Ardcath
Encyclopedia
Ardcath is a hamlet
in County Meath
, Ireland
. It is a small area inhabited by around 1,870 people which is almost a 2% decrease from the 2006 to 2002 census. The surrounding areas include Garristown, Clonalvy, Duleek
, Battramstown, Bellewstown
and Stamullen
.
Ardcath is historically part of the barony of Upper Duleek. In the early 19th century half of the parish was being cultivated (principally with wheat) while the other half was pasture land. Cotton was weaved in the area for Dublin and Drogheda manufacturers.
There are extensive ruins of a medieval church, surrounded by a cemetery that is still in use.
Ardcath's church was dedicated to St Mary the Blessed Virgin as was a tradition of the Norman settlement with the tithe of the Church and Parish being directed to the Canons of Llananthony (prima and secunda) Wales from 1172 to 1541. The church also had an active 'confraternity' which was a body corporate dedicated to maintaining religious services within the Church. Such organisations were often established by Charter and survived the Reformation. There was a similar organisation at the Church in the then adjoining parish of Piercetown.
and a guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association
- these have been around since 1952 and 1948 respectively and often include members of the surrounding towns.
Ardcath has a local school that was built in 1950 and is currently attending by around 50 students. Prior to this the school was in the old Ardcath Penal Day Church building when it stopped being used in 1862.
Every year there is a large festival organised by the Ardcath Parish Committee. The festival runs the course of a week in summer and every second year the Rose of Ardcath is contested in the local pub, Bennet's.
The building was originally built in 1859. The building is use for religious worship and is a single storey detached building. It was built because of the deteriorating condition of the old church built in 1690. The church cost 2600 pounds. Due to poor architect it suffered storm damage regularly. In 1903 the sacristy roof was stripped and the nave damaged. The roof was stripped and re-slated in 1992. The building is gothic style. In 1955 extensive renovation work was carried out on the church. The walls and floors were repaired and a sacred heart altar with marble rails was erected. There has reasonably been renovation work done on the church with the walls and windows.
s close by such as the R130
in Garristown. Safety concerns over the state of some of the roads around Ardcath have been raised at the meeting of the Slane Electoral Area Committee of Meath County Council, including concerns relating to inadequate signage notifying drivers on the approach to the local school.
Bus Eireann
provided a bus service from Ardcath to Dublin (return) from Monday to Saturday that ran once a day but it has now stopped due to cutbacks in the services sector .
The church has been recently renovated and is in fine condition.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is a small area inhabited by around 1,870 people which is almost a 2% decrease from the 2006 to 2002 census. The surrounding areas include Garristown, Clonalvy, Duleek
Duleek
Duleek is a town in County Meath, Ireland, close to the Louth border.Duleek takes is name from the Irish word daimh liag, meaning house of stones and referring to an early stone-built church, St Cianan’s Church, the ruins of which are still visible in Duleek today...
, Battramstown, Bellewstown
Bellewstown
Bellewstown is a village on the Hill of Crockafotha in County Meath in Ireland. The village is situated in a rural setting with views of the Mourne Mountains to the north and the Irish Sea to the east....
and Stamullen
Stamullen
Stamullen is a village in County Meath, Ireland on the border with County Dublin. It lies just off the M1 motorway some 35 km north of Dublin and beside the River Delvin...
.
History
Four Knocks is a passage tomb near Ardcath that was built around 5000 years ago. The graves are decorated and show the first artistic depiction of a human face in Ireland.Ardcath is historically part of the barony of Upper Duleek. In the early 19th century half of the parish was being cultivated (principally with wheat) while the other half was pasture land. Cotton was weaved in the area for Dublin and Drogheda manufacturers.
There are extensive ruins of a medieval church, surrounded by a cemetery that is still in use.
Ardcath's church was dedicated to St Mary the Blessed Virgin as was a tradition of the Norman settlement with the tithe of the Church and Parish being directed to the Canons of Llananthony (prima and secunda) Wales from 1172 to 1541. The church also had an active 'confraternity' which was a body corporate dedicated to maintaining religious services within the Church. Such organisations were often established by Charter and survived the Reformation. There was a similar organisation at the Church in the then adjoining parish of Piercetown.
Community
There are several community groups in the area such as the Ardcath MacraMacra na feirme
Macra na Feirme , abbreviated MnaF, is an Irish, voluntary, rural youth organisation. It was founded in 1944 by Stephen Cullinan, a rural science teacher....
and a guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association
Irish Countrywomen's Association
The Irish Countrywomen's Association is the largest women's organisation in Ireland, with over 15,000 members. Founded in 1910, it exists to prove social and educational opportunities for women and to improve the standard of rural and urban life in Ireland...
- these have been around since 1952 and 1948 respectively and often include members of the surrounding towns.
Ardcath has a local school that was built in 1950 and is currently attending by around 50 students. Prior to this the school was in the old Ardcath Penal Day Church building when it stopped being used in 1862.
Every year there is a large festival organised by the Ardcath Parish Committee. The festival runs the course of a week in summer and every second year the Rose of Ardcath is contested in the local pub, Bennet's.
The building was originally built in 1859. The building is use for religious worship and is a single storey detached building. It was built because of the deteriorating condition of the old church built in 1690. The church cost 2600 pounds. Due to poor architect it suffered storm damage regularly. In 1903 the sacristy roof was stripped and the nave damaged. The roof was stripped and re-slated in 1992. The building is gothic style. In 1955 extensive renovation work was carried out on the church. The walls and floors were repaired and a sacred heart altar with marble rails was erected. There has reasonably been renovation work done on the church with the walls and windows.
Transportation
The roads in Ardcath are all local roads - though there are some regional roadRegional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
s close by such as the R130
R130 road
The R130 road is a regional road in Fingal, Ireland.The official description of the R130 from the Roads Act 1993 Order 2006 reads:-See also:*Roads in Ireland*National primary road*National secondary road...
in Garristown. Safety concerns over the state of some of the roads around Ardcath have been raised at the meeting of the Slane Electoral Area Committee of Meath County Council, including concerns relating to inadequate signage notifying drivers on the approach to the local school.
Bus Eireann
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
provided a bus service from Ardcath to Dublin (return) from Monday to Saturday that ran once a day but it has now stopped due to cutbacks in the services sector .
The church has been recently renovated and is in fine condition.