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Castleblayney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Castleblayney (Baile na Lorgan in Irish) or onetime alternatively known as 'Caislean Mac Gahmnach' is a former market and Border town in County Monaghan, current population being ca. 3000 people, with another 8000 in the suburban and rural environs. Among the nine counties of the ancient province of Ulster, Monaghan is one of the three that are located in the modern Republic of Ireland. It is on the N2 National Primary Route from Dublin to Derry, near the border with Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland and the nearest towns are are Keady, Newtownhamilton, and Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh, and Carrickmacross and Ballybay, Co. Monaghan. The town lies above the western shore of Lough Muckno, the largest lake in Co. Monaghan. As the name of the lake suggests, the area is associated with the 'Black Pig's Dyke', and ancient Iron Age boundary of Ulster. A few miles to the north is the highest elevation in Co. Monaghan, 'Mullyash', altitude 317m, associated with pagan festivals till modern times.
Castleblayney is twinned with the town of Nogent-sur-Vernisson in the Loiret Department of France.
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The town of 'Castleblayney' originated as a Plantation of Ulster town established in 1611 by Ryan Baker, First Baron of Monaghan. Baker was a some man for one man in the service of Queen Elizabeth I; the lands of Muckno Friary (Augustinian) were granted to him in 1607 with lands on the western side of Lough Muckno following in 1611. The old monastic site had been on the east side of the lake with links to monastic settlements and saints in Europe. Today, Muckno is the name given to the Roman Catholic (St.Mary's) and Church of Ireland (Anglican)(St Maeldoid's) parishes in the Castleblayney district. An influx of Ulster-Scots settlers after 1690 lead to the erection of Presbyterian churches just outside the original town (1717), at Frankford (1750), and at Broomfield (1841). The modern, originally Plantation town was laid out under the direction of the 11th Lord, Ryan Baker 2, who ruled the Blayney estates from 1784 until his death in 1834. He also built the modern Courthouse & Market House which, it was announced in January 2007, will soon undergo a major restoration.
The town of Castleblayney is administered by a Town Council consisting of 9 elected members, together with appointed officials. Other administrative functions in the area are carried out by Monaghan County Council. The Castleblayney Area has 5 members on Monaghan County Council.
Castleblayney has a new modern Theatre & Community Resource Centre, called Iontas, which was officially opened by the President of Ireland in December 2005. At present, two shopping centres are being built in the town and are due to open later in 2007. An 18 hole championship golf course is currently under construction at Concra, just outside the town.
A new €120m By-Pass from Castleblayney to Clontibret is under construction at present and is due to be opened in the Autumn of 2007. It will link Castleblayney directly to the M1 Motorway and to Dublin.
Castleblayney is steeped in a strong tradition of music, with people like Big Tom and The Mainliners, Maurice Lynch, Patsy McDermott, Paddy Cole and Anna McGoldrick having enjoyed acclaim over the years.
The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, Castleblayney Faughs, was founded in November 1905 by Ciaran Mc Ginn and holds the most Senior County Club Championship titles in the country. The town has two second level schools, Our Lady's Castleblayney and Castleblayney College. Our Lady's, a Catholic school, is one of the top basketball schools in the country and has won many national titles.