Ballynacally () is a village and
townland
A townland (; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a traditional small land division used in Ireland and in the Western Isles of Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of medieval Gaelic origin, predating the Norman invasion, and mo ...
situated southwest of
Ennis
Ennis ( , meaning 'island' or 'river meadow') is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in Cou ...
, on the
R473 coast road to
Kilrush
Kilrush () is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is also the name of a civil parish and an ecclesiastical parish in Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. ...
in the civil parish of
Kilchreest, County Clare, Ireland. It lies near the bank of the
River Shannon
The River Shannon ( or archaic ') is the major river on the island of Ireland, and at in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of , – approximately one fifth of the area of I ...
.
History
Ballynacally derives from ''Baile na Caillí''. This means "the nun's land", because it belonged to the nuns of
Killone Convent.
It is home to many historical structures and monuments. The area is known to have been visited by
St.Brendan and St. Senan who established monasteries in the islands. The
Vikings
Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...
looted the churches while travelling up the Shannon to
Limerick
Limerick ( ; ) is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is in the Mid-West Region, Ireland, Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. W ...
. During the
Norman period nuns occupied the Kilchreest area, and Norman castles were erected at
Dangan, Ballycorick, and Cragbrien.
The ruins of the Dangan tower still remain.
Ballynacally was a former parish.
's 'County Clare: A History and Topography'' (1837) mentioned that the villagers produced corn, butter, pork, and other agricultural produce which was loaded into boats in the quay and taken along the river to Limerick, and that limestone and sea manure were produced for the community. He also mentioned that Ballynacally held several cattle fairs throughout the year. In 1841 the townland had an area of 12 acres and a population of 194 people living in 29 houses. In the 19th century, the village developed a reputation for its fine "faction fighters" (see ''
bataireacht''), who possessed a "superior skill with the stick".
Professor
Thomas Rice Henn in the mid 20th century described Ballynacally as "a straggling village, with its one street and five public houses, crossing a bridge over a lesser stream" in his memoirs ''The Five Arches''.
Geography
Ballynacally is situated southwest of
Ennis
Ennis ( , meaning 'island' or 'river meadow') is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in Cou ...
, on the
R473 coast road to
Kilrush
Kilrush () is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is also the name of a civil parish and an ecclesiastical parish in Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. ...
in the parish of
Kilchreest,
County Clare
County Clare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster in the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern part of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council ...
. It lies near the bank of the
River Shannon
The River Shannon ( or archaic ') is the major river on the island of Ireland, and at in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of , – approximately one fifth of the area of I ...
. To the north,
Ballycorick Creek flows into the Shannon. Ballynacally is bordered by the townlands of Carrowkilla to the north, Knocksaggart to the northeast, Rosscliff to the east, Ballynagard to the south, Cloonnakilla to the west, and Ardnagla to the northwest.
The village lies in the civil parish of
Kilchreest
The Roman Catholic parish of Ballynacally (Clondegad) encompasses Ballynacally,
Lissycasey and Ballycorick, and is part of the
Diocese of Killaloe
See also
*
List of towns and villages in Ireland
References
External links
Official site
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe
Towns and villages in County Clare
Townlands of County Clare