Ballyragget
Encyclopedia
Ballyragget is a small town
in County Kilkenny
in Ireland
. It is situated along the river Nore
in the north of the county
. It is located in the province
of Leinster
in the south-east of the island of Ireland
. Ballyragget situated on the N77 18 km (11.2 mi) north of Kilkenny
and has a population of 1,451 people.
Béal Atha Raghad meaning 'Mouth of Ragget's Ford'. The name 'Ragget' is Anglo-Norman
in origin, and denotes a once-prominent Norman
landowner Richard le Ragget who held these lands in the early part of the 13th century.
Ballyragget is a Local Electoral Area
of County Kilkenny and includes the electoral divisions
of Attanagh, Balleen, Ballyconra, Ballyragget, Baunmore, Castlecomer, Clogh, Clogharinka, Clomantagh, Coolcraheen, Freshford, Galmoy, Glashare, Johnstown, Kilkieran, Kilmacar, Lisdowney, Moneenroe, Mothell, Muckalee, Odagh, Rathbeagh, Rathcoole, Rathealy, Tiscoffin, Tubbridbrittain and Urlingford.
ic or possibly pre-Celtic tribe which held their seat in the vicinity. There is some debate as to the meaning of Donoughmore. The very first Journal of the Kilkenny
Archaeological Society
"Old Kilkenny Review, Number 1 (1946–1947). January 1948" has an article about Ballyragget and its environs and states the belief that Domhnach Mór means Big Sunday and relates to the fact that thousands of people congregated at the now ruined church in Donoughmore for its opening on a Sunday and the name stuck.
flows beside the town, which nestles in a wide alluvial valley between the Castlecomer Plateau
and several hills to the west, including 'Knockmannon' and 'The Ballock'. The Nore passes by one of the most significant ancient sites in North Kilkenny 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Ballyragget at Rathbeagh
. The statistical Ballyragget Geographical Area is recorded by the CSO as containing 26.67 square kilometres (10.3 sq mi).
To the north lies the town of Durrow
in County Laois
, to the south the River Nore flows on towards Kilkenny City.
The town itself is dominated by a large medieval keep, fallen into disrepair, and its adjoining walls. This tower dates roughly from the time of Queen Elizabeth I. A large Catholic Church also sits on a rise overlooking the town's central square.
, Freshford
and Urlingford
.
The majority of residents in Ballyragget are nominally Roman Catholic, although there are minority Protestant and non-religious populations.
and the Agri-Food industry are the largest employers, with the large Glanbia
factory across the river dominating the town's industry for the past forty years. The plant at Ballyragget is the largest multi-purpose integrated dairy plant in Europe, and Glanbia plc can trace its roots to the Avonmore co-operative founded in Ballyragget in the 1960s.
A large percentage of the town's residents are employed in the services sector in nearby Kilkenny City and in Carlow
, with some also commuting to Dublin.
, a champion tennis
player who in the nineteenth century won the U.S. Open and held the singles, doubles and mixed titles for 1891–92.
Ballyragget is the birthplace of Mother Teresa Lalor
of the Georgetown Nuns of the Visitation.
Patrick Neary, who resigned as Chief Executive of the Financial Regulator, following the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank
, was brought up in the village.
Mark Bannon, a famous explorer was raised in the town in the fashionable castle gardens estate.
and the Labour Party
, with four of the five local authority seats having gone to those parties in both the 2004 and 2009 local elections
. Fianna Fáil
has in the recent past maintained strong historical support in the region, and local politics is best described as conforming to the 'Civil War'
cleavage common to many other rural towns in Ireland.
At national level, Ballyragget, as part of the Carlow–Kilkenny
constituency, is represented by five Teachtaí Dála
in Dáil Éireann
. The current representatives, who were elected on the 25 February, 2011 for a five year term, are:
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
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,...
. It is situated along the river Nore
River Nore
The River Nore is a long river located in south-east of Ireland. Along with the River Suir and River Barrow, it is one of the constituent rivers of the group known as the Three Sisters. The river drains approximately of Leinster. The river rises in the Devil's Bit Mountain, North Tipperary...
in the north of the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
. It is located in the province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
in the south-east of the island of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Ballyragget situated on the N77 18 km (11.2 mi) north of Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
and has a population of 1,451 people.
Béal Atha Raghad meaning 'Mouth of Ragget's Ford'. The name 'Ragget' is Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
in origin, and denotes a once-prominent Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
landowner Richard le Ragget who held these lands in the early part of the 13th century.
Ballyragget is a Local Electoral Area
Local Electoral Areas
A local electoral area is a sub-division of a county and city-level local government used for electoral purposes in Ireland. Each local electoral area consists of a number of lower-level units known as district electoral divisions...
of County Kilkenny and includes the electoral divisions
District Electoral Division
A district electoral division is a former name given to a low-level territorial division in Ireland. In 1994, both district electoral divisions and wards were renamed as electoral divisions...
of Attanagh, Balleen, Ballyconra, Ballyragget, Baunmore, Castlecomer, Clogh, Clogharinka, Clomantagh, Coolcraheen, Freshford, Galmoy, Glashare, Johnstown, Kilkieran, Kilmacar, Lisdowney, Moneenroe, Mothell, Muckalee, Odagh, Rathbeagh, Rathcoole, Rathealy, Tiscoffin, Tubbridbrittain and Urlingford.
History
Older names of the settlement include 'Donoughmore' ( 'Large Church') and an even more ancient 'Tullabarry' - the name of a CeltCelt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic or possibly pre-Celtic tribe which held their seat in the vicinity. There is some debate as to the meaning of Donoughmore. The very first Journal of the Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
Archaeological Society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
"Old Kilkenny Review, Number 1 (1946–1947). January 1948" has an article about Ballyragget and its environs and states the belief that Domhnach Mór means Big Sunday and relates to the fact that thousands of people congregated at the now ruined church in Donoughmore for its opening on a Sunday and the name stuck.
Geography
The River NoreRiver Nore
The River Nore is a long river located in south-east of Ireland. Along with the River Suir and River Barrow, it is one of the constituent rivers of the group known as the Three Sisters. The river drains approximately of Leinster. The river rises in the Devil's Bit Mountain, North Tipperary...
flows beside the town, which nestles in a wide alluvial valley between the Castlecomer Plateau
Castlecomer Plateau
The Castlecomer Plateau is an upland area in the North of County Kilkenny, in Ireland, extending into County Laois and County Carlow at its northern edge. The plateau is bounded on the east and south by the N9 National primary road, on the west by the N77...
and several hills to the west, including 'Knockmannon' and 'The Ballock'. The Nore passes by one of the most significant ancient sites in North Kilkenny 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Ballyragget at Rathbeagh
Rathbeagh
Rathbeagh is a hill on the River Nore in the parish of Lisdowney Parish near Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, Ireland. According to Irish tradition, the Rath is the burial place of Heremon, son of the Celtic Taoiseach Milesius....
. The statistical Ballyragget Geographical Area is recorded by the CSO as containing 26.67 square kilometres (10.3 sq mi).
To the north lies the town of Durrow
Durrow, County Laois
Durrow is a small town located in south County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M8 motorway on 28 May 2010, the town is located on the R639 road at its junction with the N77. The river Erkina flows through Durrow and joins the River Nore about 1.5 km east of the town...
in County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, to the south the River Nore flows on towards Kilkenny City.
The town itself is dominated by a large medieval keep, fallen into disrepair, and its adjoining walls. This tower dates roughly from the time of Queen Elizabeth I. A large Catholic Church also sits on a rise overlooking the town's central square.
Demographics
Statistics available from the Central Statistics Office of Ireland show that Ballyragget's population had reached 1,451 persons in the 2006 census. The figures show that there was a 14.1% increase in population from 2002 to 2006. The Ballyragget Electoral Area contained 15,417 people in 2006. These figures correspond to a section of North Kilkenny, including CastlecomerCastlecomer
Castlecomer is a town in the barony of Fassadinin, County Kilkenny in Ireland.The Irish name for the town translates to "The castle at the confluence of the rivers"; the "rivers" refers to the rivers Deen, Brocagh and Clohogue while the "castle" refers to the castle built by the Normans in 1171...
, Freshford
Freshford, Ireland
Freshford is a village in the barony of Crannagh, County Kilkenny, Ireland.-History:The village is the site of a monastery dating to the early 7th century...
and Urlingford
Urlingford
Urlingford is a town in the barony of Galmoy, County Kilkenny, Ireland.The town lies on the R639. The M8 motorway runs just west of the town, from which both Urlingford and nearby Johnstown are accessed via junction four. Urlingford is a bus hub, with major operator JJ Kavanagh and Sons based there...
.
The majority of residents in Ballyragget are nominally Roman Catholic, although there are minority Protestant and non-religious populations.
Local economy
AgricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and the Agri-Food industry are the largest employers, with the large Glanbia
Glanbia
Glanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group, headquartered in Ireland. Glanbia is listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchange . The Group has four segments; US Cheese & Global Nutritionals, Dairy Ireland, Joint Ventures & Associates and Other Business...
factory across the river dominating the town's industry for the past forty years. The plant at Ballyragget is the largest multi-purpose integrated dairy plant in Europe, and Glanbia plc can trace its roots to the Avonmore co-operative founded in Ballyragget in the 1960s.
A large percentage of the town's residents are employed in the services sector in nearby Kilkenny City and in Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
, with some also commuting to Dublin.
People
Ballyragget is the birthplace of Mabel Esmonde CahillMabel Cahill
Mabel Esmonde Cahill was a female tennis player from Ireland ....
, a champion tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player who in the nineteenth century won the U.S. Open and held the singles, doubles and mixed titles for 1891–92.
Ballyragget is the birthplace of Mother Teresa Lalor
Teresa Lalor
Teresa Lalor, V.H.M., was an Irish immigrant to the United States, and a nun, co-foundress, with the Most Rev...
of the Georgetown Nuns of the Visitation.
Patrick Neary, who resigned as Chief Executive of the Financial Regulator, following the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank
Anglo Irish Bank
Anglo Irish Bank was a bank based in Ireland with its headquarters in Dublin from 1964 to 2011. It went into wind-down mode after nationalisation in 2009....
, was brought up in the village.
Mark Bannon, a famous explorer was raised in the town in the fashionable castle gardens estate.
Politics
Local politics is dominated by Fine GaelFine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
and the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
, with four of the five local authority seats having gone to those parties in both the 2004 and 2009 local elections
Irish local elections, 2009
The 2009 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on Friday, 5 June 2009, on the same day as the European Parliament election and two by-elections .-Overview:...
. Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
has in the recent past maintained strong historical support in the region, and local politics is best described as conforming to the 'Civil War'
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
cleavage common to many other rural towns in Ireland.
At national level, Ballyragget, as part of the Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency, is represented by five Teachtaí Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
in Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
. The current representatives, who were elected on the 25 February, 2011 for a five year term, are:
- Ann PhelanAnn PhelanAnn Phelan is an Irish Labour Party politician. She was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the 2011 general election....
(Labour PartyLabour Party (Ireland)The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
) - John McGuinnessJohn J. McGuinnessJohn J. McGuinness is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since 1997...
(Fianna Fáil) - John Paul PhelanJohn Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the 2011 general election. He was elected in 2002 to Seanad Éireann by the Agricultural Panel, and was re-elected in 2007...
(Fine Gael) - Phil HoganPhil HoganPhil Hogan is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since 1989, and is the current Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.-Early and private life:...
(Fine Gael) - Pat DeeringPat DeeringPat Deering is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the 2011 general election. He was a member of Carlow County Council for the Tullow electoral area from 2009–11....
(Fine Gael)
Ballyragget today
The town is currently undergoing a significant expansion as a large number of new homes, along with shops and other services, have been constructed in its environs.See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland