Baile Ghib
| Baile Ghib Gibbstown | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Meath |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 1,144 |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
Baile Ghib (formerly Gibbstown) is a small Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) in County Meath, Ireland. It is one of two villages, the other being Ráth Cairn, which make up the Meath Gaeltacht. The Meath Gaeltacht has 1,591 inhabitants, representing 2% of the total population of Ireland's Gaeltachts. The Meath Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 44 square kilometres (17 sq mi), representing 1% of the land area of the Gaeltacht. By contrast, the county town of Navan, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Baile Ghib, has a population of over 20,000.
History
The Baile Ghib Gaeltacht was founded in 1937, when Irish-speaking families were moved from Gaeltachts on the west coast of Ireland under the Land Commission. Baile Ailin (formerly Allenstown) was established nearby at the same time as Baile Ghib, but proved less successful, with most of its inhabitants moving away. Each family received a house, 22 acres, farm animals and farming implements in exchange for land and property in their native county. Baile Ghib was eventually given official Gaeltacht status, along with Ráth Cairn, in 1967.
Today, Baile Ghib has a GAA club (Bhulf Tón CLG), a village hall, a shop, a church, and a gaelscoil (primary school).
