|
|
|
 |
 |
 Over
the centuries, Navan has been a forerunner in almost everything
to hit Ireland. Surrounded by a wealth of scenic beauty and
an abundance of heritage, the town has come a long way since
its foundation in the 12th century.
In 1170, Hugh DeLacy was granted the ancient Kingdom
of Meath and Gilbert Nangle obtained the Barony of
Morgallion ( Nobber, Wilkinstown areas ) and Jocelyn,
son of Gilbert, obtained Navan and Ardbraccan. The most common Irish families at the time were McLoughlin, McGogarty,
O'Loughnane, Hayes, O'Reilly, O'Kelly and O'Hennessy.
It was common with descendants of the early Anglo-Norman settlers to take Irish surnames at the time and a branch of
the Nangle family settled in the West of Ireland and took the name MacCostello.
An Augustinian Monastery was erected in the 12th century by Jocelyn Nangle and Navan was fortified by DeLacy and the
Nangles.
The town was considered an important military position to be held by the newcomers. In 1539 an invasion of Meath took
place by the Northern Princes O'Neil and O'Donnell and they devastated, burned and plundered Navan and Ardee.
On returning north, the English forces pursued them and a battle was fought at Ballyhoe on the border of Meath and
Monaghan and due to a lack of discipline, the Irish army was defeated.
After this, the English fortified Navan with walls and the Monastery was forced to surrender all its possesions to
Henry VIII. It was plundered and turned into a cavalry barracks.
In the centre of the town was a stone cross which was also uprooted.
The Nangles continued as Barons of Navan down to the early part of the 17th century when a daughter of the Nangles
married Hugh Preston, grandson of Jenico, third Viscount of Gormanstown and property was passed to him.
Other Anglo-Norman families who lived beside Navan were the Dowdalls of Athlumney and the Darcy's of Dunmoe. These
families were on the side of the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1689.
They were deprived of their castles and estates by the Williamites. A century later, Peter Ludlow married Mary,
daughter and heiress of John Preston of Ardsallagh. He died in Bath in 1750 and was succeeded by his son, Peter
Ludlow was was handed the title of Baron Ludlow of Ardsallagh. In 1760 he became Viscount Preston of Ardsallagh
and Earl Ludlow passed the property onto the Duke of Bedford and subsequently to Lord John Russell.
In the 19th century, there were five corn mills, two paper mills, two distilleries (capable of producing 30,000
gallons of whiskey), one tannery, a flax mill employing 260 people, flour mills and a factory that manufactured sacks.
In the 18th and 19th century, two thirds of the land was devoted to tillage farming which was mainly potato growing. With the
potato crop failing in the 1840's, the famine wiped out entire villages and what was left emigrated.
This affected one and all. The landlords could not get paid by their tenants and they had to sell to new proprietors who
evicted non-paying tenants and turned the land into large grazing tracts for the rearing of cattle and sheep to cater for the
huge demand from England's Industrial expansion.
A workhouse was erected in 1842 and was renowned as the best managed workhouse in Ireland. It was managed by Mr. Cowley. The
fever hospital attached to the workhouse had ample acommodation of a superior kind. There was also a charitable loan society
entirely supported by Mrs. Fitzherbert. The principal seats of residence were T. Gerrard, Boyne Hill, J. Goggan, Belmont,
R.R. Fitzherbert, Blackcastle and L. Byron, Dublin Road.
Cuirimid fáilte roimh chach go dtí an Uaimh ar an bhféile seo. Lá le Pádraig, dhá mhíle is a cúige.
Creidimid gurb í an Uaimh baile dúchais an tSeamróg toisc í a bheith suite in aice Teamhair. Mar sin comóraimid é seo.
Tá súil againn go mbainnfidh sibh sult agus taithneamh as an bhféile agus suimid sláinte chugaibh sa bhlian atá romhainn
Go raibh maith agaibh
Clann Naomh Pádraig.
|
|
 |
 |
|
