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Gort |
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Gort is a medium sized market town on the Galway to
Ennis Road, situated in a gap between the
Slieve Aughty
Mountains and the Burren to the south.
The town takes its name form King Guaire, the sixth century
King of Connacht, who built a castle here. He had a
reputation for his generosity and it was said that his right
arm, his giving arm, was longer than his left. One legend
recalls how Guaire was sitting down to dinner when
mysteriously the plates disappeared out the windows. He
quickly followed them on horseback and soon met St Colman
who had just finished a seven year fast and had eaten the
food. The King was impressed by his ingenuity and granted
him lands at Kilmacduagh where he built a monastery, one of
the oldest in Europe.
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Thoor Ballylee
Thoor Ballylee (above
right) was Yeats's monument and symbol;
in both aspects it had multiple significance. It satisfied
his desire for a rooted place in a known countryside, not
far from Coole and his life-long friend Lady Gregory. To
live in a Tower complemented, perhaps, his alignment with a
tradition of cultivated aristocracy which he had envied and
a leisured peace which he had enjoyed.
Coole
Park
Coole Park (above
left)
outside Gort was the home of
Lady Augusta Gregory, dramatist
and co-founder with Edward Martyn and W.B. Years of the
Abbey Theatre. The area is also a National Nature Reserve
due to its great wildlife importance - its native woodlands
and turloughs.
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The Kiltartan Gregory
Museum and Millennium Park
The
Kiltartan Gregory Museum and Millennium Park ; located
two miles from Gort on Galway Road at the historic spot
"Kiltartan Cross" where the blind poet Rafferty met and fell
in love with the "Beauty of Ballylee" Máire ní hEidhie. This
building was a National School built in 1892 at the behest
of the local landlord, Sir William Gregory of Coole Park,
Gort. The Museum was opened by Mary Robinson on the 8th
August, 1996. The Museum is Largely devoted to the works of
Augusta Lady Gregory (1852 - 1932), widow of Sir William.
The most renowned member of the Gregory family was Lady
Gregory. During her time there, Coole became the meeting
place for writers, chief of whom was W.B. Yeats who later
bought Thoor Ballylee.
Kilmacduagh
Monastery
Near Gort is the site of an old monastic settlement of
Kilmacduagh. The name Kilmacduagh means "church of Duagh's
son". The 7th century saint, Saint Colman, son of Duagh,
established a monastery on land given him by his cousin King
Guaire. According to legend, Saint Colman MacDuagh was
walking through the woods of the Burren when his girdle fell
to the ground. Taking this as a sign, he built his monastery
on this spot. The girdle was said to be studded with gems
and was held by the O'Shaughnessys centuries later, along
with St. Colman's crozier, or staff. The girdle was later
lost, but the crozier came to be held by the O'Heynes and
may now be seen in the National Museum of Ireland. This
early Christian site is well worth a visit not only for its
ruined churches and well preserved round tower, but also the
site affords a splendid view of the local area, and is the
centre of interesting local legends and folklore.
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The area around the town is notable for its landscape of
grey stone walls and stone-strewn fields. The eighteenth century weigh-house in
the Town Square has recently been restored. There is a strong tradition of Irish
music in the locality and many pubs stage sessions at night.
Famous People
Lady Augusta
Gregory - dramatist and co-founder of the Abbey Theatre.
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