Mountbellew
Encyclopedia
Mountbellew or Mountbellew Bridge (historically Creggaun, from ) is a village in County Galway
, Ireland
. It lies mostly within the townland
of Treanrevagh (Trian Riabhach) on the N63
national primary road
.
The town consists of many shops and small businesses. There are four schools located in the town, St. Mary's National School,Colaiste an Chreagain Holy Rossary collage and the Franciscan Brothers Agricultural College.
There are many historic and scenic points throughout the town which include: The Bellew Estate
and woodlands, a small lake, the old forge and the Catholic Church. The Bellew estate was once the home of the Grattan-Bellew family, famous Galway parliamentarians during the 18th and 19th centuries. Their demesne is now a delightful wooded area of forest walks and picnic areas, filled with interesting historical items. The village bridge also contains a rare milestone inserted in the middle of its parapet.
The programmes have the maintenance and enhancement of the environment, countryside and rural communities as their major priorities.
The Franciscan Brothers came to Mountbellew, Co Galway from Milltown, in Dublin, in the year 1818. The Bellew family invited them and gave them resources of land and a house to get established.
The Brothers taught a free primary school until 1884. In 1875 they opened a secondary school (boarding) and in 1898 a special Department in the school was set up to prepare students for Teacher Training Colleges.
The Brothers changed from Secondary education to Agricultural Education in 1904 and the Franciscan Brothers’ Agricultural College was founded. This was the first Agricultural College in Ireland. The Department of Agriculture supported the college right from the start.
The old college was demolished in 1971 and replaced with the new one by 1975. Subsequently, the number of students continued to rise.
In 1976 three Brothers from Mountbellew went to Kenya. They founded Baraka Agricultural College, at Molo, in Nakuru district. There is cooperation between Baraka and Mountbellew which has resulted in staff exchanges between the two Institutions.
The college established a link with Galway Regional Technical College, now known as Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), in 1986. This cooperation between the two colleges resulted in the setting up of what is now known as the Higher Certificate in Business Studies (Agribusiness) with progression to Add-on Ordinary and Honours Degrees. The course has been very successful with more than 600 graduates in various careers in business and agribusiness.
In 2001 a Higher Certificate in Agriculture was initiated and since 2004 there is progression on this course to an Add-on Bachelor Degree in Science in Agriculture and Environmental Management.
plays both hurling
and Gaelic football
. The club colours are black and amber and play in Mountbellew/Moylough GAA grounds.
The senior football team have won four Galway Senior Football Championships, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1986.
A monument to the famous racehorse Bobbyjo
can be seen in the town centre. He won the Irish
and English grand nationals
.
The River Shiven is nearby, which provides some excellent fly fishing for brown trout. The town also has a fine 18-hole golf course, set amongst some beautifully wooded scenery.
Mountbellew is also home to the Malthouse Players, a small but very active drama group. The Malthouse Players typically stage two productions each year and partake annually in national competitions. The group on two occasions won the All-Ireland one-act drama finals.
County Galway
County Galway 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 city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, 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...
. It lies mostly within the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Treanrevagh (Trian Riabhach) on the N63
N63 road (Ireland)
The N63 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It links the N17 northeast of Galway, to the N5 national primary road in Longford.En route it passes through Mountbellew, Roscommon Town, crosses the River Shannon at Lanesborough.The road is long....
national primary road
National primary road
A national primary road is a road classification in the Republic of Ireland. National primary roads form the major routes between the major urban centres. There are over 2,700km of national primary roads. This category of road has the prefix "N" followed by one or two digits...
.
The town consists of many shops and small businesses. There are four schools located in the town, St. Mary's National School,Colaiste an Chreagain Holy Rossary collage and the Franciscan Brothers Agricultural College.
There are many historic and scenic points throughout the town which include: The Bellew Estate
Grattan-Bellew Baronets
The Bellew, later Grattan-Bellew Baronetcy, of Mount Bellew in County Galway, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 15 August 1838 for Michael Bellew. He was a descendant of Christopher Bellew, brother of Sir Patrick Bellew, 1st Baronet...
and woodlands, a small lake, the old forge and the Catholic Church. The Bellew estate was once the home of the Grattan-Bellew family, famous Galway parliamentarians during the 18th and 19th centuries. Their demesne is now a delightful wooded area of forest walks and picnic areas, filled with interesting historical items. The village bridge also contains a rare milestone inserted in the middle of its parapet.
The Agricultural College
Mountbellew Agricultural College is owned and managed by the Franciscan Brothers. Their mission is to provide a comprehensive and competitive range of training programmes for those engaged in Agriculture and food related sectors.The programmes have the maintenance and enhancement of the environment, countryside and rural communities as their major priorities.
The Franciscan Brothers came to Mountbellew, Co Galway from Milltown, in Dublin, in the year 1818. The Bellew family invited them and gave them resources of land and a house to get established.
The Brothers taught a free primary school until 1884. In 1875 they opened a secondary school (boarding) and in 1898 a special Department in the school was set up to prepare students for Teacher Training Colleges.
The Brothers changed from Secondary education to Agricultural Education in 1904 and the Franciscan Brothers’ Agricultural College was founded. This was the first Agricultural College in Ireland. The Department of Agriculture supported the college right from the start.
The old college was demolished in 1971 and replaced with the new one by 1975. Subsequently, the number of students continued to rise.
In 1976 three Brothers from Mountbellew went to Kenya. They founded Baraka Agricultural College, at Molo, in Nakuru district. There is cooperation between Baraka and Mountbellew which has resulted in staff exchanges between the two Institutions.
The college established a link with Galway Regional Technical College, now known as Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), in 1986. This cooperation between the two colleges resulted in the setting up of what is now known as the Higher Certificate in Business Studies (Agribusiness) with progression to Add-on Ordinary and Honours Degrees. The course has been very successful with more than 600 graduates in various careers in business and agribusiness.
In 2001 a Higher Certificate in Agriculture was initiated and since 2004 there is progression on this course to an Add-on Bachelor Degree in Science in Agriculture and Environmental Management.
Sport
Mountbellew has many sporting societies. Mountbellew Moylough GAA clubMountbellew-Moylough CLG
Mountbellew-Moylough is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in County Galway, Ireland. The club is a member of the Galway GAA. The club was formerly known as Mountbellew before amalgamating with Moylough.-Honours:...
plays both hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
. The club colours are black and amber and play in Mountbellew/Moylough GAA grounds.
The senior football team have won four Galway Senior Football Championships, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1986.
A monument to the famous racehorse Bobbyjo
Bobbyjo
Bobbyjo was an Irish bred racehorse by Bustineto and Markup, best remembered as the winner of the 1999 Grand National steeplechase at Aintree....
can be seen in the town centre. He won the Irish
Irish Grand National
The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
and English grand nationals
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
.
The River Shiven is nearby, which provides some excellent fly fishing for brown trout. The town also has a fine 18-hole golf course, set amongst some beautifully wooded scenery.
Mountbellew is also home to the Malthouse Players, a small but very active drama group. The Malthouse Players typically stage two productions each year and partake annually in national competitions. The group on two occasions won the All-Ireland one-act drama finals.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland