Ballymore Eustace
Encyclopedia
Ballymore Eustace is a small town situated in County Kildare
in Ireland
, although until 1836 it lay within a "pocket" of County Dublin
. It lies close to the border with County Wicklow
.
The town's name, which is frequently shortened to "Ballymore" in everyday usage, derives from the Irish An Baile Mór ("the big town") with the addition – to distinguish it from several other Ballymores in Ireland – of the family name (Fitz)Eustace. A fuller version of the town's official name in Irish is Baile Mór na nIústasach ("big town of the Eustaces").
regional road
s, on the River Liffey
, over which the R411 is carried by a relatively rare seven-arch bridge. It had a population of 786 at the 2002 census. The town is served by Dublin Bus
, with route number 65, seven times daily, at irregular intervals.
. The upkeep of the castle was given to Thomas Fitzoliver FitzEustace as constable in 1373, whose family name came to be associated with the town, lending it its present name. Several of Thomas' descendants also held the office of Constable, including his grandson Sir Richard FitzEustace
( appointed 1414 ) and his great-grandson Sir Robert FitzEustace
( appointed 1445). No trace of the castle exists today, but the importance of Ballymore is emphasized by the fact that Parliament was held there in 1389. It was a border town of "the Pale
", giving it strategic importance in the area, but also leading to its raiding
by local families.
The first reference to a church is in 1192, but the existence of two High Crosses in St. John's Graveyard indicates pre-Norman church site.
The town and surrounding lands formed for centuries one of three detached portions of the barony of Uppercross, County Dublin. These lands, originally part of Dublin because they belonged to religious foundations there, were among the last such exclaves in Ireland, being merged into Kildare only in 1836.
The town was the scene of one of the first clashes of the 1798 rebellion when the British garrison were attacked by United Irish rebels on 23 May but managed to defeat the attack in the Battle of Ballymore-Eustace
. In the 19th century, the town's largest source of employment was a cotton
mill (owned by the Gallagher family), the ruins of which still stand by the river at a spot known as the "pike hole". This mill employed in the region of 700 people and a row of single-storey houses were built nearby to accommodate a number of their families - this terrace today known as "Weaver's row", running alongside and down the hill from the Catholic
church.
(or the "Devil's hole") which was done to generate electricity by the Electricity Supply Board
(ESB), and also to create a reservoir for the supply of water for the city of Dublin. The water is treated at a major treatment plant, the Water Treatment Works at Ballymore Eustace run by Dublin City Council
.
Activities such as fishing, sailing, canoeing, water skiing and windsurfing are regularly seen on Blessington Lakes and on the Golden Falls lake downstream from Poulaphouca Dam. Also nearby is Russborough House
, a fine example of Palladian architecture
, which houses the Beit art collection, much of which was donated to the state by Sir Alfred Lane Beit, including works by Goya
, Vermeer and Rubens.
It has also been a place of interest for the film industry. The 1959 film Shake Hands With the Devil was filmed in and around the town. Some of the battle scenes in Mel Gibson's (1995) film, Braveheart
, were filmed around Ballymore Eustace. The recent film King Arthur was also mostly shot in the village. This resulted in a 1 km long mock-up of Hadrian's Wall being constructed in a field outside of the village during 2003. This was disassembled and the field was returned to its original state.
County Kildare
County Kildare 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 town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 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,...
, although until 1836 it lay within a "pocket" of County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. It lies close to the border with County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow 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 town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
The town's name, which is frequently shortened to "Ballymore" in everyday usage, derives from the Irish An Baile Mór ("the big town") with the addition – to distinguish it from several other Ballymores in Ireland – of the family name (Fitz)Eustace. A fuller version of the town's official name in Irish is Baile Mór na nIústasach ("big town of the Eustaces").
Location and access
Ballymore Eustace is located at the junction of the R411 and R413R413 road
The R413 road is a regional road in Ireland, which runs west-east from Kildare to Ballymore Eustace, all in County Kildare. En route over a distance of it skirts, and largely demarcates, the northern edge of the Curragh.The route is long.-References:...
regional road
Regional 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, on the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
, over which the R411 is carried by a relatively rare seven-arch bridge. It had a population of 786 at the 2002 census. The town is served by Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus is a public transport operator in Ireland. It operates an extensive bus network of 172 radial, cross-city and peripheral routes and 18 night routes in the city of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area. The company, established in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann which is...
, with route number 65, seven times daily, at irregular intervals.
History
Ballymore Eustace in the 13th century - at the time simply known as Ballymore - was the site of a castle, which in 1244 was granted an eight day fair to be held on site by Henry IIIHenry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. The upkeep of the castle was given to Thomas Fitzoliver FitzEustace as constable in 1373, whose family name came to be associated with the town, lending it its present name. Several of Thomas' descendants also held the office of Constable, including his grandson Sir Richard FitzEustace
Richard FitzEustace
Sir Richard FitzEustace was an Irish statesman who briefly held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland.- Family background :...
( appointed 1414 ) and his great-grandson Sir Robert FitzEustace
Robert FitzEustace
Sir Robert FitzEustace was an Irish landowner and politician.He was born at Coghlanstown, County Kildare, son of Sir Richard FitzEustace, briefly Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and Katherine Preston...
( appointed 1445). No trace of the castle exists today, but the importance of Ballymore is emphasized by the fact that Parliament was held there in 1389. It was a border town of "the Pale
The Pale
The Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
", giving it strategic importance in the area, but also leading to its raiding
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
by local families.
The first reference to a church is in 1192, but the existence of two High Crosses in St. John's Graveyard indicates pre-Norman church site.
The town and surrounding lands formed for centuries one of three detached portions of the barony of Uppercross, County Dublin. These lands, originally part of Dublin because they belonged to religious foundations there, were among the last such exclaves in Ireland, being merged into Kildare only in 1836.
The town was the scene of one of the first clashes of the 1798 rebellion when the British garrison were attacked by United Irish rebels on 23 May but managed to defeat the attack in the Battle of Ballymore-Eustace
Battle of Ballymore-Eustace
The Battle of Ballymore-Eustace was one of the events in the United Irish rebellion of 1798. It took place on 24 May 1798 after the stationing of the 9th Dragoons, and members of the Tyrone, Antrim and Armagh Militias at Ballymore in County Kildare near the Kildare-Wicklow border on 10 May...
. In the 19th century, the town's largest source of employment was a cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
mill (owned by the Gallagher family), the ruins of which still stand by the river at a spot known as the "pike hole". This mill employed in the region of 700 people and a row of single-storey houses were built nearby to accommodate a number of their families - this terrace today known as "Weaver's row", running alongside and down the hill from the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church.
Surroundings
Near the town are the Blessington Lakes which were created artificially in the 1940s by the damming of the river Liffey at PoulaphoucaPoulaphouca
Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the border with County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake...
(or the "Devil's hole") which was done to generate electricity by the Electricity Supply Board
Electricity Supply Board
The Electricity Supply Board , is a semi-state electricity company in Ireland. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concern in a liberalised and competitive market...
(ESB), and also to create a reservoir for the supply of water for the city of Dublin. The water is treated at a major treatment plant, the Water Treatment Works at Ballymore Eustace run by Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
.
Activities such as fishing, sailing, canoeing, water skiing and windsurfing are regularly seen on Blessington Lakes and on the Golden Falls lake downstream from Poulaphouca Dam. Also nearby is Russborough House
Russborough House
Russborough House is a stately house situated near the Blessington Lakes in County Wicklow, Ireland, between the towns of Blessington and Ballymore Eustace and is reputed to be the longest house in Ireland, with a frontage measuring 210 m/700 ft...
, a fine example of Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
, which houses the Beit art collection, much of which was donated to the state by Sir Alfred Lane Beit, including works by Goya
Francisco Goya
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. Goya was a court painter to the Spanish Crown, and through his works was both a commentator on and chronicler of his era...
, Vermeer and Rubens.
It has also been a place of interest for the film industry. The 1959 film Shake Hands With the Devil was filmed in and around the town. Some of the battle scenes in Mel Gibson's (1995) film, Braveheart
Braveheart
Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama war film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace...
, were filmed around Ballymore Eustace. The recent film King Arthur was also mostly shot in the village. This resulted in a 1 km long mock-up of Hadrian's Wall being constructed in a field outside of the village during 2003. This was disassembled and the field was returned to its original state.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland