Ferbane

Infobox Irish Place
name = Ferbane
gaeilge = "Féar Bán"
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 35px; top: 31px
north coord = 53.64722
west coord = 7.208201
irish grid =
area =
elevation = 128m
province = Leinster
county = County Offaly
town pop = 785
rural pop = |2000 census yr = 2006
web =
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Ferbane (Irish place name|Féar Bán|white grass) is a small town on the north bank of the River Brosna in County Offaly, Ireland, between Birr and Athlone at the junction of the N62 National secondary road and the R436 regional road. The name of the town is said to come from the white bog cotton which grows abundantly in the surrounding Bog Of Allen. [("A Land by the River of God - A History of Ferbane Parish ", Brendan Ryan (1994))]

Ireland's first milled-peat fired power station was commissioned by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) at Ferbane in 1957. Since the station's closure in 2001, the Shannon Development agency and the ESB have invested €1.4 million in the development of a new [http://www.ferbane.tv/business/index.php Business & Technology Park] which opened in 2005. A new playschool was also built on the site which opened in September 2006.

Business

Ferbane Business & Technology ParkThe Ferbane Business and Technology Park Ltd is a non profit making company with chartable status owned by the community.Phase one was ready in January 2005

Since it's establishment, Ferbane Enterprise Group has worked non-stop to develop a unique Business & Technology Park in it's region.That work is now bearing fruit in terms of jobs, investment and increased profile for the West Offaly town.

Ferbane Business and Technology Park continues to have a high level of activity where 12 companies operating out of the park provide employment for in excess of 100 people.

Over 100,000 sq ft of office -Industrial units were completed since the park was opened with an additional 100,000 sq ft approved -in planning process.

Community

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre, FerbaneBright Beginnings opens from 7.45am until 6.00pm, for 51 weeks per annum.It closes for 1 week over the Christmas period.These hours as may expand as demand for the services increases.

TriviaOn October 27, 2007 Ferbane assembled officially 142 area residents to participate in a globally simultaneous dance to the music of Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Awaiting the official word from Guinness World Records, this would be the world record; surpassing Toronto's 2006 record of 62. [ [http://thrillferbane.com/index.html Thrill Ferbane ] ] [ [http://www.thrilltheworld.com/ Thrill The World ] ]

port

* Ferbane GAA is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club.

* Tony McTague is Ferbane's most famous sportsman.He won two All Irelands with Offaly in 1971 and 1972.He lifted Sam Maguire as captain in 1972.

* The Lowry BrothersSean, Brendan & Michael were part of the 1982 All-Ireland Winning Team in what is regarded as the greatest football final of all time.

* Ferbane Senior Footballers won a five in a row 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990.

* Ferbane Senior Footballers took part in 8 Country Finals between 1986-1994 winning 7 of them, a record I believe.

Tourism

Coole CastleSir John MaCoghlan built Coole Castle on the banks of the Brosna in 1575. It was the last of the MacCoghlan castles to be built. He erected it as a present to his second wife Sabina O’ Dallachain. Formerly there was a mural slab in the castle with a Latin inscription translating as “This tower was built by the energy of Sir John MacCoghlan, K.T. chief of this Sept at the proper cost of Sabina O’ Dallachain on the condition that she should have it for her lifetime and afterwards each of her sons according to their seniority”. The whereabouts of the mural is unknown at present.In his will in 1590 Sir John left Coole Castle to his wife Sabina O’ Dallachain. Over the fireplace, in its original location, in the topmost room of the castle is a plaque written in Middle Irish which reads:“SEAGHA (n) MAC (c) OCHL (ain) DOTINDSCAIN O SEO SUAS 1575”(“Sean Mac Cochlan began (this building) from this (date) 1575”)

Kilcolgan Castle (Court)Terence Coghlan built Kilcolgan Castle in the early 1640’s. In 1646 the Papal Nuncio was sent to Ireland; he stayed for some time in the castle and wrote admiringly of the castle demesne with its beautifully laid out gardens and peacocks strutting on the lawns. The castle continued to be in the possession of the MacCoghlans until the 18th century when it became uninhabited and fell into disrepair. The remains of the castle were demolished in 1954 and the stones used to make foundations for the power station at Lumcloon.

Gallen PrioryLess than a kilometre south of the town, on the site of an ancient monastery founded by the Welsh missionary Saint Canoc in 492, stands Gallen Priory (formerly a convent of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny, now a nursing home).

Transport
*The Grand Canal, which links up with the River Shannon, passes through Gallen townland.
*Ferbane railway station opened on 29 May 1884, closed for passenger traffic on 27 January 1947 and finally closed altogether on 1 January 1963. [cite web | title=Ferbane station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-14]

Townlands and places in the Ferbane (Wheery or Fuithre)parish include:BallyclareBallylinBoora Curraghdown,The black Boreen,Cages Bridge,Creggan,Skehanagh,Moyclare,Endrim Near,Endrim Far,Coole,Derrica,Ferbane TownGallen,Reynaun,Ballyvora,Rosfaraghan,Noggus,Gallen,Newtown

References

ee also

* List of towns and villages in Ireland.

External links

* [http://www.ferbane.tv NEW Ferbane Website for 2008]
* [http://www.offaly.ie/offalyhome/OffalyNet/Towns/Ferbane.htm Offaly.ie - Ferbane]
* [http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/offaly/community/gallen_priory.htm The Story of Gallen Priory]
* [http://www.ferbanefeis.com/ Ferbane Feis Ceoil]
* [http://www.loughbooraparklands.com Lough Boora Parklands]