Carraroe
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| An Cheathrú Rua Carraroe |
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| Town population: | 629 (2002) |
| Rural population: | - (2002) |
| Elevation: | 1 m |
| County: | Galway |
| Province: | Connacht |
An Cheathrú Rua (Irish, the red quarter. The name is often Anglicised as Carraroe, though this is unofficial) is a large village in County Galway, Ireland. The village is situated within the Irish speaking region (Gaeltacht) of Connemara, and is famous for its traditional fishing boats known as Galway Hookers. Its population is widely dispersed over Carraroe peninsula between Greatman's Bay (Cuan an Fhir Mhóir) and Casla Bay. An Cheathrú Rua has an unusual 'coral' beach.
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[edit] Galway Hookers
Galway Hookers (Húicéirí na Gaillimhe) are a distinctive form of native Irish boat, and An Cheathrú Rua is today probably the single most important centre for these boats. The main boats are the larger Báid Mhóir (big boats) and Leathbháid (half-boats), which in earlier times were used for hauling turf (peat) from the peat bogs in Connemara to the Aran Islands and the Burren of County Clare, where peat is absent. The smaller boats are the Gleoiteoga, which were traditionally used for fishing. Today the main activity of all these boats is racing, and there are numerous regattas along the Connemara coast. Among the most famous boats are An Mhaighdean Mhara ('The Mermaid') and the Mac Duach. In An Cheathrú Rua they are found at the quays of An Sruthán and at the other side of the peninsula. Currach racing is held on Loch an Mhuillin, the lake close to the village. Every year at the festival of Cruinniú na mBád, a large flotilla of traditional Connemara boats race across Galway bay from An Cheathrú Rua to Kinvara - a most picturesque site.
[edit] The Irish language
Irish (specifically the Connacht dialect) is the main spoken language of An Cheathrú Rua, the settlement being the largest Irish speaking area in the Connemara Gaeltacht. As elsewhere English has steadily encroached in recent years, with commuters from Galway moving further west and with English-language television, modern music and film increasing in frequency. English is particularly dominant among the young. There are two summer schools which teach Irish to English-speaking secondary-school students from all over Ireland. Students stay for three weeks with local families. An Cheathrú Rua is also a centre for the Irish language media. The main national Irish-language newspaper Foinse has its head office in the village; the Irish-language radio station, Raidió na Gaeltachta, is in nearby Casla, and the Irish-language TV station, TG4, is based at Baile na hAbhann, a few miles east. Catholic church services are in Irish only.
[edit] Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain
Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain is one of the Gaeltacht centres of Oifig na Gaeilge Labhartha (the Department of Spoken Irish) of the National University of Ireland, Galway. The Áras opened in 1977. Courses are held for university students as well as for overseas learners. The centre is named in honor of Máirtín Ó Cadhain, author of Cré na Cille ('The Church-Yard Clay'), an important work of modern Irish language fiction.
[edit] Trivia
The town is mentioned in the lyrics of the Waterboys' 1993 hit Glastonbury Song, which refers to several Irish and British sites associated with ancient Celtic ritual.
We came down from the hill of dreams
Bernadette, mother earth and you and me
Through Carraroe, down the wildwood side.
