength and weakness, in preparation for a possible invasion of Ireland.[7]
In the 20th century, Duncannon fort was used by the Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (Irish army reserve) as a barracks and training facility.[7]
About the village
Duncannon has three pubs, two cafés and a local shop, and the Dunbrody Country House Hotel. There are also several cafés in the area and on the beachfront.
Duncannon Fort incorporates a maritime museum, Cockleshell Arts Gallery, Officer's Mess Café and craft shop and other craft outlets and is open daily from June to September. During the off season, guided tours are available.
Sports
- Gaelic sports: St James' GAA club
- Football: Duncannon United
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Duncannon) |
References
- ↑ "Count of Monte Cristo comes to Duncannon". Wexford People. 28 August 2000. http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/premium/news/count-of-monte-cristo-comes-to-duncannon-992630.html.
- ↑ "Duncannon town history". Duncannon Parish. http://www.duncannonparish.com/page12.htm.
- ↑ McKeiver, Philip (2007). A New History of Cromwell's Irish Campaign. Manchester: Advance Press. ISBN 978-0-9554663-0-4.Template:Page needed
- ↑ Moody, T. W.; Moody, Theodore William; Martin, Francis Xavier; Byrne, Francis John (1991). "A new history of Ireland: Early modern Ireland, 1534-1691". Google Books. ISBN 9780198202424. https://books.google.com/books?id=c8M1p3ySwI4C&q=henry+ireton+duncannon&pg=PA347.
- ↑ Ludlow, Edmund (27 October 2018). "Memoirs of Edmund Ludlow, Esq. ...: With a Collection of Original Papers, Serving to Confirm and Illustrate Many Important Passages Contained in the Memoirs". A. Millar. https://books.google.com/books?id=VgPmAAAAMAAJ&q=ludlow+duncannon&pg=PA303.
- ↑ "William III. of Orange". Library Ireland. http://www.libraryireland.com/biography/WilliamIIIofOrange.php.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Fort of Conán". biz-ire.com. http://biz-ire.com/Ireland/Countys/wexford/z-duncannon-fort.htm.
- Dún Canann/Duncannon: Placenames Database of Ireland