Glenamoy
Encyclopedia
Glenamoy is a village in the parish of Kilcommon
, Erris
in the northern part of County Mayo
in Ireland
.
Glenamoy is a general term for the following townlands:
Parish which is, in the main, a coastal area. Because so much of Glenamoy is pretty remote in nature and consisting of large expanses of blanket bog
, it covers an area of some 16700 acres (67.6 km²) of land. Two rivers flow through this townland conglomerate. They rise in Glencalry (Belderrig
) townland.
The Owenmore river flows via Carrowmore Lake
into Blacksod Bay
where a tributary of it known as the Munhin River connects the area with the great Ulster Cycle
saga
of Táin Bó Flidhais
, the Glenamoy River into Sruwaddacon
estuary and Broadhaven Bay
. Lace school
s were one of the more common industries in the area in the past. There were several shooting lodges in this area where the landlords
held shooting parties for the gentry in the 19th century. The habitations in Glenamoy are spread out across a wide area today unlike other habitations in the parish which tend to be clustered, a remnant of the Rundale
system of agriculture which was commonplace here for many years.
The coastal habitats of Glenamoy bog complex are extensive and varied. Sea cliffs dominate the coastline reaching a height of 253 metres at Benwee Head
. There are many steeply sided islands off the coastline which are mainly used a summer grazing for livestock if the area of machair
on them is large enough. A detailed report on the Glenamoy Box Complex can be read at this link.
Kilcommon
Kilcommon is a civil parish in Erris, north Mayo consisting of two large peninsulas; Dún Chaocháin and Dún Chiortáin. It consists of 37 townlands, some of which are so remote that they have no inhabitants...
, Erris
Erris
Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland consisting of over , much of which is mountainous blanket bog. It has extensive sea coasts along its west and north boundaries. The main towns are Belmullet and Bangor Erris. The name Erris derives from the Irish 'Iar Ros' meaning 'western...
in the northern part of County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
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,...
.
Glenamoy is a general term for the following townlands:
- Bellagelly North (Béal a Ghoile meaning "mouth of the stomach")
- Bellagelly south (Béal a Ghoile meaning "mouth of the stomach")
- Baralty (Barr Altaigh meaning "hills/cliffs/anything high")
- Bunalty (Bun Altaigh meaning "base of the hills/cliffs")
- Gortleatilla (Gort Liatuile meaning "field of the little grey stream")
- Srahnaplaia (Srath na Pláighe meaning "holm of the plague")
- Pollboy (Poll Buí meaning "yellow hole")
- Lenarevagh (An Léana Riabhach meaning "grey meadows")
- Barrooskey (Barr Rúscaigh meaning "moory or marsh land")
Topography
The townlands of Glenamoy make up the inland portion of KilcommonKilcommon
Kilcommon is a civil parish in Erris, north Mayo consisting of two large peninsulas; Dún Chaocháin and Dún Chiortáin. It consists of 37 townlands, some of which are so remote that they have no inhabitants...
Parish which is, in the main, a coastal area. Because so much of Glenamoy is pretty remote in nature and consisting of large expanses of blanket bog
Blanket bog
Blanket bog or blanket mire is an area of peatland, forming where there is a climate of high rainfall and a low level of evapotranspiration, allowing peat to develop not only in wet hollows but over large expanses of undulating ground. The blanketing of the ground with a variable depth of peat...
, it covers an area of some 16700 acres (67.6 km²) of land. Two rivers flow through this townland conglomerate. They rise in Glencalry (Belderrig
Belderrig
Béal Deirg is a Gaeltacht village and townland in County Mayo, Ireland.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
) townland.
The Owenmore river flows via Carrowmore Lake
Carrowmore Lake
Carrowmore Lake is situated in the parishes of Kiltane and Kilcommon Erris, County Mayo between the villages of Bangor Erris and Barnatra at the southern end of Broadhaven Bay. The freshwater lake is over four miles long and almost 3 miles wide at its widest point...
into Blacksod Bay
Blacksod Bay
Blacksod Bay is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean in Erris, North County Mayo, Ireland. The bay is bounded on its western side by the Mullet Peninsula and to its eastern side by the coastline of Kiltane Parish where it extends southwards from Belmullet towards Gweesalia and Doohoma...
where a tributary of it known as the Munhin River connects the area with the great Ulster Cycle
Ulster Cycle
The Ulster Cycle , formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, one of the four great cycles of Irish mythology, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly counties Armagh, Down and...
saga
Saga
Sagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...
of Táin Bó Flidhais
Táin Bó Flidhais
Táin Bó Flidhais, also known as the Mayo Táin, is a tale from the Ulster Cycle of early Irish literature. It is one of a group of works known as Táin Bó, or "cattle raid" stories, the best known of which is Táin Bó Cúailnge...
, the Glenamoy River into Sruwaddacon
Sruwaddacon Bay
Sruwaddacon Bay is a tidal estuary which runs through the middle of the Gaeltacht Kilcommon Parish, Erris, North County Mayo; it is of historical importance in Irish legend, an important marine habitat, an E.U. Special Area of Conservation and an E.U...
estuary and Broadhaven Bay
Broadhaven Bay
Broadhaven Bay is a natural bay of the Atlantic Ocean situated on the northwestern coast of County Mayo, Ireland. The opening of the bay faces northward, stretching between Erris Head on the west side and Kid Island on the east side with approximately 8.6 km between the two sides.It borders...
. Lace school
Lace school
Lace schools were common in Britain from the 17th to 19th century to teach lace-making.Lace schools were often the living rooms of small cottages and were known for being overcrowded, badly lit and often unsanitary...
s were one of the more common industries in the area in the past. There were several shooting lodges in this area where the landlords
Protestant Ascendancy
The Protestant Ascendancy, usually known in Ireland simply as the Ascendancy, is a phrase used when referring to the political, economic, and social domination of Ireland by a minority of great landowners, Protestant clergy, and professionals, all members of the Established Church during the 17th...
held shooting parties for the gentry in the 19th century. The habitations in Glenamoy are spread out across a wide area today unlike other habitations in the parish which tend to be clustered, a remnant of the Rundale
Rundale
The rundale system was a form of occupation of land, somewhat resembling the English common field system. The land is divided into discontinuous plots, and cultivated and occupied by a number of tenants to whom it is leased jointly...
system of agriculture which was commonplace here for many years.
Glenamoy Bog Complex
Glenamoy Bog Complex is a large site situated in the extreme north-west of Erris, Co. Mayo, incorporating both inland and coastal regions. The climate is wet and oceanic and there are frequent strong winds across the area which is largely treeless and relatively exposed. The bog complex area is drained by four main river systems - the Glenamoy, the Muingnabo, the Belderg and the Glenglassra rivers. Extreme oceanic blanket bog dominates the site in its inland areas. http://www.npws.ie/en/media/Media,3965,en.pdfThe coastal habitats of Glenamoy bog complex are extensive and varied. Sea cliffs dominate the coastline reaching a height of 253 metres at Benwee Head
Benwee Head
Benwee Head Cliffs County MayoGaelic: An Bhinn BhuíHeight: 304 metres OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 22 for topGrid Ref: F816 443 Latitude: 54.333659 Longitude: -9.820924ITM: 481576 844301 Prominence: 230m Isolation: 5.4 km...
. There are many steeply sided islands off the coastline which are mainly used a summer grazing for livestock if the area of machair
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
on them is large enough. A detailed report on the Glenamoy Box Complex can be read at this link.