Swinford

Infobox Irish Place
name = Swinford
gaeilge = Béal Átha na Muice
crest

motto =
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pin coords = left: 105px; top: 57px
north coord = 53.9417 | west coord = 8.9500 | irish grid = G376004
area = | elevation = 74 m
province = Connacht
county = County Mayo
population = | town pop = 2,724 | rural pop = 15,292
census yr = 2006
web = | Swinford (lga|Béal Átha na Muice|Mouth of the Ford of the Swine (Pigs)) is a market-town in County Mayo, Ireland. Swinford is made up of areas such as Midfield, Meelick, Culmore, the town and Killasser.cite news
title = Swinford - Set dancing| publisher = Western People| date = 2007-01-10| url = http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2007/01/10/story34925.asp| accessdate = 2007-02-22 ] It is on the N5, located 11 miles from Ireland West Airport Knock (formerly known as Knock International Airport), and 20 minutes drive from Castlebar in Ireland. Situated on a tributary of the River Moy, Swinford is known for its fishing waters, including the Callow lakes and the lakes of Conn and Cullin.

Events

Swinford hosts one of County Mayo's largest summer festivals and has done since the mid 1980s: Siamsa Sraide Swinford, (Fun in the Streets of Swinford). This Street festival of pageantry, céilí dancing, and heritage displays depicts much of the traditions of East Mayo. The first day features the Lovefest, a 12 hour long free music festival.cite news
title = Swinford comes alive for annual Siamsa festival| publisher = Western People| date = 2004-07-21| url = http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2004/07/21/story20681.asp| accessdate = 2007-02-22 ]

Education

Up to the mid 1980s the town had 3 second level schools: St. Patrick's college, St. Mary's Convent and the Vocational school. All 3 schools amalgamated in August 1992 to Scoil Muire agus Padraig.cite web|url= http://www.irlgov.ie/debates-03/17Dec/Sect7.htm|title= Adjournment Debate - School Accommodation|accessdate=2007-11-21 |date=2003-09-17|work= Dáil Éireann Debates|publisher= Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas|quote=Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern): The school came into operation as a result of an amalgamation of the existing secondary school, Meanscoil Mhuire agus Phádraig, and the local vocational school in August 1992.] cite web|url= http://www.educationireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131&Itemid=143
title= Post Primary Schools in County Mayo|accessdate=2007-11-21|work= Educationireland.ie]

Transport

Swinford railway station opened on 1 October 1895, closed for passenger traffic on 17 June 1963 and finally closed altogether on 3 November 1975. [cite web | title=Swinford station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-11-24] At present there is work being carried out to reopen the line.Fact|date=January 2008

People

*Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher of rock band Oasis frequented Swinford during their childhood summers to visit their Grandmother.
*Ulick McEvaddy and Des McEvaddy, The founders and owners of Omega Air cite web
url = http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2007/01/21/story20347.asp| title = Opportunity Knocks| accessdate = 2007-02-23
date = 2007-01-21| publisher = The Sunday Business Post Online]
*Caitriona Ruane Stormont Minister for Education and South Down MLAcite web| url = http://www.mayoadvertiser.com/index.php?aid=1597| title = Swinford native is to be northern Minister for Education
accessdate = 2007-04-09| date = 2007-04-06| publisher = Mayo Advertiser]
*Donncha O'Connell, Dean of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway and former Director of Irish Council for Civil Libertiescite web| url = http://www.galwayadvertiser.ie/dws/story.tpl?inc=2002/02/09/entertainment/28338.html
title = Proust Questionnaire: - Donncha O'Connell, NUI, Galway| accessdate = 2007-11-21| date = 2002-09-02| work = Galway Advertiser| publisher = Advertiser Group]
*Tony McDonnell, former President of the Union of Students in Ireland cite web| url = http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2825926.html| title = At home with Tony McDonnell| accessdate = 2007-11-21| publisher = HotPress] cite web| url = http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2006/06/28/story31658.asp
title = Swinford man joins former President| accessdate = 2007-11-21| date = 2006-06-28| publisher = Western People]
*Pat O'Connor, former President of the Law Societycite web| url = http://www.poconsol.ie/| title = P O'Connor & Sons Solicitors| accessdate = 2007-11-21]
*Ciana Campbell, broadcaster cite web| url = http://www.ceifin.com/conference/21/speaker.html| title = Student Conference 2006 speakers| accessdate = 2007-02-23| publisher = The Céifin Centre, www.ceifin.com]
*David Heaney, 2006 Mayo Senior Football captain cite web| url = http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=66274| title = Head to head: Kieran Donaghy v David Heaney| accessdate = 2007-02-23
date = 2006-09-12| publisher = hoganstand.com]
*Martin 'The Swin' Hennigan, 1984-85 All Ireland Handball 40x20 Singles and 1984 RTÉ Top Ace championcite web| url = http://www.gaa.ie/page/40x20_senior_singles.html| title = 40x20 senior singles| publisher = gaa.ie]
*Jack Judge, musician and composer of "It's a long way to Tipperary" [ [http://www.theharpnews.com/issues/dec_05/news_story_5.html TheHarpNews.com ] ]
*Enda Marren, a member of the Council of State and a former member of the Law Reform Commission, is from Killasser outside Swinford

Wiki fame

*This Wikipedia article featured on an Irish comedy show, The Panel, after a vandal claimed, amongst other things, that Swinford was infested with werewolves. cite web| url = http://rte.ie/tv/thepanel/20070129.html
title = The Panel, Program 15| accessdate = 2007-05-14| date = 2007-01-29| publisher = RTÉ]

References