Ballyboy
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2010) |
Ballyboy
Baile Átha Buí | |
---|---|
Village | |
Coordinates:53°10′25″N7°41′51″W/ 53.1736°N 7.6976°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Leinster |
County | Offaly |
BallyboyorBallaboy(Irish:Baile Átha Buí,meaning 'settlement of the yellow ford')[1]is a village inCounty Offaly,Ireland.It is about two kilometres east ofKilcormac.The village is in acivil parishof the same name.[1]
Prior to thePlantations of Ireland,Ballyboy was ruled by O'Molloy in a territory known asFirceallwhich was allied to theKingdom of Meath.When the Gaelic chieftains were removed from power following the English Plantations, Firceall was broken up with Ballyboy forming its ownbaronywithin the then newly formedKing's County(nowCounty Offaly).
Although now a small village of several houses, a pub and a primary school, it was an important and thriving hub in the Middle Ages.[2]During this era, the town had a hat and glove factory, and a mill which was used for making flour, grinding corn and cutting timber.[citation needed]The ruins of the mill are still standing today on the road from the village toBallyoran.The mill, one of several in the area, was powered by water from theSilver Riverwhich is a tributary of theRiver Brosna.
There is also aring fortin the village environs which legend has it is linked by a tunnel to the Ballyboy church about 400 metres distant.[citation needed]The church in Ballyboy was originally aCatholic Churchbut was later dedicated as aChurch of Irelandchurch.[citation needed]It is now derelict and in ruins.
References
[edit]- ^abPlacenames Database of Ireland
- ^Kilcormac,A Brief History of Kilcormac,archived fromthe originalon 11 June 2010,retrieved23 August2010