The town of
Ballinsloe grew up  around
a ford over the River Suck, its name is derived from the Gaelic
Béal Átha na Slua which means 'Mouth of the Ford of
the Hosts'. In much earlier times the area is said to have been
occupied by the Delbhna Nuadat, the Magh Sen-Chineoil and the Fir
Bolg (Bag men) some time in the fourth century these people were
conquered by Maine Mór who is credited with founding the
Kelly Clan who ruled the area for centuries thereafter.
The patron saint of Ballinsloe
is Saint Grellan, who is said to have helped Maine Mór in
his struggle against the Fir Blog's
By the early 1100's Turlough
O'Connor was king of Connacht in 1120 he built a bridge over the
River Suck, three years later a castle was built on the site now
occupied by St Michael's Church.
The arrival of the Normans in
the late 1100's signalled a period of great upheavel in Ireland,
they built a castle at Suicín, now known as Creagh, despite
their military  might
the Normans never managed to gain absolute control, The O'Kelly's
maintained their dominence of the area until the seventeenth century
from their powerbase at Clonmacnoon, it is thought it was they who
built Ballinsloe Castle situated on River street in the town.
The plantation of Ireland which
began in the 16th century resulted sweeping changes in the country,
ownership of the land passed from the hands of the Gaelic ruling
class to English landlords and planters.
In 1536 Henry VIII began the
Suppression of the Monasteries, vast areas of land were confiscated
from the church and distributed to English soldiers and those who
were seen as loyal to the English crown. |
