Castletown-Geoghegan
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| Castletown-Geoghegan Baile Chaisleain Mhic Eochagain |
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WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
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| Irish grid reference N337442 |
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| Province: | Leinster | |
| County: | County Westmeath | |
| Elevation: | 95m | |
| Population (2006) | 671 | |
Castletown-Geoghegan (Irish: Baile Chaisleáin Mhic Eoghagáin) is a small town situated south west of Lough Ennell and south of Mullingar, in County Westmeath, Ireland. Originally named simply "Castletown", the town's current name reflects the influence of the MacEochagáin (Geoghegan) sept through the 16th and 17th centuries.
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[edit] History
The history of the Castletown area reaches back beyond to the late Stone Age when elementary tilling and farming methods were applied on the fertile high ground of the lake county.[citation needed]
A major sept in the area, the MacEochagáins or Geoghegans give their name to the town, and are said to have descended from Fiacha, son of Niall Noigíallach. (Better known as Niall of the Nine Hostages, Niall is said to have taken Saint Patrick to Ireland.)
The descendants of Niall's son Fiacha (Fiachu Fiachrach) were collectively known as Cenel Fhiachaigh. This was anglicised as Kenaleagh or Kenalea. It is by this name that the Geoghegan territory was known up until Elizabethan times. Later the area became the "Barony of Moycashel". The Moycashel name was taken from one of the principal Geoghegan castles which has since disappeared.[citation needed]
Other chieftains of the area included the O'Melaghlin, Molloy, Kearney (Fox), and Brennan families. The Fox's and the O'Melaghlins in particular figure in the Annals from the 6th century onwards.[1]
Other descendants from Niall occupying the surrounding area were the Terrells, Ffertullagh. On the north side situated was the Daltons' country, and O'Melaghlins' country, to the west, between Geoghegan's territory and Athlone was Dillons' country.[citation needed]
[edit] Sport
The most popular local sports are gaelic football and hurling. The Castletown-Geoghegan Hurling Club wears black and amber (yellow).
 Castletown-Geoghegan sign |
 Castletown-Geoghegan & Lough Ennell |
 Castletown-Geoghegan GAA colours |
