Athleague

Athleague Áth Liag
Town
Athleague
Athleague Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°34′01″N 8°15′11″W / 53.567°N 8.253°WCoordinates: 53°34′01″N 8°15′11″W / 53.567°N 8.253°W
Country	Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	County Roscommon
Elevation	52 m (171 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
• Total	900
Irish Grid Reference	M826577

Athleague (Irish: Áth Liag (na Sioca), meaning "ford of the flagstones")^[2] is a town and a parish in the Diocese of Elphin on the River Suck in the west of Ireland in County Roscommon, near the town of Roscommon.

Its church was founded sometime around 500 by Maenucan Atha Liacc ('Maonagán of Athleague'). The name is derived from Áth Liag ('the ford of the flagstones'), indicating its importance as a major crossing point between the kingdoms of the Uí Maine and Uí Briúin

It is on the junction of the N63 national route and the R357 regional road. The town has a mill and a restored church. The church is the local parish for the surrounding towns. It is mentioned a number of times in the Annals of Connacht, the Annals of Lough Cé and the Annals of the Four Masters.

Cemetery

There were two graveyards in the parish of Athleague, one in the townland of Coolaspaddaun and one in that of Monasternalea. Monasternalea is sometimes referred to as Abbeygrey.

Notable people

• James Curley, Irish-American astronomer
• Thomas Curley, American politician^[3]

Townlands served by Athleague parish

The parish serves the townlands in County Galway that abut with County Roscommon.

• Coalpits in County Galway
• Coolaspaddaun with its cemetery
• Hollygrove in County Galway
• Monasternalea with its cemetery

Annalistic references

From the Annals of Inisfallen

• AI993.2 A naval raid by Brian, and he reached Breifne from Loch Rí by way of Áth Liac northwards.

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

External links

• Athleague parish records of birth, marriages and deaths at the National Library of Ireland

References

1. "Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. April 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
2. "Placenames Database of Ireland". Government of Ireland. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
3. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1883,' Biographical Sketch of Thomas Curley, pg. 487