Bannow

Bannow Banú
—  Town  —
Bannow Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°13′N 6°46′W / 52.217°N 6.767°W / 52.217; -6.767Coordinates: 52°13′N 6°46′W / 52.217°N 6.767°W / 52.217; -6.767
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	Wexford
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Area code(s)	051
Irish Grid Reference

Bannow (Irish: Banú) is an area situated in the south of County Wexford, in Ireland. An early Norman town was founded at Bannow. This town has since disappeared for unknown reasons, although the ruins of an early Norman church can still be seen there today (which dates from the 13th century). The Norman church is located near the former Island of Bannow. It was a parish church, dedicated to St. Mary. It consists of a nave and chancel. The church was originally impropriated to the monks of Canterbury.^[1]

There is a small village located at nearby Carrig-on-Bannow (often called Carrig).

History

It is believed that the Vikings had a strong early presence in the area, due to the survival of numerous Norse place-names in the locality. The area is also famed as the site of The Buried City of Bannow reputedly silted up by the tides hundreds of years ago. Locals claim that,on a clear day, one can still the chimneys of the houses above the water. Indeed, one local wag used to say that, on a really good day, smoke could be seen rising from the chimneys!

It was near here that the Normans first landed en masse in 1169, during their invasion of Ireland at the behest of Diarmait MacMurrough. In that year, a group of Normans commanded by Robert Fitz-Stephen sailed into Bannow Bay and landed near Bannow in three ships. They landed at the island of Bannow, which is no longer an island today - the channel dividing the former island from the mainland has since silted up and the island is now joined to the mainland.

Plaque near former Bannow Island, Co. Wexford, recalling the location where the Normans first landed in Ireland, in 1169.

Another group of Normans under Raymond le Gros landed near Bannow in 1170, but at a different location. This time they landed at Baginbun, which was then called Dún Domhnaill, on the opposite side of Bannow Bay on the Hook Peninsula. The Irish 'Dún' signifies a 'fort' and at Baginbun Head there was then located a small promontory fort, easy for the Normans to defend and thereby ensure a safe landing in Ireland. Another famous Norman soldier and officer who landed in the first invasion was Meiler Fitzhenry, whose son adopted his father's name, and thus began the Meyler family of Co. Wexford, who later were prominent in the Irish Rebellion against English rule in the Rising of 1798. During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, the fleeing Wexford loyalist garrison crossed the nearby Scar at Barrystown on their way to Duncannon Fort.

Bannow had borough status and it returned members to the Parliament of Ireland until 1800, when under the Act of Union the borough was disenfranchised.^[2]

In the later 19th century, the area was very involved in the Land War.

The most prominent local landlords in Bannow, from the late 17th century onwards, were the Boyse family. They lived at Bannow House. The last member of the Boyse family left the area in 1948.

Details

St. Brendan's Parochial Hall, situated close to Bannow Bay

There is a R.C. church located at Carrig-on-Bannow village, though the church is officially referred to as Bannow church.^[3] This church dates from 1856, though it has been largely altered since it was originally built. It has an adjoining cemetery. Irish : Cuain on Bainbh (the place of the young pig)

Carrig-on-Bannow village also contains a number of pubs, and a Garda Station. A small village, Carrig also contains a school, a church, a handball alley, a post office, and 3 pubs! A km away is the Church of Ireland at Balloughton, now rarely used.^[4]

There is also a number of beaches located near the village - on Bannow Island, Cockle Strand & Cullenstown Beach (home to the famous "Shell Cottage")

At nearby Grantstown is located an Augustinian Priory.

Sport

Gaelic games

The local GAA Club is Bannow-Ballymitty GAA Club,^[5] whose pitch is located at nearby Grantstown (about a mile from the current RC Church of Bannow shown in the photo on this page). Great players who have passed through the club include Philip White, GAA legend.

Music

There is also a great tradition of Traditional Irish Music in the Parish. Founded by Martha Torpey, John Marshall, Kathleen Hayes, & Fr. Harry Sinnott, Andy Monahan, in the late 1970s. They formed the Danescastle Music Group (Bannow C.C.E.) witch has over 150 pupils today. It is a Co. Wexford branch of Comhaltas. Other members of Comhaltas Ceolteori Eireann in the parish include the Gleeson family, the Murphy Bros, Sean Stafford, Nick Bennett and many more traditional musicians and singers. Colfers pub is a popular venues for traditional sessions. Also the Phil Murphy Weekend is held every year in Carrig on Bannow. Bannow 1s well known for weekend music sessions, particularly Barretts 'Brandane Inn', and Colfer's pub, Carrig-on -Bannow.

People

• Anna Maria Hall (Mrs. S.C. Hall) - author.

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

References & footnotes

1. ^ Grattan Flood, W. H. History of the Diocese of Ferns. Waterford: Downey & Co., 1916, p. 143.
2. ^ See: Bannow (Parliament of Ireland constituency).
3. ^ Carrig-on-Bannow/Bannow RC Church.
4. ^ Garda Station telephone numbers Wexford/Wicklow Division
5. ^ Bannow-Ballymitty GAA Club, Co. Wexford.

External links

• Wexford County Council website