Cootehill
Encyclopedia
Cootehill, known before the Plantation of Ulster
as Munnilly , is a prominent market town in County Cavan
, Ireland
.
industry. Cootehill gets its name from the 17th century marriage of Thomas Coote- a Cromwellian Colonel-to Frances Hill from Hillsborough. The Cootes of Cootehill have had some notable members, for example, one Thomas Coote was a judge in a court of Common Pleas
in the 18th century, and other Cootes have served as sheriffs and under-sheriffs in the 19th century.
A description from 1844 states: "The town is comparatively well-built and respectively inhabited; and is not equaled in appearance by any place between it and Dublin except Navan."
The Cootehill of this era has a surprising link to communist and labour
history, as well. A branch of the First International was established in Cootehill in 1872, along with branches in Dublin, Cork
, and Belfast
.
Many prominent people have visited the town over the years: the President Mary McAleese
visited in 2002, to open Damien House, Bertie Ahern
, the former Taoiseach
, visited Cootehill in 2006, John Wesley
, a founder of the evangelical
and Methodist movement visited the town in the mid-18th century. Eoghan Ruadh Ó Néill camped and trained the Ulster Army in Munnilly, in the 1640s during the Irish Confederate Wars
.
The dominant architectural style reflects the 17th and 18th centuries, with a number of fine Georgian buildings in the town centre. The town has a number of other fine architectural buildings: an arched sandstone
facade now home to the AIB
, stands at the far end of Market Street, juxtaposed to the Gothic architecture
of the Church of Ireland
place of worship. Within 90 metres stands the renovated St. Michaels Catholic
Chapel, with its well kept grounds is an attractive place. The Cootehill Court House is another example of notable architecture, though the building is in need of refurbishment. It was designed and built in 1832 by William Dean Butler. There are also some interesting examples of Modern and Postmodern architecture
, such as the Cootehill Post Office. The Market house
, a building which helped define the town, was demolished in the 1960s. The former Railway Station buildings (Bradys Mart) and the site of the demolished Workhouses are important links to a forgotten past (see photo links below). The Fair
Green, a town commons area was divided with a road and walled parking in the 1980s, was once used by Irish travellers, circus
es and theater groups. Hiring fair
s were conducted in the town as part of larger fairs up until the 1950s.
Cootehill's proximity to the artists' retreat at Annaghmakerrig makes it a favourite haunt for writers, poets and playwrights, including Patrick McCabe and Seamus Heaney
.
Cootehill has strong links with the arts with poets, writers and visual artists attracted to the area. The Cootehill library regularly hosts exhibitions of local artists' work, and in 2006 it showcased a selection of pieces from the Irish Museum of Modern Art
, including work by internationally-renowned artists. The Cootehill Arts Festival is also a key event in the Irish arts calendar, and features plays
, workshops, readings, fringe theater and experimental work, such as the Duchess of Malfi, performed in 2002.
Live music - irish traditional music, country music
, rock music
and classical music
, - is an important part of the local culture - the Ulster Fleadh Cheoil
has been hosted in Cootehill several times.
In 1837 it became the site of one of the first eight branches of Ulster Bank
which remains to this day. The town is also home to Abbott Laboratories
, which manufactures a range of infant formulae. Other factories include Eakins and Whelans Shoes, and the Cootehill Enterprise Centre is home to Carleton Bakery. Agriculture and related industry (such as chicken processing and mushroom cultivation), as well as retail, are the main employers. There are several large department stores, including Lennon's Drapery on Market St which has been owned and operated by the Lennon family for almost 100 years].
The surrounding lakes and rivers provide a scenic backdrop which attracts not only anglers (such as TV broadcaster Chris Tarrant
), but other visitors and sports enthusiasts. Swimming and swimming instruction is available in the summer months, while boating and kayaking
remain popular. Equestrians are also attracted to Cootehill and the surrounding countryside. In the 18th and 19th century Cootehill was a centre for horse-racing "a cup at Cootehill you have twice won with fame, And this day we are challenged, and you must run again"(Jackson and Jane). Historians and architects find much to interest them in the local Architecture
and historical sites. Places and sites of interest have been signposted recently by Cootehill Historical society.
There is a megalithic tomb on the townland of Cohaw situated 3.5 miles from Cootehill along the Shercock
road.
Walks in Dartrey and Bellamont Forest are available. A description from 1844 states: "the banks of the Cootehill (Dromore) River
, for several miles above the town, furnish a constant series of very rich close landscapes, chiefly of the class which may be designated languishingly beautiful."
Bellamont House is widely regarded as the finest example of Palladian Architecture
in Ireland, and remains in a well-preserved condition. The former Bellamont Estate was a sprawling estate stretching from the town centre north towards Rockcorry
to the right of the Dromore River. The forest once thickly planted with norway spruce
and other trees, is managed by the Coillte and was clearcut in the early 1990s, much to the dismay of local residents and tourists. The estate featured several lakes, gatehouses at the numerous gates, open pasture, forest, drumlins, and a wide range of wildlife including wild deer and corncrakes and is bordered by the Dromore River and the former Dartrey Estate. Most of the forest is now designated as Natural Heritage Area
by Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service
, however most of the trees planted are still non-native norway spruce.
The old Cavan Road and Chapel Lane have become one-way streets, to allow space for parking. During the growth of the national and local economy (and population) the town saw the construction of a number of new private housing estates and one local authority housing estate.
The widespread building of new accommodation and housing, coupled with improved infrastructure, has seen the population expand by about 30% in recent years. Cootehill is fast embracing cosmopolitanism
and multi-culturalism, while trying to retain its market town charm. This is evident from the juxtaposition of Chinese, eastern European and Indian shops and restaurants with traditional bakeries and draperies.
At the end of 2006, Bindoo wind farm
was completed close to Cootehill supplying the area with 48MW of wind generated electricity. the hilly landscape around Cootehill is now dotted with windmills.
s and flowery hills"(Sweet Coothill Town) monoculture and industrial farming have replaced any local farm characteristics. The recent expansion of housing into the surrounding countryside has diminished much of the rural
charm of the town with the removal of hedgerows and trees.
Traditionally poorly served by Bus Éireann, a significantly enhanced service on existing Route 175 was introduced in Mid-March 2011. The service comprises five journeys each way to/from Cavan and four journeys each way to/from Monaghan Mondays to Fridays inclusive. On Saturdays and Sundays there are two journeys in each direction. (Ref: http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1299260127-175.pdf
There is also a three days a week route 166 linking the town to Carrickmacross and Dundalk: http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1287658513-166.pdf
A company called Sillan operates a through coach service between the town and Dublin: http://www.sillan.ie/
Aside from this there are several private coach companies and taxi firms.
Most of the population find it necessary to own cars, though there are many who choose to walk, given the compact nature of the town centre.
The local secondary school: St. Aidans Comprehensive School
serves the practical and academic needs of the area's population. The Holy Family School, Monaghan Road caters to students with special needs. Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre provides adventure sport activities (canoeing, orienteering
, etc.) for school groups and others.
Plantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
as Munnilly , is a prominent market town in County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan 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,...
.
History
Cootehill was established as a market town in 1725 when a charter was obtained to hold markets and fairs, and developed strong ties to the Irish linenIrish linen
Irish linen is the brand name given to linen produced in Ireland. Linen is cloth woven from, or yarn spun from the flax fibre, which was grown in Ireland for many years before advanced agricultural methods and more suitable climate led to the concentration of quality flax cultivation in northern...
industry. Cootehill gets its name from the 17th century marriage of Thomas Coote- a Cromwellian Colonel-to Frances Hill from Hillsborough. The Cootes of Cootehill have had some notable members, for example, one Thomas Coote was a judge in a court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas (England)
The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...
in the 18th century, and other Cootes have served as sheriffs and under-sheriffs in the 19th century.
A description from 1844 states: "The town is comparatively well-built and respectively inhabited; and is not equaled in appearance by any place between it and Dublin except Navan."
The Cootehill of this era has a surprising link to communist and labour
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
history, as well. A branch of the First International was established in Cootehill in 1872, along with branches in Dublin, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
Many prominent people have visited the town over the years: the President Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
visited in 2002, to open Damien House, Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
, the former Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, visited Cootehill in 2006, John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
, a founder of the evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
and Methodist movement visited the town in the mid-18th century. Eoghan Ruadh Ó Néill camped and trained the Ulster Army in Munnilly, in the 1640s during the Irish Confederate Wars
Irish Confederate Wars
This article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
.
Heritage and culture
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
facade now home to the AIB
AIB
AIB may refer to:* add-in board * Admiralty Interview Board* AIB College of Business* Allied Intelligence Bureau* 2-Aminoisobutyric acid* Amplified in breast* The Art Institute of Boston* The Arts Institute at Bournemouth...
, stands at the far end of Market Street, juxtaposed to the Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
of the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
place of worship. Within 90 metres stands the renovated St. Michaels 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"...
Chapel, with its well kept grounds is an attractive place. The Cootehill Court House is another example of notable architecture, though the building is in need of refurbishment. It was designed and built in 1832 by William Dean Butler. There are also some interesting examples of Modern and Postmodern architecture
Postmodern architecture
Postmodern architecture began as an international style the first examples of which are generally cited as being from the 1950s, but did not become a movement until the late 1970s and continues to influence present-day architecture...
, such as the Cootehill Post Office. The Market house
Market house
A market house or country market is a type of building traditionally used as a marketplace at street level and for public functions on the upper floor....
, a building which helped define the town, was demolished in the 1960s. The former Railway Station buildings (Bradys Mart) and the site of the demolished Workhouses are important links to a forgotten past (see photo links below). The Fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
Green, a town commons area was divided with a road and walled parking in the 1980s, was once used by Irish travellers, circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
es and theater groups. Hiring fair
Hiring fair
Hiring fairs were also called statute, or mop fairs. They date from the time of Edward III, and his attempt to regulate the labour market by the Statute of Labourers in 1351 at a time of a serious national shortage of labour after the Black Death...
s were conducted in the town as part of larger fairs up until the 1950s.
Cootehill's proximity to the artists' retreat at Annaghmakerrig makes it a favourite haunt for writers, poets and playwrights, including Patrick McCabe and Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
.
Cootehill has strong links with the arts with poets, writers and visual artists attracted to the area. The Cootehill library regularly hosts exhibitions of local artists' work, and in 2006 it showcased a selection of pieces from the Irish Museum of Modern Art
Irish Museum of Modern Art
The Irish Museum of Modern Art also known as IMMA, is Ireland's leading national institution exhibiting and collecting modern and contemporary art. The museum opened in May 1991 and is located in Royal Hospital Kilmainham, a 17th-century building near Heuston Station to the west of Dublin's city...
, including work by internationally-renowned artists. The Cootehill Arts Festival is also a key event in the Irish arts calendar, and features plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
, workshops, readings, fringe theater and experimental work, such as the Duchess of Malfi, performed in 2002.
Live music - irish traditional music, country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, - is an important part of the local culture - the Ulster Fleadh Cheoil
Fleadh Cheoil
The Fleadh Cheoil is an Irish music competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann or more commonly known as "Comhaltas" ....
has been hosted in Cootehill several times.
Industry and tourism
Ulster Bank
Ulster Bank is a large commercial bank, one of the Big Four in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Ulster Bank Group is subdivided into two separate legal entities, Ulster Bank Limited and Ulster Bank Ireland Limited...
which remains to this day. The town is also home to Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories is an American-based global, diversified pharmaceuticals and health care products company. It has 90,000 employees and operates in over 130 countries. The company headquarters are in Abbott Park, North Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded by Chicago physician, Dr....
, which manufactures a range of infant formulae. Other factories include Eakins and Whelans Shoes, and the Cootehill Enterprise Centre is home to Carleton Bakery. Agriculture and related industry (such as chicken processing and mushroom cultivation), as well as retail, are the main employers. There are several large department stores, including Lennon's Drapery on Market St which has been owned and operated by the Lennon family for almost 100 years].
The surrounding lakes and rivers provide a scenic backdrop which attracts not only anglers (such as TV broadcaster Chris Tarrant
Chris Tarrant
Christopher John "Chris" Tarrant, OBE is an English radio and television broadcaster, now best known for hosting the first version of the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the United Kingdom and later Ireland, as the two national versions of the show merged in 2002.Chris...
), but other visitors and sports enthusiasts. Swimming and swimming instruction is available in the summer months, while boating and kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
remain popular. Equestrians are also attracted to Cootehill and the surrounding countryside. In the 18th and 19th century Cootehill was a centre for horse-racing "a cup at Cootehill you have twice won with fame, And this day we are challenged, and you must run again"(Jackson and Jane). Historians and architects find much to interest them in the local Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and historical sites. Places and sites of interest have been signposted recently by Cootehill Historical society.
There is a megalithic tomb on the townland of Cohaw situated 3.5 miles from Cootehill along the Shercock
Shercock
Shercock is a small town situated in the east of County Cavan, Ireland. The current population of the town is 1032 people with almost triple this amount in the surrounding areas....
road.
Walks in Dartrey and Bellamont Forest are available. A description from 1844 states: "the banks of the Cootehill (Dromore) River
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
, for several miles above the town, furnish a constant series of very rich close landscapes, chiefly of the class which may be designated languishingly beautiful."
Bellamont House is widely regarded as the finest 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...
in Ireland, and remains in a well-preserved condition. The former Bellamont Estate was a sprawling estate stretching from the town centre north towards Rockcorry
Rockcorry
Rockcorry, historically known as Buagher or Boyher , is a village in County Monaghan, Ireland, set on the outskirts of Dartrey forest. It is situated on the R188 road which links Cootehill to Monaghan town.-History:...
to the right of the Dromore River. The forest once thickly planted with norway spruce
Norway Spruce
Norway Spruce is a species of spruce native to Europe. It is also commonly referred to as the European Spruce.- Description :...
and other trees, is managed by the Coillte and was clearcut in the early 1990s, much to the dismay of local residents and tourists. The estate featured several lakes, gatehouses at the numerous gates, open pasture, forest, drumlins, and a wide range of wildlife including wild deer and corncrakes and is bordered by the Dromore River and the former Dartrey Estate. Most of the forest is now designated as Natural Heritage Area
Natural Heritage Area
Natural Heritage Area is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the Republic of Ireland. The Wildlife Act 2000 makes legal provision for the designation and protection of a national network of Natural Heritage Areas...
by Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service
National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland)
The National Parks and Wildlife Service manages the Irish State's nature conservation responsibilities. It is part of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government....
, however most of the trees planted are still non-native norway spruce.
Infrastructure
With the building boom of the last number of years the town has had a number of problems with parking and roads. One controversy related to parking on Market Street.The old Cavan Road and Chapel Lane have become one-way streets, to allow space for parking. During the growth of the national and local economy (and population) the town saw the construction of a number of new private housing estates and one local authority housing estate.
The widespread building of new accommodation and housing, coupled with improved infrastructure, has seen the population expand by about 30% in recent years. Cootehill is fast embracing cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. This is contrasted with communitarian and particularistic theories, especially the ideas of patriotism and nationalism...
and multi-culturalism, while trying to retain its market town charm. This is evident from the juxtaposition of Chinese, eastern European and Indian shops and restaurants with traditional bakeries and draperies.
At the end of 2006, Bindoo wind farm
Bindoo wind farm
Bindoo wind farm is a wind farm located close to Cootehill, Cavan, Ireland and erected in 2007. The farm was built and is run by Airtricity. The wind farm has 32 GE 1.5 MW Wind Turbines with a 65 metre hub height and 70 metre rotor diameter giving a total capacity of 48 megawatts...
was completed close to Cootehill supplying the area with 48MW of wind generated electricity. the hilly landscape around Cootehill is now dotted with windmills.
Environment
Cootehill has changed greatly over the last one hundred years from the hub of a rich agricultural community to a suburb of Dublin. Once surrounded by "shady groveGrove
People, places, and things commonly known as grove include:* Grove , a small group of trees* Sacred grove, a small group of trees used as a place of worship- People :* Amanda Grove, Court TV personality...
s and flowery hills"(Sweet Coothill Town) monoculture and industrial farming have replaced any local farm characteristics. The recent expansion of housing into the surrounding countryside has diminished much of the rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
charm of the town with the removal of hedgerows and trees.
Transport
Cootehill railway station opened on 18 October 1860, closed for goods and passenger traffic on 10 March 1947, finally closing altogether on 20 June 1955.Traditionally poorly served by Bus Éireann, a significantly enhanced service on existing Route 175 was introduced in Mid-March 2011. The service comprises five journeys each way to/from Cavan and four journeys each way to/from Monaghan Mondays to Fridays inclusive. On Saturdays and Sundays there are two journeys in each direction. (Ref: http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1299260127-175.pdf
There is also a three days a week route 166 linking the town to Carrickmacross and Dundalk: http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1287658513-166.pdf
A company called Sillan operates a through coach service between the town and Dublin: http://www.sillan.ie/
Aside from this there are several private coach companies and taxi firms.
Most of the population find it necessary to own cars, though there are many who choose to walk, given the compact nature of the town centre.
Education
The town has two national schools: the Darley and St. Michael's. St Michael's is the larger of the two, with over 200 students from the ages of 4 to 12.The local secondary school: St. Aidans Comprehensive School
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
serves the practical and academic needs of the area's population. The Holy Family School, Monaghan Road caters to students with special needs. Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre provides adventure sport activities (canoeing, orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
, etc.) for school groups and others.
People
- Author Mary Anne Madden Sadlier was born here in 1820, emigrating to America in 1844 after the death of her father, Francis Madden, a merchant in Cootehill. She published roughly sixty novels, short stories, plays, poems, children's texts and translations of French romances and religious works.
- The late Archbishop of DublinArchbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Church of Ireland has a similar role, heading the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. In both cases, the Archbishop is also Primate of Ireland...
, John Charles McQuaidJohn Charles McQuaidJohn Charles McQuaid, C.S.Sp. was the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland between December 1940 and February 1972.- Early life 1895-1914:...
, was born there in 1895. He was ArchbishopArchbishopAn archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Dublin from 1940 until 1972. McQuaid is famous for having played a part in the drafting Éamon de ValeraÉamon de ValeraÉamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
's Constitution in 1937, and many of the Catholic overtones in Bunreacht na hÉireann are attributable to his influence. - Also born in Cootehill in 1895 was Major General Eric Dorman-SmithEric Dorman-SmithEric Edward Dorman-Smith , later de-Anglicised to Eric Edward Dorman O'Gowan, was a British Army soldier who served with distinction in World War I, and then seems to have become something of a bête noire to the British military establishment because of his lively mind, and unorthodox...
, (later Dorman-O'Gowan) a noted British Army soldier, served in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was the inspiration for Ernest HemingwayErnest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
's "Colonel Cantwell". McQuaid and Dorman-Smith were boyhood friends, despite the apparent disparity of background and later career. - Reginald Dorman-SmithReginald Dorman-SmithColonel Sir Reginald Hugh Dorman-Smith GBE was a British diplomat, soldier and politician.-In politics:Dorman-Smith started his career with a strong interest in agriculture, becoming President of the National Farmers Union at the age of 32, and then later Minister of Agriculture...
brother of Major General Eric Dorman-Smith. He also serve in the British Army in WWII. - Paddy Smith, Fianna FáilFianna FáilFianna 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...
TDTeachta DálaA 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...
and the longest-serving member of Dáil Éireann was born there in 1901 - Also home of actor Hugh O'Brien imdb Profile
- Hugh O'ReillyHughie O’ReillyHugh 'Hughie' O’Reilly was a Gaelic football player and manager for Cavan and Cootehill Celtic GAA Club.-Playing career:The Cootehill clubman is the only man to be involved in all of Cavan's Senior All-Ireland Championship victories. He played and won 2 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship...
played football for many years for the local GAA team, Cootehill Celtic. Hughie is the only man to be involved in all of Cavan's Senior All-Ireland Championship victories. He played in the 1933 and 1935 finals and was manager/trainer for the successes in 1947, 1948 and 1952. Cootehill Celtic GAA's pitch in the town is named after him. - Charlie GallagherCharlie Gallagher (Gaelic Footballer)Charlie Gallagher was a Gaelic football player for Cavan and Cootehill Celtic GAA Club.-Playing career:...
former Gaelic football player for Cavan in the 1960s - Bernadette Moley is a singer-songwriter born and raised outside Cootehill. She married American actor Eric StoltzEric StoltzEric Hamilton Stoltz is an American actor, director and producer. He is widely known for playing the role of Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film Mask, which earned him the nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture...
, who played guitar on her album and appeared in the video for her single "Brief Moments" video preview on the album "All I Want". She is also a former animator for Disney. Imdb Profile.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- Cavan County Council - Cootehill Town Plan 2007,Pdf orhtml,Plan Maps(Pdf)
- Irish Landscape Forum,Your Environmental Footprint
- Map 2003
- St. Aidens Comprehensive, Cootehill Library
- Cootehill Town Council
- Cootehill History,1844,Tenant Rights 1850, Cootehill First International branch,Linen Industry, Irish & Cootehill Workhouses, Town Directory 1910,Trades 1931
- Music: Sweet Cootehill TownTab,The Town of Cootehill (jig)listen,Sam Hall,Nell Flaherty's Drake!
- Heritage Trail,Dromore River Trip 2005,Dartrey Forest Walks,Guided Heritage Tours, Video Tour: Station Road to Cavan Road, Dromore River fishing (in German)
- People: Mary Anne Sadlier
- Transportation: Railway 1860-1947,National
- Cootehill Architecture,Town Images
- Tourism Information, Fishing,Things to Do, Citizen Information,Useful Contact Information