Irishtown, County Mayo
| Irishtown Irish: Baile Gaelach | |
| County Mayo | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Main street of Irishtown | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | M413685 |
| Location: | 53°39’46"N, 8°53’20"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Mayo |
Irishtown is a village in County Mayo, on the county's southern border with County Galway about halfway between Claremorris and Tuam on the R328 regional road. It is sometimes referred to as 'The Cradle of the Land League' due to its connections with the founding of the Irish National Land League.[1]
Land League
Local tenant farmers were threatened with eviction from their holdings on the estate of the local parish priest, Canon Geoffrey Burke, and in response a meeting took place on 20 April 1879 that brought about a reversal of the potential evictions as well as a 20 percent reduction in rent. The meeting was the genesis of what would later that year become the Land League.[2]
Amenities and sport
There are several facilities situated in the village, including the national school (first founded in 1897), community centre, church, corner shop, one pub, playground and playing fields.
Gaelic football is the predominant sport in the area. In 1973, Irishtown and its neighbouring village, Ballindine, amalgamated to form Davitt's GAA club.
References
- ↑ "Irishtown, Crossboyne Civil Parish". irelandgenweb.com. 2011. http://www.irelandgenweb.com/~irlmay/townlands/Irishtown.htm.
- ↑ Berresford Ellis, Peter (2007). Eyewitness to Irish History. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 191. ISBN 978-0-470-05312-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=oVaUkHKOyLAC&pg=PA191.