Rochfortbridge

Rochfortbridge (Irish: Droichead Chaisleán Loiste) is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland with a population of 1,382 in 2002. It is were the R400 crosses the R446 regional road (formerly the N6 national primary route, which recently bypassed the village).

1 Demographics
2 History
3 Current events
4 Future
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Demographics

Rochfortbridge,
Town centre

Current estimates are that the village is now sized about 1,700 (Census figures suggest 1,692 but this figure was taken forthe townland of Castlelost, which only partially covers the village of Rochfortbridge, a more realistic number for the greater Rochfortbridge area would be determined if you include the town lands of Rahanine, the hinterland of Castlelost West, Gortumbloe, Drumman, Sidebrook, Derry, Gibbonstown, Gaulstown, Derry Inch, Whiteford, Mooneen, Ballygall, Fearmore, Whitewell, Kilbride, Simonstown, Dunboden, Oldtown, Piercetown, Kiltotan and Farthingstown, which would raise the total population of the Greater Rochfortbridge area close to 3,000. This information was obtained from the Central Statistics office of Ireland and shows a growth of about 6% in 4 yrs.

[edit] History

Rochfortbridge (Pass of Kilbride) was always a stopping point on the main East-West/West-East route across Ireland, (an Slí Mór") It is believed that there used to be a de-lousing station here during the famine.

The village was set out by Robert Rochfort (1651 - 1727) M.P. for Westmeath and grandfather of Robert 1st Earl of Belvedere. The original bridge was named Beggars Bridge. The fable that a beggar was found dead on the old bridge with a sum of money in his pockets is a romantic notion and often mistaken as fact. This beggar story has no foundation in fact and it is thought and spoken by folks that the name "Beggars Bridge" was just a "nickname" used for the transit settlement near Oldtown where beggars gathered. Robert Rochfort MP set out and named the village Rochfortbridge in or about 1700 to after receiving a grant from Queen Ann to hold a monthly market in the village.

Almost all of the original Robert Rochfort village dwellings were demolished during village revamp that took place in the mid nineteenth century. The village was totally revamped in the 1840s by Josias Cooper, Dunboden, as part of a famine relief programme, to alleviate poverty during the Great Famine. The only relic to the Rochfort era still standing is the Protestant church just off what is now the main street of the village.

[edit] Current events

Currently in Rochfortbridge there is a good amount of groups in action from the local GAA club - St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge to Dancing (both pop/hip-hop and Irish traditional) as well as as the Youth Club, Cub Scouts, Soccer and Scór/Drama.

The Parish Hall (The Hall of St. Joseph the Worker) closed it doors in late January 2007 for a major face lift and extension, bringing the hall and it's facilities up to date. The Hall reopened in mid November 2007 and now is a fantastic venue for the parish. A beautiful new floor in the main hall, the roof elevated 1.2m and a new Youth Room at the front upstairs! At the rear are 2 big meeting rooms, a large kitchen, 2 accessible toilets and two changing rooms. In addition there is an office and ample storage rooms. A Mini kitchenette is also put in at the front. Rochfortbridge Parish hall has changed from an out-dated hall to a beautifully refurbished hall that can become an asset for the entire parish.

Also, St. Mary's GAA opened their new Astro-turf park recently, it is a fantastic amenity for the village with three huge pitches and immediately it was apparent how much it was needed with the pitches being used every night from 7-11.

Other amenities which would help the village would be public play areas and a playground. The village's development group has requested one for Rochfortbridge.

[edit] Future

The new N6 outside Rochfortbridge

With the new N6 Dual Carriageway from Kinnegad to Kilbeggan [1] bypassing the town and the estimated completion of a major sewerage improvement scheme by Westmeath County Council, the population of Rochfortbridge is signalled to rise by up to 500 houses with planning applications expected this spring.