Rosmuck

Infobox Irish Place
name = Ros Muc
gaeilge = Ros Muc
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 61px; top: 51px
north coord = 53.35028 | west coord = 9.61583 | irish grid = L924345
area = | elevation = 0 m [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/EI/10/Ros_Muc.html Fallingrain.com - Ros Muc] ]
province = Connacht
county = County Galway
population = | town pop = | rural pop =
census yr = 2002
web = |

Ros Muc ( _en. Rosmuck) is a village in the heart of the Conamara Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) of County Galway, Ireland, halfway between the town of Clifden and the city of Galway. It is estimated that people first settled in Ros Muc in 400 A.D., one hundred years before Naomh Briocan brought Christianity to the area. That is to say that there are people in Ros Muc for one thousand five hundred years. Irish is the predominantly spoken language. The District Electoral Division of Turlough, Ros Muc, state that Ros Muc is the most strongly Irish-speaking area in the country. According to an analysis of the census a total of 91.9% of adults over nineteen years old said they spoke Irish on a daily basis. The population of Ros Muc is estimated to be around five hundred people. For the past thirty years there has been a decline in the population, this is mainly due to emigration, although the tide of emigration has subsided in recent years due to the robust nature of the Irish economy. The village is the birth-place of a former president of the Gaelic League, Proinsias Mac Aonghusa.

It is believed that the name 'Ros Muc' comes from the old Irish "the peninsula of rounded hills", "ros" meaning "peninsula" and "muc" meaning "rounded hills" or "Pig". Alternatively, the etymology could literally be "ros muc"—"the pig's head peninsula" (communication by boat between the area and neighbouring islands in Ceantar na nOileán being common up until the early 20th century, and the appearance of the peninsula from the sea was said to resemble that of a pig's head).

The area has many literary figures, notably Irish revolutionary and education/language activist Patrick Pearse (Pádraig Mac Piarais) who had a summer residence there in the early 1900s (now a National Monument/Heritage Site open to the public), and who set many of his short stories in the area. Another writer was Pádraic Ó Conaire, who wrote a number of short stories partly set in the region, including "M'asal Beag Dubh" ("My Little Black Donkey") and the novella "Deoraíocht" ("Exile"). The area is recognized as one of the strongest remaining Gaeltacht areas in South Connemara.

Pádraig Pearse, who was involved in the 1916 revolution in Dublin had a cottage in Ros Muc where he wrote many of his pieces.

Ros Muc along with its neighbours Camus and An Sraith Salach have a GAA Football between them called "Na Piarsaigh". [http://www.cumannpeilenabpiarsaigh.ie]

Ros Muc has had a long term relationship with "Coláiste na bhFiann" [http://www.colaistenabhfiann.com] as it provides host accommodation for students learning Irish during the summer months.

Town Lands in Ros MucGleann Catha, An Gort Mor, Inbhear, Turlach, Ros Dudh, An Tamhnaigh Bigh, Snamh Bo, Cill Bhriocain, An Aill Bhui, An tOileain Mor, An Turlach Beag, Salalaoi, An Baile Thair, An Silear, Inis Eilte, An Cladhnach, Cladach o' Deas, Gairfean, Ros Cide

Town festival

The area has a traditional Sean nós Irish dancing festival the first weekend following St. Brigid's Day (1 February), Ros Muc's traditional first day of spring.

ee also

*Connacht Irish
*List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

References

External links

* [http://www.damhsoir.ie/Assets/factsaboutrosmuc.htm History of Ros Muc]
* [http://www.damhsoir.ie/Assets/whereisrosmuc.htm Where is Ros Muc?]
* [http://www.damhsoir.ie Rosmuck Irish dancing festival]
* [http://www.carna.nuigalway.ie/eng_aras_chadhain.html Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain]
* [http://www.colaistenabhfiann.ie Coláiste na bhFiann]
* [http://www.cumannpeilenabpiarsaigh.ie Na Piarsaigh]