An Fhairche (locally An Fháirthí), or Clonbur in English, is a Gaeltacht village in Connemara, 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.

Clonbur also contains the ruins of the Petersburg Estate. This estate, originally the seat of the Lynch family, was later owned by the Guinness family. The house and yard buildings have since been renovated and now function as an outdoor education centre.

Geography

thumb|Lake in Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre, Clonbur

Lough Coolin

Located at the foot of Mount Gable, three miles west of Clonbur, Lough Coolin is accessible via the villages of Ballyveane and Kilbeg Upper in County Galway. Beside the lake are the stone cottage ruins of an old village. The lake was known 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 Lough Coolin flows into Lough Mask. Coolin Lake provides fresh water for the village of Clonbur.

Mount Gable

Mount Gable (1370 feet) is a hill which 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. 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.

History

Development

thumb|Poliska House in An Fhairche (Clonbur) is a former dispensary built

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ringfort, cairn burial and enclosure sites in the townlands of An Fhairche, Ballykine Lower and Ballykine Upper.

A number of public buildings within Clonbur village, including the former market house and Church of Ireland church, date from the mid-19th century. The latter, designed by architect William Atkins and built in 1846, is now used as a heritage centre. was built on the site of an earlier church

Ross Hill Abbey

In Ross Hill cemetery stands the ruins of Teampall Brendain. Traditionally associated with Brendan the Navigator (Brendan of Clonfert), this 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 which were distinctive to that era. This structure replaced a wooden and less durable structure which is thought to be the site of Brendan's original monastic settlement.

Within 30 meters of the western doorway is an 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

thumb|The ruins of Ballykine Castle lie to the east of Clonbur village

The ruins of Ballykine (Ballykyne) Castle lie approximately east of Clonbur. One of a series of five fortifications from Ballinrobe to Ballindonage, it was originally owned by the O'Kynes. The club has won several Gaelic football titles,

See also

  • Connacht Irish
  • List of towns and villages in Ireland

References

  • Clonbur village website