Clonbur
| An Fhairche | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
  An Fhairche Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°32′00″N 9°22′00″W / 53.5333°N 9.3667°WCoordinates: 53°32′00″N 9°22′00″W / 53.5333°N 9.3667°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Galway |
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
| Irish Grid Reference | M093559 |
| An Fhairche is the only official name. The name Clonbur has no official status. | |
An Fhairche (called Clonbur in English)[1] is a Gaeltacht village in County Galway, Ireland.
The village of Clonbur sits between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. Two kilometres to the west rises Mount Gable where, according to legend, the hordes of Firbolg gathered on the hilltop before their clash with the Tuatha Dé Danann at the Battle of Moytura. In more recent times this isthmus became known as the Gap of Danger where the "plainsmen" met the men of Joyce and Flaherty country.
Clonbur also contains the ruins of Petersburgh Estate, seat of the Lynch family, one of whose members John Lynch, was a signatory of the American Declaration of Independence. It more recent times it was home to the Guinness family.
Ross Hill Abbey
In the Ross Hill cemetery of stands the ruins of Teampall Brendain. The ruin is sited within an ancient oval enclosure known as a Caiseal or Cashel. The western end of the ruin is of early Christian origin and in the trabeated doorway can clearly be seen the inclined jambs so distinctive of that era. This edifice replaced a wooden and less durable structure which was the Navigator's original monastic settlement on the site.
Within 30 meters of the western doorway is a curiosity locally known as The Ogham Stone. The site, in the Ross Hill estate, was once the property of the unpopular Earl of Leitrim. The estate later became the property of the Guinness family.
Ballykine (Ballykyne) Castle
One of a series of five fortifications from Ballinrobe to Ballindonage, it was originally owned by the O'Kynes. In 1571 it was seized for the Crown by Fitton, the then President of Connacht. For a period the de Burgos held it and later gave it to the MacDonnells (Scottish Mercenaries) as service booty or Bonnacht. Eventually it passed from Sir Richard O'Donnell to Sir Benjamin Guinness and so became part of the Guinness estate.
Architecturally, the castle has some puzzling features. The trabeated doorway with its inclined jambs pre-dates the rest of the structure by some 900 years. Certain sections of the stonework are not bonded together as a unit, a feature which suggests later additions to the original building.
Lough Coolin
Located at the foot of Mount Gable, three miles west of Clonbur in County Galway. Lough Coolin is accessible via the villages of Ballyveane and Kilbeg Upper. Beside the lake are the stone cottage ruins of an old village. The lake was renowned for white trout until the early 1960s when pike were added to the lake by a local fisherman. Pike and perch are now the only fish in the lake. A stream from the Lough Coolin flows into Lough Mask. Coolin Lake provides fresh water for the village of Clonbur.
Mount Gable
Climbing Mount Gable (1370 feet) are scenic mountain walks. The mountain dominates the isthmus between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask and overlooks one of the major routes into Connemara from the east. The starting point for a walk is approximately 2 km from the village of Clonbur. It provides a backdrop for Lough Coolin. Views of both Lough Mask and Lough Corrib can be had from the top of Mount Gable. Mount Gable is accessible through the villages of Ballyveane and Kilbeg Upper.
Local activities
- Fishing on Lough Mask which is renowned for brown trout, perch and pike.
- Fishing on Lough Corrib, renowned for salmon, brown trout, perch and pike.
- Golf at Ballinrobe Golf Club, or Ashford Castle.
- Hill walking on Mount Gable.
- Cycling.
- Forest walks.