Fethard-on-Sea

Fethard-on-Sea
Fiodh Ard
Village

Fethard Quay
Fethard-on-Sea

Location in Ireland

Coordinates: 52°11′42″N 6°49′59″W / 52.195°N 6.833°W / 52.195; -6.833Coordinates: 52°11′42″N 6°49′59″W / 52.195°N 6.833°W / 52.195; -6.833
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
County County Wexford
Elevation 15 m (49 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 890
Irish Grid Reference S793049

Public transport

Two Bus Éireann routes serve Fethard-on-Sea; route 370 provides a commuter service to Waterford via New Ross departing at 07.15 Mondays to Saturdays inclusive with a return journey in the evening.[3] Tuesday-only route 373 provides a link to/from Wexford via Wellingtonbridge.[4]

History

In the past, Fethard was a place of some importance. It was a site of Norman landings during the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. The remains of Norman-era earthworks and fortifications[5] may be seen at Baginbun Bay, south of Ingard Point.

A 12th-century castle was built by Raymond le Gros, which passed to the Bishop of Ferns and was used as an episcopal residence. There is little evidence of the castle today. Alexander Devereux, the 16th-century bishop of Ferns and Abbot of Dunbrody, is buried in St. Mogue's Church (Church of Ireland).

Fethard was granted a charter by James I of England and became a municipal borough, sending two members to the Irish parliament, before its dissolution. In 1798 a harbour was built and was a landing site for French troops during the revolutionary wars.

In modern times, the main industries are fishing and tourism.

The village has a population of 890.[1] It lies in the Fethard electoral district in the Wexford constituency. It is in the Templetown parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns.

Village name

Fethard-on-Sea was originally called Fethard but the name was changed following drownings at sea when the lifeboat Helen Blake capsized in 1914 on a service mission to the schooner Mexico off the Keeragh Islands. Nine of the lifeboat crew were drowned and five survived. There was an outpouring of sympathy for the village and money came in from around the world, however, a lot of it ended up in Fethard, County Tipperary, so the name of the Fethard in Wexford was changed to distinguish it.

Fethard-on-Sea boycott

In May 1957, Roman Catholic villagers boycotted Protestant-owned local businesses in response to the actions of a Protestant woman, Sheila Cloney, who left her Catholic husband, and took her children away to avoid being forced to send them to the local Catholic school as the local Catholic priest demanded. The boycott received national and international attention before it concluded. The family was reconciled eventually, with the daughters being home-schooled.[6][7]

Film

A film was made about the Cloney family called A Love Divided (1999) starring Orla Brady as Sheila Cloney.[8] The film also proved to be controversial, with allegations of fabrications and historical misrepresentation,[9][10][11] and the omission of important facts relating to the case.[12][13] Press criticism focused on one of the film's writers, Gerry Gregg, a Communist and former member of the Workers' Party of Ireland,[14] who was accused of antagonism towards the Roman Catholic Church[15] and towards Irish Republicanism.[14]

Village Services

The small village is home to three different pubs (Nevilles, Molloys, and Droopys). It also contains a chipper, a Chinese restaurant, and two cafes.

There are two hairdressers, a small Londis shop, and a post office on the mainstreet.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Table 8: Population of each Province, County, City, urban area, rural area and Electoral Division, 2006 - 2011 Census 2011 Preliminary Report, Central Statistics Office. Retrieved: 2013-06-06.
  2. ↑ "Fethard". Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  3. ↑ http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1284376415-370.pdf
  4. ↑ http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1360756249-371.pdf
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ National Archives press clippings National Archives.
  7. ↑ Love conquers all: but for decades a village paid the price Sunday Mirror, 1999-12-05.
  8. ↑ A Love Divided
  9. ↑ "LOVE CONQUERS ALL; But for decades a village paid the price of – Sunday Mirror – Find Articles at BNET.com".
  10. ↑ "Obituary: Sean Cloney – Independent, The (London) – Find Articles at BNET.com".
  11. ↑ National archives Finding aid: Women in 20th-Century Ireland, 1922–1966 (Browse records)
  12. ↑ The Mayo News – Fethard boycott recalled
  13. ↑ "Religion: Fethardism". Time. 19 August 1957.
  14. 1 2 The return of the revisionists: ThePost.ie
  15. ↑ Catholic League: For Religious and Civil Rights

Sources

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