Claddaghduff
Encyclopedia
Claddaghduff is a village
in County Galway
, in the province of Connacht
, Ireland
. It is located northwest of Clifden
, the gateway to Omey Island
, and like much of Connemara
is noted for its beautiful seascapes.
. Claddaghduff has been a popular site for writers and artists. Richard Murphy
's poetry was inspired by the local lore, landscapes, and seascapes and novelist John McGahern
also resided in the village. Much of the scenery and ambience of Walter Macken
's famous novels is based on his time in and around Claddaghduff.
The townland, as with most of Connemara, was deeply affected by the Gorta Mor of 1847-48, with vast numbers leaving for America and Boston in particular. At Grallagh there remains a graveyard by the shore which was chosen to hold the deceased children whose lives were cut short by the starvation and disease which wreaked havoc on the region.
19th century rural Ireland lay at the whim of British landlords and their (often Irish) land agents. Such was no different in and around Claddaghduff, where the vast majority of farmlands were owned by English landlords who rented out the land to subsistence farmers. Evidence of the effect of such a tenuous existence is shown in the large number of abandoned houses which surround the village and outlying townland.
Claddaghduff was the scene of at least one of Daniel O'Connell
's 'Monster Rallies' during the campaign in Ireland for religious and political emancipation
.
Claddaghduff is known for its deep sea angling, lake fishing, boat trips to Inishturk
and Inishbofin
, pony trekking, pitch & putt, dive sites, beaches and historical tours.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, in the province of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is located northwest of Clifden
Clifden
Clifden is a town on the coast of County Galway, Ireland and being Connemara's largest town, it is often referred to as "the Capital of Connemara". It is located on the Owenglen River where it flows into Clifden Bay...
, the gateway to Omey Island
Omey Island
Omey Island is a tidal island situated near Claddaghduff on the western edge of Connemara in County Galway, Ireland. From the mainland the island is inconspicuous and almost hidden. It is possible to drive or walk across a large sandy strand to the island by following the arrowed signs...
, and like much of Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
is noted for its beautiful seascapes.
History
The village, now sparsely populated, offers much history. It overlooks Omey Island which contains the ruins of Teampal Feichin, a medieval granite church dedicated to St. FeichinSaint Feichin
Saint Féchín or Féichín , also known as Mo-Ecca, was a 7th-century Irish saint, chiefly remembered as the founder of the monastery at Fore , Co. Westmeath.-Sources:...
. Claddaghduff has been a popular site for writers and artists. Richard Murphy
Richard Murphy (poet)
Richard Murphy is an Irish poet. He is a member of Aosdána and currently lives in Sri Lanka.-Early years:Murphy was born to an Anglo-Irish family at Milford House, near the Mayo-Galway border, in 1927...
's poetry was inspired by the local lore, landscapes, and seascapes and novelist John McGahern
John McGahern
John McGahern was one of the most important Irish authors of the latter half of the twentieth century. Before his death in 2006 he was hailed as "the greatest living Irish novelist" by The Observer.-Life:...
also resided in the village. Much of the scenery and ambience of Walter Macken
Walter Macken
Walter Macken , was born in Galway, Ireland. He was a writer of short stories, novels and plays. Originally an actor, principally with the Taibhdhearc in Galway, and The Abbey Theatre, he played lead roles on Broadway in M.J. Molloy's The King of Friday's Men and his own play Home Is the Hero...
's famous novels is based on his time in and around Claddaghduff.
The townland, as with most of Connemara, was deeply affected by the Gorta Mor of 1847-48, with vast numbers leaving for America and Boston in particular. At Grallagh there remains a graveyard by the shore which was chosen to hold the deceased children whose lives were cut short by the starvation and disease which wreaked havoc on the region.
19th century rural Ireland lay at the whim of British landlords and their (often Irish) land agents. Such was no different in and around Claddaghduff, where the vast majority of farmlands were owned by English landlords who rented out the land to subsistence farmers. Evidence of the effect of such a tenuous existence is shown in the large number of abandoned houses which surround the village and outlying townland.
Claddaghduff was the scene of at least one of Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
's 'Monster Rallies' during the campaign in Ireland for religious and political emancipation
Emancipation
Emancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1979...
.
Tourism
As a place of exceptional beauty, Claddaghduff is heavily reliant upon the seasonal tourism of the spring and summer months.Claddaghduff is known for its deep sea angling, lake fishing, boat trips to Inishturk
Inishturk
Inishturk is an inhabited island off the coast of County Mayo in Ireland. It has a permanent population of about seventy people. There are two main settlements, both on the more sheltered eastern end of the island, Ballyheer and Garranty. Bellavaun and Craggy are abandoned settlements...
and Inishbofin
Inishbofin
Inishbofin may refer to:* Inishbofin, County Galway, Ireland* Inishbofin, County Donegal, Ireland...
, pony trekking, pitch & putt, dive sites, beaches and historical tours.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- ConnemaraConnemaraConnemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
- Omey IslandOmey IslandOmey Island is a tidal island situated near Claddaghduff on the western edge of Connemara in County Galway, Ireland. From the mainland the island is inconspicuous and almost hidden. It is possible to drive or walk across a large sandy strand to the island by following the arrowed signs...
- Tidal IslandTidal islandA tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a natural or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands many of them have been sites of religious worship, such as Mont Saint Michel with its...
- ClegganClegganCleggan is a picturesque fishing village in County Galway, Ireland. The village lies 10 km northwest of Clifden and is situated at the head of Cleggan Bay....