Belclare

Geography

Knockma Hill, also known as Castle Hackett hill, is situated 2 km west of the centre of Belclare. Legend has it that Finvarra, king of the Connacht Fairies, dwelled there. Maeve, the legendary Queen of Connacht, is reputed to be buried in the Cairn on the summit of the hill - from there are panoramic views.

Belclare is part of the parish of Corofin.

Politics

Mark Killilea Jnr, the Fianna Fáil politician noted for describing supporters of his party as "people who eat their dinner in the middle of the day", lived in Belclare and died at his home there.

Current TD for Galway East, Seán Canney is from Belclare.

Sport

As part of the parish of Corofin, its parish Gaelic football team won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1998 (defeating Erin's Isle), 2015 (defeating Slaughtneil). They also won the 2018 Championship (defeating Nemo Rangers), the 2019 Championship (defeating Dr Crokes) and the 2020 Championship (defeating Kilcoo) to become the first club team to win three finals in a row.

Popular culture

The 1969 film, Alfred the Great, was filmed in the Castlehackett area. The 1998 film, A Very Unlucky Leprechaun, starring Warwick Davis and Tim Matheson, was filmed at Castlehackett House and Knockma. The 2004 TV series Foreign Exchange, starring Zachary Garred and Lynn Styles, was filmed at Castlehackett House which was called "O'Keeffe's College" in the series.

The Countdown champion Kevin Steede (who appeared in Series 72 which aired on Britain's Channel 4 in 2015), is originally from Belclare. Steede studied occupational therapy at the University of Plymouth, having earlier attended St Jarlath's College and NUI Galway locally.

Gallery

File:Belclare,_Co._Galway.jpeg|Welcome to Belclare File:Belclare Church 2023-1.jpg|Sacred Heart Church August 2023 File:Belclare Church 2023-2.jpg|Sacred Heart Church August 2023 File:Turlough,_Belclare,_Co._Galway.jpeg|View of the turlough from Belclare File:Castle_on_Knockma,_Belclare,_Co._Galway.jpeg|Ruined castle on Knockma File:View_from_Knockma,_Belclare,_Co._Galway.jpeg|View from the top of Knockma Hill

References

References

1. "Béal Chláir". [[Logainm.ie]].
2. "Knockma ~ Corofin".
3. Collins, Liam. (6 January 2019). "Former TD who helped resurrect Charles Haughey's political career". [[Sunday Independent (Ireland).
4. "About Sean Canney TD Independent politician Tuam County Galway".
5. Kelly, Niall. (18 March 2015). "'It bred the group you see here today' - Memories of '98 drove Corofin to All-Ireland glory: Seventeen years on from their first, Corofin finally got their hands on the All-Ireland football title again yesterday".
6. Boyle, Donnchadh. (17 March 2015). "Corofin's pace and power too much for Slaughtneil as they claim second All-Ireland title". Irish Independent.
7. (17 March 2018). "Classy Corofin are All-Ireland club football champions: As it happened". Irish Independent.
8. (March 17, 2019). "AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship".
9. "Corofin 1-12 0-7 Kilcoo".
10. (19 January 2020). "Corofin Win All-Ireland Club Title for Third Year in a Row - Commentary and Reaction".
11. "Castlehacket House | Castlehacket House Belclare | Knockma House".
12. (19 February 2015). "Belclare's Kevin Steede a Countdown champ". [[Galway Advertiser]].
13. "Kevin Steede".