Annaghdown facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Annaghdown Eanach Dhúin
Town
Annaghdown Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	County Galway
Area
• Total	2.776 km2 (1.072 sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	M286382

Annaghdown (pronounced "AN-uh-DOON") is a lovely parish in County Galway, Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish words Eanach Dhúin, which mean "the marsh of the fort." The village is located near Annaghdown Bay, which is a small inlet of Lough Corrib, a large lake. Annaghdown is part of both the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam and the Church of Ireland's Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achory.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Annaghdown

The name Eanach Dhúin means "the marsh of the fort." A "dún" or fort was usually an enclosed settlement. In olden times, it was often the main home of a local king or chieftain. The name Annaghdown likely refers to the marshy lands near the fort of the chieftain of Maigh Seola. These lands were probably given as a place to build a church.

Annaghdown's Past: A Look at History

Illustration of Monastic Ruins at Annaghdown

We don't know much about Annaghdown's very early history. It first appears in historical records around the 12th century. Some old stories say that King Áed mac Echach of Connacht gave the land to Saint Brendan of Clonfert. However, some historians believe this might not be true because Áed's land was far away. Others think his family might have originally come from this area, which would explain the gift.

The oldest reliable mention of Annaghdown is from a text written around 800 AD. It talks about Ciarán Enaigh Dúin (Ciarán of Annaghdown). This suggests a link to Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, not Brendan of Clonfert. The connection to Clonfert might have been made later to support a claim over Annaghdown's church.

The Diocese of Annaghdown

In the 12th century, Annaghdown became a diocese, which is an area managed by a bishop. Even though it wasn't listed in important church meetings like the Synods of Rathbreasail or Kells, the Annaghdown diocese continued for many centuries. This was thanks to the work of monks from Annaghdown Abbey.

We know that the title Bishop of Annaghdown was used from about 1189. Many bishops were chosen by the 'Cathedral Chapter' (a group of church leaders) from 1189 to 1485. Even with disagreements from Tuam, some of these bishops were approved by Rome.

Annaghdown Cathedral

In 1410, a person named Áedh Ó Flaithbheartaigh paid for a church to be built in Annaghdown.

In 1485, Annaghdown was officially joined with Tuam by a special order from the Pope. Some of its parishes, like Claregalway, Moycullen, and Shrule, became part of a new church area called the Wardenship of Galway. However, the title of Bishop of Eanach Dúin still exists today. Bishop Octavio Cisneros, an Auxiliary Bishop of New York, has held this title since 2006.

The old ruins of Annaghdown Abbey and the 15th-century cathedral are still standing. They are protected as a National Monument. Annaghdown Castle was built by the O'Flaherty family in the late 14th century. It stands on the east shore of Lough Corrib and has been restored.

The Annaghdown Drowning Tragedy of 1828

On Thursday, September 4, 1828, a sad event happened. Twenty people were traveling to Galway on a boat called the Caisleán Nua. The boat sank when a sheep put its foot through the floor. This terrible accident later became the subject of a famous sad poem called "Eanach Dhúin." It was written by the well-known blind Irish poet, Antoine Ó Raifteiri.

Memorial at Annaghdown Pier, erected in 1978 in memory of those drowned in 1828

In 1978, 150 years after the tragedy, a memorial stone was put up at Annaghdown Pier. This was done by the Annaghdown Anglers Club to remember those who were lost.

A newspaper called The Connacht Journal reported on September 4, 1828: "An old, leaky row-boat left Annaghdown early in the morning. It was about eight miles from Galway on Lough Corrib. It was carrying about 31 people who were going to the fair in Galway. The boat and passengers traveled without problems until they reached Bushy Park, two miles from Galway. Then, the boat suddenly sank. All on board died except for about 12 people who were saved by another boat. Eighteen bodies were found in the lake that day. It was a very sad sight, with friends identifying them and taking them back to Annaghdown."

The report also said: "The boat was in such bad condition that it was not safe for the journey. The accident happened because a sheep put its leg through one of the wooden planks. This caused a leak. To stop the leak, one passenger tried to cover the hole with his coat and stamped on it. In doing so, he broke a plank completely, which made the boat sink immediately. The boat was overloaded with ten sheep, other goods, and about 31 people."

The newspaper listed the names of 18 people who drowned and whose bodies were found. It is believed that two more people, Thomas Cahill and Mary Ruane, also drowned, making a total of 20 victims. John Cosgrove, a lime-burner, bravely saved two women but drowned while trying to save a third. The remains of his house can still be seen today.

Sports and Fun in Annaghdown

Annaghdown is home to several sports clubs. The local GAA club, Annaghdown GAA, offers both hurling and Gaelic football. Their playing fields and clubhouse are in Cregg townland.

Corrib Celtic FC is the local soccer club. Its grounds are next to Annaghdown National School. Also near the school is an indoor handball alley. It's used for handball and other racquet sports like racquetball and squash. These courts have been fixed up recently, and a Handball and Racquetball Club is now active. You can reach Annaghdown National School from various roads off the N84. Corrib RFC, a rugby club, is in the nearby town of Headford.

Poetry and Music from Annaghdown

The Sad Song of "Eanach Dhúin"

This famous poem was written by the traveling Irish poet, Antoine Ó Raifteiri. It is a sad song, or lament, about the twenty people who drowned at Menlo, Galway, on September 4, 1828.

Irish songwriter Dick Farrelly also wrote a song called "Annaghdown." This song was recorded by Sinead Stone & Gerard Farrelly on their album, "Legacy of a Quiet Man." Farrelly is most famous for his song Isle of Innisfree, which was the main theme for the movie "The Quiet Man."

Learning in Annaghdown: Schools

Annaghdown has four primary schools for younger students: Annaghdown N.S., Castlehackett N.S., Corrandulla N.S., and Currandrum N.S.

See also

In Spanish: Annaghdown para niños