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Ballymahon Brief History of the Area: Ballymahon derives its name from the Gaelic, Baile Mathúna, town of Mahon. Mahon was a Western chieftain who fought a famous battle in the vicinity of Ballymahon at Shrule (in Irish, Sruaith Fhuil, River of Blood). Mahon defeated O’Rourke of Cavan at this battle and laid claim to the lands in the area. The town as it is today was developed in the mid-nineteenth century by two main families, the Shuldham family of Moigh House and the King-Harmans of Newcastle. The buildings in the town are of late Georgian architecture, with two and three storey gabled houses, colour-washed and in rows of three and four. A special feature of the town is its wide main street.
ATTRACTIONS Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre Erected by the Office of Public Works and opened to the public in 1994, the building houses the remains of an ancient bog road, exhibition centre, audio-visual room and coffee shop. The trackway, which dates back to 148 BC was excavated by archaeologists during the 1980’s. The centre is open during the summer months and there are guided tours by Dúchas personnel every two hours. The building is surrounded by 30 acres of raised bog, which provides a nature reserve and is also open to the public. Pallas, Birthplace of Goldsmith The great poet, dramatist and novelist was born at Pallas in 1728. This time his father was rector in Forgney church where there is a stained glass window commemorating the family. The Goldsmiths later moved to Lissoy, which was to inspire the great poem ‘The Deserted Village’. Oliver Goldsmith lived with his mother in Ballymahon for three years before emigrating in 1752, never to return. Ballymahon has a fine monument on the mainstreet commemorating the poet. This is a sculpture by Eamonn O’Doherty on the theme of ‘The Traveller’ which is Goldsmith’s most famous poem.
Leo Casey Schoolhouse at Gurteen Leo Casey was a patriot, poet, novelist and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Leo Casey’s father, Luke Casey was born in Milltown parish in the year 1812. He qualified as a teacher and began his teaching career in 1835 in his own parish of Milltown. He married in 1843 and moved later moved to Lahawn with his wife and three children, two girls and one boy who was born in 1846 and was christened John Keegan Casey. In 1856 the family moved to Gurteen, a village three miles west of Ballymahon, where Luke Casey took up a teaching post. It was here in Gurteen that John Keegan Casey took up the teaching profession and worked as a monitor for his father. Even at this early age John Keegan Casey had penned many songs and ballads and is said to have written the widely published ‘Rising of the Moon’ before he was fifteen. He wrote under the pen name of ‘Leo’, producing many works before his untimely death at the age of twenty-four. The two-classroom school at Gurteen approximately four miles from Ballymahon is the only remaining link with Leo Casey. Abandoned in the 1960’s the building is the focus of a revival of interest in the author and his work. Newcastle House Newcastle estate originally of the Sheppard family passed through marriage to Wentworth Harman in 1619 and remained the seat of the Harman family throughout the eighteenth century. Between 1765 and 1784 it was home to the Very Rev. Cutts Harman, who built the famous octagonal hunting lodge of Castle Cor, west of Ballymahon. The present house is a large gabled three-storey mid Georgian house which was probably constructed in 1750 by the Harman. Later in the eighteenth century it was enlarged and altered by the addition of a single-storey east wing and a two-storey west wing. While some of the original Georgian interior detail have been changed over the years much of it still remains.
The Royal Canal The Royal Canal is situated about 2Km from Ballymahon town. Construction began on this canal in 1789 and was completed, stretching from Dublin to the Shannon, in 1818. The canal was a busy transport route, transporting goods and people across the country between the years 1818-1850. This canal was the only link between rural areas and the city of Dublin. The era of the canal came to an end with the advent of the railway, which was faster and cheaper to operate. The railways were built alongside the canal routes and soon nearly all goods and people traffic was being carried by railway. The Royal Canal closed to navigation in 1960,however, in 1974 a campaign was undertaken to restore the canal and it is hoped to have it operational by the year 2006. Brannigan Harbour, which is situated on the Canal, was the main stop for canal boats that deposited goods for the commercial life of Ballymahon. Today the local harbour has been enhanced and is now an idyllic picnic location. The old ticket office, which was the waiting room for passengers on the boat, is currently being restored. Eventually is it hoped to restore the full length of the canal from Dublin to the Shannon so that this generation and generations to come can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the canal while discovering the enchanting midlands of Ireland by boat. Ballymahon Walkways Ballymahon has a host of beautiful walks for hikers or just leisurely strolls for the ambler. The Royal Canal near Ballymahon has six miles of landscaped walkways with scenic views such as at Mullavornia overlooking Lough Drum. There are numerous cut stone bridges, old Store House Buildings and Loughs to add to the pleasure. Rambling through the many forest trails in Newcastle Woods or by the banks of the Inny is a must for the keen walker. Inny Park and Mill There is a beautiful and scenic park on the banks of the River Inny beside the Inny Bridge. This park was developed in 1985 by the Tidy Towns Committee and is proudly maintained by the Ballymahon Community Group. The park also has a landing area for the local canoeing club, which is across the river. This lovely spot is often used as a picnic area for locals and visitors.
Canoeing The Inny Kayak Club is located further along the river from Inny Park. The club was first established in 1988 by a local man and it has developed much over the last years. Longford County Council has created a safe and accessible launching point as well as a landing point down at Inny Park. The club has qualified instructors who teach seniors and juniors, young and old how to canoe. Fishing Ballymahon is blessed with several waterways that are teeming with a variety of fish, ranging from Bream, Trout, Roach, and Hybrids to Perch and Pike. Perch is the most common fish, which can be caught in many areas including the all along the River Inny. Some locally recommended spots are, the Red Bridge, Shrule Bridge, Houlihan’s Hole, and the mouth of the Inny and Lough Drum.
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