Furbo, County Galway
Furbo or Furbogh (officially known as Na Forbacha in both Irish and English)[2] is a settlement in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. As of the 2022 census, it had a population of 868 people.[1] It lies along the coast, overlooking Galway Bay, in a Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area.
Furbo | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Na Forbacha (Irish) | |
Hotel and coastal road at Furbo (Na Forbacha) | |
Furbo Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°14′56″N 9°12′18″W / 53.249°N 9.205°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Galway |
| Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Population | 868 |
| Irish Grid Reference | M199288 |
| Na Forbacha is the only official name. The anglicised spellings Furbo and Furbogh have no official status. | |
Location edit
Furbo lies between Barna and Spiddal on the coastal R336 road.[3] It is a typical Gaeltacht-style settlement with no village centre, but rather comprises around fourteen townlands, most of which run north to south from the bog to the foreshore. Furbo (officially Na Forbacha) spans the townlands of Cnocán an Bhodaigh, an Straidhp, an tSaoirsin, Baile na hAbhann, na Poillíní, Doire Uachtair, Aill an Phréacháin, an Coisméig Mór, na Forbacha Garbha, Seanadh Fhréachóg, and Cnoc na Gréine.[4]
Irish language edit
Located in a Gaeltacht area, Irish is the main language used in the local school, church and at community meetings. The headquarters of the Gaeltacht Authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta, is located in Na Forbacha.[5]
The figure for those who self-report as speaking Irish daily is 39%. Housing developments in the area have a requirement that 80% plus of housing units are reserved for Irish speakers.[citation needed]
Amenities edit
Furbo has a large community pitch (the Sportlann) which is used by several sports groups. These include the local hurling club (Bearna/Na Forbacha GAA),[6] Gaelic football club (CLG Bhearna),[citation needed] and soccer club (Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe).[7]
The local Catholic church is Our Lady Star of the Sea church (Séipéal Mhuire Réalt na Mara). It is in the parish of Bearna & na Forbacha in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.[8] A mausoleum, alongside the church, dates to c. 1860.[9]
The national (primary) school, Scoil na bhForbacha, had an enrollment of over 200 pupils as of 2023.[10]
Notable people edit
- John Henry Blake (1808–1882), land agent[11]
- Diarmuid Ó Gráinne (1950–2013), writer and journalist[12]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Interactive Data Visualisations: Towns: Na Forbacha". Census 2022. Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Na Forbacha / Furbogh". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland.
- ^ "'Serious' hit and run in Furbo sees pedestrian rushed to hospital". galwaybeo.ie. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Na Forbacha Electoral Division, Co. Galway". townlands.ie. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Údarás na Gaeltachta". udaras.ie. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
Údarás na Gaeltachta, Na Forbacha, Co. na Gaillimhe
- ^ . bnaf.ie. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021.
- ^ "Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe - Contact Us". sacarbnaf.com. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Parishes - Bearna & na Forbacha". galwaydiocese.ie. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Séipéal Mhuire Réalt na Mara [Catholic Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea], Ballynahown (Moycullen By), Na Forbacha [Furbogh], Galway". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "S N na bhForbacha". gov.ie. Department of Education. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ O'Gorman, Ronnie (6 May 2010). "Woodford stood up to the power of Lord Clanricarde". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Ó Ciardha, Mártan. "Ó Gráinne, Diarmaid (1950–2013)". ainm.ie (in Irish). Retrieved 15 June 2023.