Mullingar
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- This article is about the An Muileann gCearr (Mullingar). For other meanings, refer to, Mullingar (disambiguation).
| Mullingar An Muileann gCearr |
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| Rinné Colman gairé beag searbh | ||
| Location | ||
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| Irish Grid Reference N438529 |
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Leinster | |
| County: | County Westmeath | |
| Elevation: | 101 m | |
| Population (2006) - Town: - Rural: |
8,954 9,575 |
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Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Mullingar (An Muileann gCearr in Irish, meaning "the left-handed mill" or "the Wry-Mill") is the administrative centre of County Westmeath, Ireland and the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath, as well as having a town council. The town had a population of 18,529 at the 2006 census, making it the 2nd largest in County Westmeath (as well as the administrative centre).[1][2] The town has facilities like libraries, secondary schools, gymnasium, snooker hall, internet cafe, Arts Centre, and railway station. The town had a proud tradition of cattle-trading up until 2003, when its cattle market was finally closed for development of a mixed commercial and residential scheme called the Market Point.
Mullingar is also famous for the neighbouring lakes, Lough Owel and Lough Ennell, which attract many anglers, as well as Lough Derravaragh. Lough Derravaragh is best known for its connection with the Irish legend of the Children of Lir. After being turned into swans, the four children of King Lir spent three hundred years on Lough Derravaragh before moving to other locations around Ireland. Lough Lene has a reputation for its gin-clear water, historic ringforts, and wind-surfing. In recent times one of Mullingar's major exports has become the items of fine pewterware produced by the firm of Mullingar Pewter located near the town. Genisis fine art is also produced locally and has worldwide appeal with one of its sculpures of the "Pilgrims" dominating the dispensary house at Austin Friars St where once there was an Augustinian Friary. The current total zoned area within the town and environs is approximately 1,280 hectares, based on the Westmeath County Development Plan 2002-2008. This area therefore, is considerable less than the areas zoned in Athlone and Tullamore.
The town has two newspapers serving the community.The first being the Westmeath Topic which is the leading newspaper in Westmeath and the Westmeath Examiner being the second which would be the second biggest newspaper in the county.[3]
Mullingar forms part of the Midlands Gateway, along with Athlone and Tullamore.
[edit] Transport
[edit] Roads
Mullingar lies on national primary route N4, the main Dublin - Sligo road, 79 km (49 miles) from the capital. The town is served by a Bus Éireann service to Dublin and Athlone where passengers can catch connecting buses.
The town currently suffers from heavy afternoon traffic partially caused by a lack of off-street parking (however an underground carpark has recently been constructed to help solve this problem). The town is bypassed and a ring road has been completed in a bid to further alleviate traffic. A new road to Athlone is also in the planning stages.
The town has a very high volume of ramps and roundabouts. All can be attributed to a certain local councilor. The ramps have caused much damage to cars and injuries to road users. They are also dangerous as emergency service vehicles have to slow down so much that their effectiveness is severely reduced.
[edit] Waterways
In the 19th century the town was served for a time by the Royal Canal - however displaced first by the railway and then the car, it is no longer commercially used for the transport of goods or people. The town had severe problem in the 1980s with people throwing shopping trollies into the canal. However the problem was solved when a small deposit was required for one.
[edit] Railways
The Midland Great Western Railway line to Mullingar from Dublin opened in stages from 1846 to 1848, arriving in Mullingar on 2 October 1848. This was to a temporary station, adjacent to the greyhound stadium. The original mainline ran from Dublin (Broadstone) to Galway via Mullingar and Athlone, the Mullingar to Galway section opening in August 1851. The present station opened with the branch line Longford on 14 December 1855.
There were two secondary stations in Mullingar, Canal Crossing cattle bank was on the Sligo Line and on the Athlone Line, Newbrook racecourse had its own station. This was unique in that it was a two platformed station with both platforms on the Down Line.
Nowadays, the line northwest to Longford and Sligo is the mainline, Galway is accessed from Heuston Station via Portarlington and the line between Mullingar and Athlone is disused. Mullingar station is served by national rail company Iarnród Éireann's Arrow commuter services to Dublin and InterCity trains to/from Sligo. Calls have been made for the line to Athlone via Moate to be reopened to facilitate more services between Galway and Dublin.
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland have a secondary base in the town.
There is a photo survey of the disused Athlone Mullingar line available by clicking here.
In recent years the Mullingar to Dublin line has not been developed in line with the growth in the area. Commuters still suffer from a poor service with very few trains and long journey times. Much has been promised, like the reopening of the Athlone line but there is little evidence of any action.
[edit] Health Service
Mullingar's hospital services the entire Longford Westmeath area. A large extension was built in the early 1990s to accommodate the ever increasing population. Due to a change in government however investment was halted and the empty shell has laid idle since. Many protests have followed but to no avail. The funds have since been invested in Tullamore hospital. In the past few months, there have been press releases announcing that the funding was now available and contractors have moved onto the site but have instead started demolishing the extension.
[edit] Industry
Columb Barracks is a major military base in the county comprising of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment and the HQ of the 54 Reserve Field Artillery Regiment(Army Reserve)formally the FCA(9 FAR). Mullingar contains several industrial estates including Lough Sheever Corporate Park and the Lynn Industrial estate. Two of the towns major manufacturing plants - Penn tennis balls and Tarkett [1] - both closed in the early 2000s causing many job losses. However newer industries have absorbed the job losses - including Capmark [2], Oakley [3], P.E.M. Engineering [4], Trend Technologies [5],Taconic International [6], and Mullingar Pewter [7] which are all sizeable operations. The town is also home to a Van Nelle (Ireland) (a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco) tobacco factory which has provided employment for many years and Iralco - an automotive component manufacture is located near the town. The town recently won a €25m Lidl Warehouse and distribution center which will employ between 100 and 150. A new site for the IDA Business Park has been sited aloung the new N52 bypass. A major addition to the towns telecommunications infrastructure - a broadband network - was completed in 2004 - this is expected to increase the areas attractiveness to large multinational companies. Argos were supposed to enter the town, with a location in Fairgreen shopping centre earmarked. The plan was scuppered however by a certain councillor who was afraid of a bit of competition. Tesco Ireland had wanted to build a superstore in Lakepoint Retail addition to its current store but the local council because of fear of a monopoly turned this down.
[edit] Legend
How Maelblatha became An Muileann gCearr (Mullingar)
Saint Colman of Mullingar (Colmáin Maic Lúacháin) one day in the late 6th or early 7th century, was asked by his mother, 'My good son, help us, for we are in a great plight.' Colman went to the mill with his sack of barley upon him, as Colum Cille took the sack upon him to the stone which is in the refectory at Iona, (Maelblatha, was its name then, and there is luck upon every food that is upon it). Now on his arrival there was Conall's corn under the mill and it was wheat. Colman ordered it to cease, for he was in great haste(?); but the steward would not do it at his bidding. 'Then put it in,' said the cleric, 'and we will put (ours in) on this side, and God will divide for us.' They did thus, and Colman put his hand against the mill and turned it lefthandwise, so that thenceforward it has been Mullingar (Wry Mill ). And God exchanged the corn so that Colman had wheat and the steward had barley. So God's name and Colman's were magnified through the miracle.
Information From:
Betha Colmáin Maic Lúacháin, or, The Life of Colmán son of Lúachan Life of Colman of Lynn alternatively, one may find where the old copy of the original has been all these years in France Bibliothèque de Rennes
[edit] Commerce
Mullingar has a vibrant commercial sector. It has expanded rapidly in recent years from just a few shops on the main streets of the town - Oliver Plunkett St., Austin Friars St., and Mount St. - to several major shopping areas. There is an out of town retail park at Lakepoint (about a mile from the town center), the shopping center 'Harbour Place' near the town center and a new development at the Green - the site of the former Avonmore and Pennys units.
The town has a good mix of chain stores (Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Penneys, Lidl, SuperValu, Boots, Specsavers, Lifestyle Sports, Atlantic Homecare, and more) and local retailers. The town also has branches of all the major banks - AIB, Bank of Ireland, Halifax, Ulster Bank, National Irish Bank etc. and building societies - First Active, EBS etc.
Mullingar also boosts a Farmers' Market which is held every Sunday and a small market which is located around the Penneys carpark near the Green.
One should also take note of the refusal by the Planning Board for an application to build a shopping mall. It's indicative.
[edit] Tourism
Mullingar's main tourist attractions are its lakes - Lough Owel, Lough Lene and Lough Ennell - which are popular among anglers - and Belvedere House and Gardens which is heavily promoted for its beauty. The town has several hotels - the Greville Arms Hotel, Bloomfield House Hotel and the 4 star Mullingar Park Hotel which houses a conference centre among others.
The town is also known for it's connections to Irish author James Joyce, who was a frequent visitor to Mullingar during his youth. Joyce's father, John, was a civil servant posted from Dublin to compile an electoral register of Mullingar and the surrounding townlands. He often stayed in the Greville Arms Hotel, where some of the scenes in his celebrated novel, "Ulysses", are set.
[edit] Education
The local vocational college had a long history of having a Hairdressing school. This has since been lost, meaning that budding hairdressers cannot now train in the town.
A training and education centre exclusively for travellers has been built alongside the Green Inn bar. The building thought to have cost several million Euro is exclusively for members of the travelling community.
[edit] Notable buildings
- Mullingar's most famous building is the cathedral of Christ the King Mullingar, the cathedral of the Diocese of Meath.The Cathedral was dedicated historically on the day World War II broke out.
 Saint Lomans |
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 Priest House, Formerly Bishops Residence |
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[edit] Sporting Organisations
[edit] GAA
Mullingar parish is served by three gaelic football teams; Mullingar Shamrocks, St. Lomans (both senior clubs) and Shandonagh (intermediate)And The Downs (senior) St Oliver Plunketts are the hurling team in Mullingar. The principal GAA ground for Co. Westmeath i.e. Cusack Park is situated in Mullingar.
[edit] Soccer
At the moment, Mullingar has two soccer teams, i.e. Mullingar Athletic (who play in a Gainstown)and Mullingar Town (who have their grounds in Dalton Park). A third, set up in 2006 known as Mullingar Bohemians is the brainchild of local businessman "Stodge" McCarthy. "Stodge" hopes to bring this team all the way to the top.
[edit] Rugby
Mullingar rugby football club is located in Robinstown, and has had a degree of success in the 1990s with two towns cup final appearances.
[edit] Athletics
Mullingar has a rich tradition in athletics with the club Mullingar Harriers producing many international athletes.Bobby Begley was Irish Team Manager when Eamonn Coughlan won the 5,000 meters World Championship in Helsinki.
[edit] Snooker
St.Mary's Snooker Club has the proud history of running Ranking Events for Greater Westmeath, namely the Mullingar Open Snooker Championship, The Westmeath Open Snooker Championship, the Midland Open and the St Mary's Open Classic. The County's most successful player has been Mick Kane who has won 11 Mullingar Open Snooker Champioship titles and 7 times County Westmeath Champion.Ger O'Connor has won 4 Mullingar Open titles and 6 Westmeath Championships.Richie Toal is the current holder for 2006 of Mullingar Open Snooker Championship. in the junior snooker championships,stephen hickey has proved to be successful.stephen won the mullingar junior snooker championship in 2005.all that year he proved to be the most successful underage player in westmeath reaching all except one ranking event.stephen also remains westmeath champion and has held his number 1 spot for the last 2 years.other players like kevin boyle and chris vella are among the top guns of the westmeath junior snooker scene. The "John Smith Memorial Cup" is played for each year as a Handicap event and has been in existence since 1963. The "Peter McNally Memorial Cup" in honour of Peter McNally(Irish International) Edenderry Snooker Club was won by the St Mary's Snooker Club team in 1997 the Team was Mick Kane (capt) Ger O'Connor,Anthony Cleary,Richie Toal,John Norris,Larry Mahedy & Niall Heffernan. Some years later the McNally Tournament became a singles event and Ger O'Connor and Pat Tyrell reached the Final and Richie Toal the Semi Finals.
[edit] Golf
Mullingar golf club also has a proud history and hosts every August bank holiday weekend a leading amateur golf competition, i.e. The Mullingar Scratch Cup. This competition has been won by the likes of Ronan Rafferty, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley. The 2006 winner is up and coming golfer from Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy. Mullingar player Gerry Purcell is former An Post Golf Society Irish Champion on two occasions.
[edit] Cricket
The Cricket club is based on the Murray farm in Bunbrosna, overlooking Lough Owel.
[edit] Hockey
The Hockey club is based at Loreto secondary school near the Mullingar/Longford General Hospital
[edit] Swimming
The Mullingar Jets Swimming Club is based in the town swimming pool located in Mullingar Town Park.
[edit] Notable citizens
- Cllr. Pat Whelan is the present Chairman/Mayor of Mullingar Town Council (2006/07).
- Mullingar is the home town of the ska-pop band The Blizzards as well as rock bands Innate, The Aftermath, Waiting To Explode, Peter Doran and enigmatic rockers Triega.
- Mullingar is also the home town of Declan Power author of "Siege at Jadotville"
- Mullingar is home to J. P. Donleavy, author of "The Ginger Man".
- Mullingar is the home town of the well-known singer Joe Dolan and of Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Ryanair.
- Mullingar is the home town of author and Joycean scholar Leo Daly, whose books include, "The Rock Garden", and "James Joyce and the Mullingar Connection".
- Mullingar is the home town of the President of Dublin City University, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski whose family home is at Knockdrin, just outside the town.
- Patrick Graham, one of Ireland's most highly rated artists, was born in Mullingar in 1943.
- Columb Barracks has housed soldiers decorated for bravery:
- Comdt Adrian Aisnworth,Military Medal for Gallantry 2nd Class(C/O 9 FAR fca)
- Captain Thomas Boyle, Distinguished Service Medal 2nd Class
- Sergeant John Quirke, Distinguished Service Medal 2nd Class
- Corporal William Allen, Distinguished Service Medal 2nd Class, who now lives in Collinstown
- Sergeant Patrick Mulcahy, Distinguished Service Medal 3rd Class, posthumous
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Westmeath Census information
- ^ STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE MIDLANDS GATEWAY; Census stastics page 27
- ^ Audit Bureau of Circulations, Jun 2006 - Jan 2007.
[edit] References
- Seamus O'Brien (1999). Famine and Community in Mullingar Poor Law Union, 1845-49. Irish Academic Press. ISBN 0-7165-2678-6.
- Matt Nolan (1999). Mullingar: Just for the Record. Crigean P.. ISBN 0-9537651-0-5.
- Mary Farrell (2002). Mullingar: Essays on the History of a Midlands Town. Westmeath County Library. ISBN 0-9506016-3-2.
- Leo Daly (1975). James Joyce and the Mullingar Connection. Dolmen P. ISBN 0-85105-266-5.
[edit] External links
- Knockdrin Castle
- Mullingar's Premier Business Site
- Mullingar Chamber of Commerce
- St. Colman (Colman Mac Luachain 6th/7th century)
- Westmeath County Council
- Corpus of electronic texts
- Betha Colmáin Maic Lúacháin, or, The Life of Colmán son of Lúachan
- Bibliothèques de Rennes and chercher Colman (Recherche par Sujet)
- Westmeath Census Information
- Tullamore Life & Community
- STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE MIDLANDS GATEWAY; Census stastics page 27
