Dunmore Dún Mór
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Town | |
Castle Street
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Location in Ireland | |
Coordinates: 53°37′00″N 8°44′00″W / 53.6167°N 8.7333°WCoordinates: 53°37′00″N 8°44′00″W / 53.6167°N 8.7333°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Connacht |
County | County Galway |
Elevation | 75 m (246 ft) |
Population (2002) | |
• Urban | 594 |
Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
• Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
Irish Grid Reference | M515632 |
Dunmore (Irish: Dún Mór) is a village in County Galway, Ireland. It is located on the N83 national secondary road at its junction with the R328 and R360 regional roads.
The town was once part of a district called Conmaicne, also known as Conmaicne Dúna Móir. It was also known as Conmaicne Cenél Dubáin, after its ruling kindred.
The area came under the rule of the Uí Conchobair in the 12th century, and was for a while the capital of the king of Connacht, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, who died there in 1156.
Until the early 1980s, the N83 through Dunmore was on the main road from Sligo to Galway City. Improvements to the N17 route through Knock and Claremorris reduced the amount of traffic on the N83.
Dunmore Castle The imposing ruins of Dunmore castle tower above the rolling fields of north Galway. Situated on a small hillock, the first castle at this site was built by the Anglo-Norman de-Birmingham family in the early 13th century. Designed as a bulwark against the native Irish, the castle was soon called into service. In 1249 Dunmore was attacked and burned by the O’Connor’s, while in 1284 it was besieged by the forces of Fichra O’ Flynn. In 1315 it was once more the scene of conflict when an army, led by Rory Connor, attacked and damaged the fortress.
Dunmore is twinned with the village of Querrien in France.