- Ballinasloe
Infobox Irish Place
name = Ballinasloe
gaeilge = Béal Átha na Slua
crest
motto =
map
pin coords = left: 155px; top: 53px
north coord = 53.3275
west coord = 8.2194
irish grid = M854307
area =
elevation = 65 m (213 ft)
province = Connacht
county =County Galway
town pop = 6,051
rural pop = 563
census yr = 2006
web = www.ballinasloe.com
|Ballinasloe (lga|Béal Átha na Slua|Mouth of the Ford of the Hosts) is a town in the eastern extremity of
County Galway in Ireland.The town developed as a crossing point on the
River Suck , a tributary of the Shannon. The Irish placename — meaning the mouth of the ford of the crowds — reflects this purpose. The latter part of the name suggests the town has been a meeting place since ancient times. A new public marina has been developed on the river in recent years that allows traffic from the Shannon navigation to access the town.The
patron saint of Ballinasloe is Saint Grellan, whom tradition believes built the first church in the area at Kilcloony. A local housing estate, the branch ofConradh na Gaeilge , and formerly a school are named after him.October Fair and Festival
Every October, Ballinasloe is host to the ancient annual October Fair. Chiefly agricultural in the past, it is now focused on the horse. The Ballinasloe Fair is one of the oldest
horse fairs inEurope ; bathed in history it dates back to the 1700s. Today the ever popular fair is still held, along with a festival that attracts up to 100,000 visitors from all over the world. The town also boasts a successful summer festival called An tSúca Fiain.Economy
The biggest local employers are Portiuncula and St. Brigid's hospitals. From its establishment in 1936 to 2003, the
Dubarry shoe manufacturing company was based in the town. The American pen manufacturing company A. T. Cross had a factory in the town for many years as did electrical components companySquare D .Transport
Ballinasloe railway station opened on1 August 1851 . [cite web | title= Ballinasloe station| work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-09-03] The mainDublin toGalway transport artery, the N6 road, passes through the town, which is also served by theDublin –Galway railway line. From 1828 to the 1960s, Ballinasloe was the terminus of the Grand Canal.port
Ballinasloe itself harbours successful and historically rich
soccer ,golf , and rugby clubs, whilst also containing the Duggan ParkGaelic Athletic Association grounds. Gaelic games are perhaps the most deeply entrenched and most popular sporting culture in the town, most of all in its surrounding hinterland. The local GAA clubs areBallinasloe GAA (incorporating St Grellan'sGaelic football club andBallinasloe Hurling Club ) and BallinasloeCamogie Club.chools
In Ballinasloe there are three
national school s (Gaelscoil Uí Cheithearnaigh, Creagh National School and Scoil an Chroí Naofa) and twosecondary schools (Garbally College and Ard Scoil Mhuire).ee also
*
Ballinasloe Town Council
*List of towns in the Republic of Ireland External links
* [http://www.ballinasloe.com ballinasloe.com] : Ballinasloe Town website with up-to-date local news and information on the town for visitors and residents alike
* [http://www.ballinasloe.org ballinasloe.org] : An independent site with articles on Ballinasloe's history as well as a tips on genealogical research.
* [http://www.ballinasloe.pl ballinasloe.pl] : Polskie Ballinasloe website for the town's Polish communityReferences
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