| Stonetown Baile na gCloch
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| — Town — | |
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Stonetown
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Louth |
| Government | |
| • Dáil Éireann | Louth |
| • EU Parliament | East |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
| Area code(s) | 042, +353 42 |
| Irish Grid Reference | |
Stonetown is a small rural community in the parish of Louth 10 kilometres from Dundalk, County Louth, and 11 kilometres from Carrickmacross, Co.Monaghan. The community consists of a small chapel, a primary school, a football field and a community centre.
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It is related that Cuchulainn, the hero of the Táin Bó Cúailnge and son of Lugh engaged one of Queen Maeve's lovers and warriors, Fergus, in battle at Áth dá Ferta in the townland of Oaktate, Stonetown. According to The Tain Cuchulainn agrees to make a mock flight from Fergus his foster father in return for the promise that Fergus will fly from him at another time. That promise, redeemed in the last battle ensures victory for the Ulstermen.
It is also believed that Fergus Loingsech from Connaught and twelve others who sought Queen Maeve's admiration engaged Cuchulainn in battle in this same location. Cuchulainn struck off their heads, placed twelve stones in the ground and set a head on each stone, hence the name "Stonetown".
Most annals report that Aed Oirdnide Mac Neill, King of Tara, died in 1819 at Áth dá Ferta in May Conaille in the territory of Conaille Muirtheimne.
The area is a predominantly catholic area served by 'Our Lady of the Snows' Chapel Stonetown Upper. The chapel was built by the Rev. P.Banan in 1837. From an aerial photograph the chapel is the shape of a cross. In 1987 renovation work was completed by then P.P Rev. J.Finn and on a historic day for the community was rededicated by his eminence Tomas O'Fiach. At present Rev S.Quinn serves the parish.
Sinister events took place in Stonetown Chapel when Patrick Devan, a hedge schoolteacher and the then sexton of the chapel held a gathering which would result in the infamous Wildgoose Lodge Murders. After the incident he fled to Dublin, where he was arrested. Despite promises of money and freedom from prosecution, he did not co-operate with the authorities. He pleaded not guilty and conducted his own defence, but the result was always a foregone conclusion, and he was found guilty, hanged and gibbetted.
The present school prior to refurbishment was built in 1952 and is a detached nine-bay single-storey school. Rectangular block, single-storey flat-roofed wrap-around corridor and toilet block to north, east and west, water tower to north-east. Pitched slate roof, clay ridge tiles, painted roughcast rendered chimney stacks, smooth rendered corbelled caps, uPVC gutters to overhanging eaves, circular cast-iron downpipes and vent pipes. Painted roughcast rendered walling, smooth rendered plinth, painted stone plaque to wall. Square-headed window openings, painted smooth rendered soffit and reveals, painted stone sills, painted timber six-over-six sliding sash windows, some timber casement windows, uPVC windows. Square-headed door openings, painted smooth rendered soffit and reveals, tooled limestone steps, painted timber doors, wrought-iron boot scraper to east entrance, painted rendered canopies to entrances, painted smooth rendered shelter to south, circular columns. School surrounded by hard and soft landscaping, bounded by painted stone walling, square-profile gate piers, wrought-iron gates, V-shaped stiles with tooled stone steps.[1]
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