Toormakeady

Toormakeady[2] or Tourmakeady (Irish: Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, the official name)[3][4][5] is a Gaeltacht in south County Mayo in the west of Ireland. It is located between the shores of Lough Mask and the Partry Mountains, and covers 66.51 square miles.[6] As at the time of the 2011 census, Toormakeady had a total population of 1,007, having dropped from 1,150 in 1991.[1][7][8] Toormakeady is also the name of the principal village in the area.

Tuar Mhic Éadaigh

Toormakeady
Gaeltacht
Toormakeady Falls
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°39′23″N 9°21′57″W
CountryIreland
ProvinceConnacht
CountyCounty Mayo
Area
 • Total172.26 km2 (66.51 sq mi)
Elevation
58 m (190 ft)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • Total1,007[1]
Irish Grid ReferenceM097694
Websitewww.tourmakeady.com
Tuar Mhic Éadaigh is the only official name. Toormakeady and Tourmakeady are anglicisations.

Those parts of Ballinchalla Electoral District in Toormakeady and the whole of the Owenbrin Electoral District in Toormakeady together comprise nearly half of the land area of Toormakeady and were previously parts of County Galway. In 1898 they were transferred to County Mayo.

On 3 May 1921, during the Irish War of Independence the Irish Republican Army south Mayo flying column of around 30 men together with a small number of men from east Mayo mounted an ambush at Toormakeady.[9] The events of this day have been written about in Donal Buckley's book The Battle of Tourmakeady.[10]

From the time of the Great Famine of the mid-1840s onwards, the Toormakeady area has experienced a high level of emigration. Many descendants of emigrants return every year to find their roots. The genealogical records for this area have been computerised at the South Mayo Family Research Centre in nearby Ballinrobe to make the task of tracing roots easier.

The English actor Robert Shaw, best known for his work in From Russia with Love, Jaws and The Sting, lived in Drimbawn House,[11] Toormakeady until his death in 1978.

See also

References
  1. Census of Ireland 2011: Population (Number) by Gaeltacht, Sex and Census Year 2011: Ballinrobe Rural Gaeltacht Areas, Co. Mayo; Both sexes 1,007 - Gaeltacht is as defined by the Gaeltacht Areas Orders, 1956 to 1982
  2. Toormakeady Placenames Database of Ireland.
  3. Toormakeady East Mayo County Library. Retrieved: 2012-04-16.
  4. Toormakeady Mountain Archived 4 August 2012 at Archive.today Mayo County Library. Retrieved: 2012-04-16.
  5. Toormakeady West Archived 4 August 2012 at Archive.today Mayo County Library. Retrieved: 2012-04-16.
  6. Area of those districts comprising the Toormakeady/South Mayo Gaeltacht: Ballinchalla Electoral District having 17 sq. miles; those parts of Ballyovey Electoral District comprising the townlands Derrassa, 2.05 sq. miles; Gortbunacullin, 1.88 sq. miles; Shanvallyard, 0.92 sq. miles; Shangort, 0.42 sq. miles and Tawnagh, 0.93 sq. miles (total: 6.2 sq. miles); Cappaghduff Electoral District comprising 18.4 sq. miles; Owenbrin Electoral District comprising 23.4 sq. miles; that part of the Portroyal Electoral District comprising the townland of Srah itself comprising 1.51 sq. miles; TOTAL: 66.51 sq. miles
  7. "CSO census results of 1991 for Gaeltacht areas" (PDF). Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  8. 2011 census results for the following areas which together comprise the South Mayo Gaeltacht: Baile an Chalaidh (formerly Ballinchalla): pop. 226; 17 square miles; Baile Óbha (part) (formerly Ballinchalla (part)):pop. 170; 6.2 square miles [Townlands: Derrassa (2.05 sq m.), Gortbunacullin (1.88 sq m.), Shanvallyard (0.92 sq m.), Shangort (0.42 sq. m.) and Tawnagh (0.93 sq.m.)]; An Cheapaigh Dhuibh (formerly Ballinchalla): pop 342; 17 square miles; Abhainn Bhrain (formerly Owenbrin): pop 241; 23.4 square miles; Partraí (part) (formerly Portroyal (part); townland of Srah): pop. 28; 1.51 square miles. TOTALS: Area - 66.51 sq. miles; Population - 1,007
  9. "The Mayo News". Mayonews.ie. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  10. Buckley, D., 2008. The Battle of Tourmakeady. Fact or fiction. A study of the IRA ambush and its aftermath.
  11. O'toole, Connie. "Robert Shaw memorial unveiled in Mayo village". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
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