Ballinasloe
| coat of arms | map |
|---|---|
| Basic data | |
| Province : | Connacht |
| County : | Galway |
| Area : | 54.7 km² |
| Residents : | 6,440 (2011) |
| Area code : | + 353- (0) 90 |
| Height : | |
| Website : | ballinasloe.com |
Ballinasloe ( Irish Béal Átha na Slua ) is a city in the far east of Galway County in Ireland .
The city emerged from a ford over the River Suck , a Shannon tributary. The Irish place name, which means access to the ford of the crowds , also indicates this original meaning of the place. The place has been a meeting place since ancient times. In recent years a new public harbor has been built on the Suck, allowing Shannon boat traffic to enter the small town.
Sports
Ballinasloe has successful and traditionally rich football , golf , cricket and rugby clubs, but also Duggan Park run by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Irish sports association for Gaelic sports. Gaelic sports are probably the most popular but are mostly practiced in the surrounding areas. The local clubs for Gaelic sports are St. Grellan's Gaelic Football Club , Ballinasloe Hurling Club, and Ballinasloe Camogie Club .
Celebrations and events
The Ballinasloe Fair is one of the oldest horse markets in Europe , the history of which goes back to the 8th century. Today, the horse market, which has always been popular , is still held every October, along with a fair , and attracts up to 100,000 visitors from all over the world every year. The market for the Irish horse breed Tinker is particularly well known . The city also hosts a successful summer festival called An tSúca Fiain .
traffic
Ballinasloe has a train station on the Dublin - Galway railway line . The M6 motorway opened in December 2009. Since then, traffic between Dublin and Galway has passed the city. From 1828 to the 1960s, Ballinasloe was the end point of the Grand Canal . This has since silted up, but the Suck River has now been expanded for inland traffic, so that a water connection to the Shannon exists again.
Companies
The largest local employers are Portiuncula and St. Brigid's Hospitals . From its inception in 1936 through 2003, the Dubarry Shoe Manufacturing Company was based in the city.
church
The patron saint of Ballinasloe is the holy Grellan , the first church in the area of Kilcloony had consecrated. A local settlement, the Conradh na Gaeilge branch and an earlier school were also named after him.
schools
There are two secondary schools in Ballinasloe , Garbally College and Ard Scoil Mhuire .
Personalities
The author Desmond Hogan (* 1950), the politician Tony Kett (1951–2009), the former health minister Mary Harney (* 1953) and the designer Philip Treacy (* 1967) were born in Ballinasloe .
Archbishop Joseph Cassidy (1933–2013) died in the village.
Web links
- ballinasloe.ie : The website of the city of Ballinasloe with the latest local news and information about the place for visitors and locals alike.
- ballinasloe.org : An independent site with articles on the history of Ballinasloe and tips for genealogy.
Coordinates: 53 ° 20 ′ N , 8 ° 13 ′ W