Rosmuck

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Rosmuck
Ros Muc

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
53°21′01″N 9°36′57″W / 53.35028, -9.61583

Irish grid reference
L924345

Statistics

60 m

Population (2002)

Ros Muc (English: Rosmuck) is a village in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) of County Galway, Ireland, halfway between the town of Clifden and the city of Galway. The Irish language is still spoken there as the first language.The village is the birth-place of a former president of the Gaelic League, Proinsias Mac Aonghusa.

It is believed that the name 'Ros Muc' comes from the old Irish "the peninsula of rounded hills", ros meaning "peninsula" and muc meaning "rounded hills" or "Pig". Alternatively, the etymology could literally be ros muc—"the pig's head peninsula" (communication by boat between the area and neighbouring islands in Ceantar na nOileán being common up until the early 20th century, and the appearance of the peninsula from the sea was said to resemble that of a pig's head).

The area has many literary figures, notably Irish revolutionary and education/language activist Patrick Pearse (Pádraig Mac Piarais) who had a summer residence there in the early 1900s (now a National Monument/Heritage Site open to the public), and who set many of his short stories in the area. Another writer was Pádraic Ó Conaire, who wrote a number of short stories partly set in the region, including M'asal Beag Dubh (My Little Black Donkey) and the novella Deoraíocht (Exile). The area is recognized as one of the strongest remaining Gaeltacht areas in South Connemara.

Pádraig Pearse, who was involved in the 1916 revolution in Dublin had a cottage in Ros Muc where he wrote many of his pieces.

Ros Muc along with its neighbours Camus and An Sraith Salach have a GAA Football between them called Na Piarsaigh.

Ros Muc has had a long term relationship with Coláiste na bhFiann[1] as it provides host accommodation for students learning Irish during the summer months.

[edit] Town festival

The area has a traditional Sean nos Irish dancing festival the first weekend following St. Brigid's Day (1 February), Ros Muc's traditional first day of spring.