The Ballagh
| The Ballagh Irish: An Bealach | |
| County Wexford | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | T072377 |
| Location: | 52°28’48"N, 6°25’22"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 515 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
The Ballagh or Ballaghkeen is a village in County Wexford just off the R741 regional road halfway between the towns of Gorey to the north and Wexford to the south. As of the 2016 census, the village had a population of 515 people.
The name is from the Irish An Bealach, meaning 'The Way'.[1]
Amenities
The village contains a local school, church, community centre and health clinic, along with two pubs (one with a shop) and a post office/shop. A mile outside the village there is a coillte forest which has walking trails.
About half a mile east of the village is part of the mediæval road which linked Wexford to Dublin. In reality, if someone needed to get between these two ports before the Great Famine, they went by ship. This road went into decline when the R741, known locally as 'the new line', was built a few decades after the 1798 Rising. The R741 was built wider, straighter and leveller so that troops could be moved quickly to this area in the event of another insurrection. The crown forces discovered that the existing road was not suited to moving troops safely or quickly.
The mediæval road provides a walkway and has hedgerows and views towards St George's Channel.
Sport
Oulart the Ballagh is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club. As reflected in the name, the club takes players from The Ballagh and the nearby village of Oulart.[2]
In addition, The Ballagh has a boxing club
References
- ↑ An Bealach / Ballaghkeen: Placenames Database of Ireland
- ↑ "My Club: David Redmond - Oulart-The Ballagh". Gaelic Athletic Association. 4 February 2016. https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/club-david-redmond-oulart-the-ballagh/. Retrieved 19 March 2020.