Ardcath

Infobox Place Ireland
name = Ardcath
gaeilge =
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 101px; top: 65px
north coord = 53.588
west coord = 6.365
irish grid = O082608
area = 4342 ha
elevation = 70m
province = Leinster
county = County Meath
town pop = 453
rural pop = 1873
census yr = 2006
web =

Ardcath (meaning "the height of battle" [ [http://www.booksulster.com/library/plnm/placenamesA.php Irish Local Names Explained by P.W. Joyce ] ] ) is a hamlet in County Meath, Ireland. It is a small area inhabited by around 1,870 people which is almost a 2% decrease from the 2002 census [ [http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/2006PreliminaryReport.pdf 2006 Preliminary Report] ] . The surrounding areas include Garristown, Clonalvy, Duleek, Battramstown, Bellewstown and Stamullen.

History

Four Knocks ( _ga. Fuair Cnocs meaning "Cold Hills") is a passage tomb near Ardcath that was built around 5000 years ago. The graves are decorated in art and show the first artistic depiction of a human face in Ireland. [ [http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/Heritage/HeritageSites/FourKnocks/ Meath Tourism - Four Knocks] ]

Ardcath is historically part of the barony of Upper Duleek. In the early 19th century half of the parish was being cultivated (principally with wheat) while the other half was excellent pasture land. Cotton was weaved in the area for Dublin and Drogheda manufacturers. [ [http://www.from-ireland.net/lewis/meath/ardcath.htm Lewis Topographical Dictionary] ]

There are extensive ruins of a medieval church, surrounded by a cemetery that is still in use. In 2007 the council sent the cemetery committee (a local individual) a €500 water supply bill which caused some anger. [ [http://www.meathchronicle.ie/articles/1/23101 Ardcath cemetery group "landed with €500 water bill"] ]

Community

There are several community groups in the area such as the Ardcath Macra and a guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association - these have been around since 1952 and 1948 respectively and often include members of the surrounding towns. [ [http://www.ardcathmacra.com/History.html Ardcath Macra History] ] [ [http://www.ica.ie/counties/news_article.php?id=333&page=1&county=22 ICA-Ardcath's 60th Anniversary] ]

Ardcath has a local school that was built in 1950 and is currently attending by around 50 students. Prior to this the school was in the old Ardcath Penal Day Church building when it stopped being used in 1862. [ [http://www.interment.net/data/ireland/meath/ardcath/index.htm Ardcath cemetery inscriptions and information] ]

Every year there is a large festival organised by the Ardcath Parish Committee, chaired by Fr Phil Gaffney. The festival runs the course of a week in summer and every second year the Rose of Ardcath is contested in the local pub, Bennet's. [ [http://www.drogheda-independent.ie/news/ardcath-festival-in-full-swing-1077297.html Drogheda Independent - Full Swing Festival] ]

In 2007 some residents of Ardcath were left without street lights due to confusion between the council and ESB. [ [http://www.drogheda-independent.ie/news/ardcath-residents-left-in-the-dark-as-lamps-stay-unlit-697042.html Drogheda Independent - Left in the Dark] ]

Transportation

The roads in Ardcath are all local roads though there are some regional roads close by such as the R130 in Garristown. Safety concerns over the state of some of the roads around Ardcath have been raised at the meeting of the Slane Electoral Area Committee of Meath County Council. [ [http://www.meathchronicle.ie/articles/1/23409 East Meath issues aired as Slane area council meets] ] There is also inadequate signage notifying drivers on the approach to the local school. [ [http://homepage.eircom.net/~vincentsardcath/ Ardcath and Clonalvy Action Group] ]

Bus Eireann provides a bus service from Ardcath to Dublin (return) from Monday to Saturday that runs once a day. [ [http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1202394170-102.pdf Bus Eireann Ardcath Service Timetable] ] .

ee also

*List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

External links

* [http://www.from-ireland.net/lewis/meath/ardcath.htm A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis (1837)]
* [http://www.ardcathmacra.com/index.html Ardcath Macra]

References