Ballymore Eustace
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Ballymore Eustace An Baile Mór
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Ballymore Eustace town square
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 Ballymore Eustace
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| Coordinates: 53°08′01″N 6°36′52″W / 53.13373°N 6.61438°WCoordinates: 53°08′01″N 6°36′52″W / 53.13373°N 6.61438°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Kildare |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Urban | 872 |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
| Irish Grid Reference | N924094 |
Ballymore Eustace (An Baile Mór in Irish) is a small town situated in County Kildare in Ireland, although until 1836 it lay within a "pocket" of County Dublin. It lies close to the border with County Wicklow.
The town's name, which is frequently shortened to "Ballymore" in everyday usage, derives from the Irish An Baile Mór ("the big town") with the addition – to distinguish it from several other Ballymores in Ireland – of the family name (Fitz)Eustace. A fuller version of the town's official name in Irish is Baile Mór na nIústasach ("the parish that gave rise to the Horse").
Ballymore Eustace is located at the junction of the R411 and R413 regional roads, on the River Liffey, over which the R411 is carried by a relatively rare seven-arch bridge. It had a population of 872 at the 2011 census. The town is served by Dublin Bus, with route number 65, four times daily, at irregular intervals.
Ballymore Eustace in the 13th century – at the time simply known as Ballymore – was the site of a castle, which in 1244 was granted an eight-day fair to be held on site by Henry III. The upkeep of the castle was given to Thomas Fitzoliver FitzEustace as constable in 1373, whose family name came to be associated with the town, lending it its present name. Several of Thomas' descendants also held the office of Constable, including his grandson Sir Richard FitzEustace ( appointed 1414 ) and his great-grandson Sir Robert FitzEustace ( appointed 1445). No trace of the castle exists today, but the importance of Ballymore is emphasised by the fact that Parliament was held there in 1389. It was a border town of "the Pale", giving it strategic importance in the area, but also leading to its raiding by local families.
The first reference to a church is in 1192, but the existence of two High Crosses in St. John's Graveyard indicates pre-Norman church site.
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Wikipedia