Islandeady
| Islandeady Oileán Éadaígh | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 | |
| Motto: Ar Aghaidh Le Chéile | |
  Islandeady | |
| Coordinates: 53°49′00″N 9°24′00″W / 53.8166667°N 9.4000°WCoordinates: 53°49′00″N 9°24′00″W / 53.8166667°N 9.4000°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Mayo |
| Area | |
| • Village | 42.02 km2 (16.22 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 57 m (187 ft) |
| Population (2003) | |
| • Urban | 1,550 |
| • Rural | - |
| Irish Grid Reference | M092879 |
Islandeady (Irish: Oileán Éadaí) is a village in County Mayo, Ireland, about halfway between the towns of Castlebar and Westport.
The parish of Islandeady meets Castlebar to the east, Westport and Newport to the west, and Aughagower and Killawalla to the south. There is a view of Croagh Patrick to the west and Nephin to the northeast. The main route by road is the N5. The parish has four national schools and a private secondary school.
History
The name Islandeady or Oiléan Éadaígh is arguably derived from the 13th Century Saint Eiden who founded a church in the hillside cemetery. Islandeady townland was historically called Illaneedan.[1] Tradition says that St.Patrick, on his way to Croagh Patrick, visited Raheens. Also it is noted that Islandeady would have belonged to the 'Patrician lands of Connacht'. The date given by historians to St.Patrick's missionary work in Islandeady is 440 A.D., where he preached on the shores of a lake in the peaceful little parish. Today the modern village lies within the townlands of Rinnaseer and Cloonan.
Geography
Islandeady boasts many kinds of land, fertile plains, bog, marsh, moor land, mountain rock and stony soil. Lakes and rivers are abound in number and variety. The main lakes are Bilberry and Lough Lannagh, but there are many lesser known ones too.
Sport
Boxer Ray Moylette, light welterweight gold medallist at the 2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships, is from Islandeady.
GAA
- Islandeady has a local GAA football team, their home games are played in St Eiden's Park.
Fishing
- The McConville Cup trout angling competition is held in July on Bilberry lake and Lough Lannagh annually.
Education
National Schools:
- Cloggernagh N.S.
- Leitir N.S.
- Cougala N.S.
- Cornanool N.S.
Secondary Schools:
- St.Patrick's Academy (Private)
Transport
- Islandeady is served by the N5 (Westport-Dublin road) National primary road
- Islandeady railway station opened on 1 May 1914, but finally closed on 17 June 1963.
Business
Islandeady had a shop beside the church. But it closed in the late 80's/early 90's. A shop is running behind the church, dealing embroidery kits and sewing. It is called "Celtic Cross Stitch". There is also B&B beside the GAA pitch.
See also
References
- ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland (see archival records)
External links
- Mayo-Towns.ie
- Island Eddy, an off-shore island in Co. Galway
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