Glenamoy

Geography

The electoral division of Glenamoy includes the following townlands:

• Bellagelly North (Béal a Ghoile meaning "mouth of the stomach")
• Bellagelly south (Béal a Ghoile meaning "mouth of the stomach")
• Glencullin Lower (Gleann Chuilinn Íochtarach)
• Glenturk Beg (Gleann Toirc Beag)
• Glenturk More (Gleann Toirc Mór)
• Muingingaun (Moing Iongáin meaning "stream of the talons")

The townlands of Glenamoy make up the inland portion of Kilcommon parish which is, in the main, a coastal area. Much of Glenamoy is remote in nature and consists of large expanses of blanket bog. The electoral division of Glenamoy covers an area of approximately 14500 acre.

History

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of possible crannógs in the townland of Bellagelly North. The Record of Monuments and Places records a ringfort site in Muingingaun townland.

During the 19th century, several shooting lodges were used by the local landlords and landed gentry to host shooting parties. As of the late 19th century, a number of lace schools (associated with the Congested Districts Board) operated in the broader Erris area.

On 21 September 1922, during the Irish Civil War, a detachment of pro-Treaty National Army troops were ambushed by Anti-Treaty IRA forces at Glenamoy. Following the arrival of National Army reinforcements, a lengthy gun battle broke out - described in some sources as the "Battle of Glenamoy". In all, six pro-Treaty and ten anti-Treaty combatants are killed.

Religion

The local Catholic church, St Paul's Church, is one of five churches within Kilcommon Erris parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killala. Prior to the construction of this church, masses were held in the old school building nearby. The foundation stone for the church was laid in August 1935, and it was completed in 1936. One of the stained glass windows is attributed to Earley Studios Limited in Dublin. The church was closed for restoration in 2020, and subsequently re-opened to parishioners.

Amenities and sport

The area is served by an An Post post office, and adjoining petrol station. A health centre, with limited opening hours, is located nearby. The Glenamoy (Gleann na Muaidhe) Garda station also has limited operating hours. As of 2023, the Glenamoy national (primary) school, Scoil Náisiúnta Gleann na Muaidhe, had just 4 pupils enrolled.

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, CLG Cill Chomáin, is based at Lenarevagh townland near Glenamoy.

References

References

1. "Gleann na Muaidhe/Glenamoy". [[Placenames Database of Ireland]].
2. "S.I. No. 54/2012 — Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2012". Irish Statute Book.
3. (November 1998). "S.I. No. 435/1998 - County of Mayo Local Electoral Areas Order, 1998". Irish Statute Book.
4. "FP009 - Population and Actual and Percentage Change 2016 to 2022". Central Statistics Office.
5. "Glenamoy Electoral Division, Co. Mayo".
6. (1996). "Record of Monuments and Places - County Mayo". National Monuments and Historic Properties Service.
7. "Erris Lace Schools".
8. (23 September 1922). "Fierce Fighting in Mayo". Drogheda Independent.
9. Langan, Thomas. (1987). "The Battle of Glenamoy". North Mayo Historical Journal.
10. "National Army Killed Civil War". Irishmedals.org.
11. (19 September 1922). "Sixteen killed in Mayo encounter". Irish Independent.
12. (25 September 1922). "North Mayo Fight: Losses on Both Sides". Irish Examiner.
13. "5 Churches {{!}} Parish Of Kilcommon Erris, County Mayo, Ireland".
14. Noone, Fr Sean. (1991). "Where The Sun Sets". The Leinster Leader.
15. "Saint Paul's Catholic Church, Bunalty, Gleann na Muaidhe [Glenamoy], Mayo". [[National Inventory of Architectural Heritage]].
16. (11 December 2020). "Appeal to help with upgrade and repair of Glenamoy church".
17. (5 December 2020). "Major fundraising underway to repair Glenamoy Church".
18. (8 December 2020). "North Mayo church looking for donations to repair damage".
19. (2021). "Resumption of services". Saint Paul's Church Glenamoy Restoration Fund Facebook Page.
20. "Post Office Locator - An Post Gleann na Muaidhe". An Post.
21. "Health Centres in Mayo". Health Service Executive.
22. (29 September 2011). "Written answers - Thursday, 29 September 2011 - Department of Justice, Equality and Defence - Garda Stations". Houses of the Oireachtas.
23. "Station Directory - Gleann na Muaidhe (Glenamoy)".
24. (20 July 2023). "Directory - S N Gleann na Muaidhe (Glenamoy National School) 13882L". Department of Education.
25. "CLG Cill Chomáin".