Portumna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Portumna Port Omna |
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WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
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| Irish grid reference M853042 |
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Connacht | |
| County: | County Galway | |
| Elevation: | 60 m | |
| Population (2002) - Town: - Environs: |
2,015 1,920 |
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Portumna (Port Omna in Irish - meaning 'the landing place of the oak') is a town in the South-East of County Galway, Ireland, on the border with County Tipperary. The town is located to the West of the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. This historic crossing point over the River Shannon between counties Tipperary and Galway has a long history of bridges and ferry crossings.
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[edit] Portumna Bridge
Portumna is currently served with a five-span road bridge over the Shannon. This was designed by C. E. Stanier of London, and completed in 1911, with a central section resting on Hayes's Island which divides the river into two channels. The steel structure of the main bridge and pivotting swing bridge over the navigation channel are of technical and engineering interest, and it is the largest early-twentieth century swivel bridge in Europe.
The Shannon at this point consists of two channels divided by Hayes Island, the one on the North Tipperary side being about 79 m (260 ft) wide, and that on the Galway side being about 73 m (240 ft) wide. Each channel is spanned by three pairs of mild-steel plate girders, either 24 m (80 ft) or 27 m (90 ft) in length, resting on 3 m (9 ft) diameter concrete-filled cast-iron cylinders.
Waterways Ireland have recently applied (on 18 Dec 2007) for planning permission from Galway County Council to undertake works to refurbish the bridge. During the works, it is envisaged that the bridge (and, as a result, the N65 road) will be closed for approximately 9 days from the end of October to early November 2008. This will likely cause serious inconvenience for the users of the bridge and will necessitate long detours during this period.
[edit] Portumna Castle
The town is famous for Portumna Castle and for the lords that lived there. The castle is actually a great semi-fortified house and was built before 1618 by Richard Burke or de Burgo, the 4th Earl of Clanricarde. It was the main seat of the de Burgo family for over 200 years, until it was gutted by fire in 1826.
Following extensive conservation and restoration work, the ground floor of the castle is now open to the public. The conservation works on other parts of the castle are ongoing. To the north of the castle are formal, geometrically laid out gardens. There are also exhibitions in the castle itself and the Gate House. The castle now also includes the recently restored 17th century walled kitchen garden. Following its original plan the garden has been organically planted with fruit trees, flowers, herbs and vegetables.
The castle is scenically located about 200 metres North of Portumna (or 'New') Harbour on Lough Derg, with Portumna Forest Park to the West and the town of Portumna about 300 metres to the North and East.
As with many historic buildings a number of local legends have grown up around the castle. One local legend goes that a child fell out of the upper windows. An irish wolf hound raced to break the childs fall and saved the child. A marker stone now rests on the site.
[edit] Marine Tourism
Portumna is a well-known tourist destination for boaters, golfers and anglers thanks to its natural amenities. As the town is at the junction of the River Shannon and Lough Derg, there are a number of harbours, two of which are on the Portumna side of the river.
These are Connacht Harbour, accessed via the river, which is beside Bridge Road, on the eastern side of the town, and Portumna (or 'New') Harbour which is on the northern shore of Lough Derg beside Castle Avenue, adjacent to the castle on the southern edge of the town.
A third private harbour has been recently established on the Tipperary side of the river at Portland House. There are also private moorings at Belle Isle harbour. Pleasure craft can be privately hired at Emerald Star Line cruisers at Connacht Harbour.
[edit] Sport
For angling enthusiasts, Portumna offers good fishing waters which have a good track record. There are several prime angling hotspots, a number of which are official match stretches located on the River Shannon itself and the Northern Shores of Lough Derg. On the river there are two main stretches near Portumna. One is downstream of Portumna and is known locally as the 'lower town stretch' or 'Rogers Island'. The other is upstream of the town and is known as the upper ESB stretch or 'Fairyhill'. The most commonly caught species include Pike, Perch, Bream, Roach and hybrids.
The River Shannon and Lough Derg also provide a superb location for pleasure boating and watersports. During the summer months, sports such as water-skiing and wakeboarding are very popular in Portumna.
Portumna Golf Club (founded in 1913) and its 18-hole parkland golf course (par 72), set within the 1500 acre Portumna Forest Park, is located on the western approach to the town, approx. two kilometres from the town centre on the Ennis/Gort road.
The town is home to the 2006 and 2008 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship winners. The town's senior hurlers beat the Co. Cork champions Newtownshandrum in Croke Park on St. Patricks Day, 2006, (by a score of 2-8 to 1-6) and were winners again on St Patrick's Day 2008 by beating Co. Offaly champions Birr (by a score of 3-19 to 3-9). In 2006 Portumna were captained by Eugene McEntee, whilst in 2008 they were captained by Ollie Canning. On both occasions Joe Canning (brother of Ollie) was a member of the successful team.
[edit] Portumna '85 Jamboree
In August 1985 the three Scout Associations in Ireland (CBSI, SAI, and NISC) held a major Jamboree at Portumna, Co. Galway to celebrate International Youth Year. 'Portumna '85' was the first Irish scout camp involving all three Irish scouting organizations. It is fondly remembered by both participants and locals as 'Port-mud-na '85' on account of the muddy conditions that had to be endured by the 10,000 or so scouts and leaders, caused by the torrential rain which fell during that summer.
