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Gort

Coordinates: 53°03′58″N 8°49′05″W / 53.066°N 8.818°W / 53.066; -8.818
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This article is about the town in Galway. For other uses, see Gort (disambiguation).

Gort
Gort Inse Guaire / An Gort (Irish)
Town
Bridge Street, Gort in 2007.
Bridge Street, Gort in 2007.
Gort is located in Ireland
Gort
Gort
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°03′58″N 8°49′05″W / 53.066°N 8.818°W / 53.066; -8.818
CountryIreland
ProvinceConnacht
CountyCounty Galway
Elevation
43 m (141 ft)
Population
 (2022)[1]
2,870
Time zoneUTC±0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (IST)
Eircode routing key
H91
Telephone area code+353(0)91
Irish Grid ReferenceM451019

Gort (Irish: Gort Inse Guaire or An Gort)[2] is a town of around 2,800 inhabitants in County Galway in the west of Ireland. Located near the border with County Clare, the town lies between the Burren and the Slieve Aughty and is served by the R458 and R460 regional roads, which connect to the M18 motorway.

Etymology

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Gort is short for the complete Irish name, Gort Inse Guaire (gort: a meadow, field, inse: an island, and Guaire: a proper name) and translates to "field of Guaire's island".[3]

History

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Kilmacduagh monastic site, reputedly founded in the 7th century, is approximately 5 km from Gort
Bridge St., Gort c. 1900

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes ringfort, souterrain and holy well sites in the townlands of Gort, Ballyhugh, Cloghnakeava, Cloonnahaha and Lavally.[4] In 2022, a large Bronze Age fort, located in Coole Park near Gort, was dated between 800 and 1200 BCE during archaeological work in the Burren lowlands.[5]

The Guaire in Gort Inse Guaire refers to King Guaire "The Generous" (Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin), the seventh century King of Connacht.[6] Guaire reputedly kept royal residences in Gort on a small island on the Gort river and also built a fort in nearby Kinvara named Dunguaire ("Fort of Guaire" in Irish).[7][8] He was the patron of his first cousin St. Colman MacDuagh (giving him the land for Kilmacduagh monastery)[9][10]

During the Middle Ages the chiefs of Cenél Áeda na hEchtge, the O'Shaughnessys (Ó Seachnasaigh, a clan descended from Guaire Aidhneach), had their principal stronghold in Gort, a castle on the island site which later became a cavalry barracks.[11] The castle, and manor house, were put under siege in 1652 by Cromwellian forces. The structures were taken, burned, and later destroyed.[12]

At the end of the seventeenth century, the O'Shaughnessy lands were confiscated and granted to Sir Thomas Prendergast, 1st Baronet, whose grandson was John Prendergast Smyth, 1st Viscount Gort.[13] The centre of the town was built at this time (the late period in Georgian architecture) according to Lord Gort's plans. It was designed around a large triangular market.[14]

In the 18th and 19th century, the Gort Races took place at the Newtown Course. There were prizes and this was hosted by the local landlords for the "turf loving gentry of both provinces" [Munster and Connacht].[15][16]

There was a large flour mill built along the river in 1806, it was 4 stories tall, with a wooden wheel, and very active. It operated until 1966. It was sold to the Gort Co-operative Mart and destroyed in 1985.[17]

The Great Famine caused hardship and destitution in Gort, with a decrease in the population in the mid-19th century. Many people emigrated to Canada and the United States, while others fell ill and died. In 1841, the town had a population of 3,056, in 1861 the population was 2,097. There was unrest among the population, as well as rampant theft. There were also a number of relief and work schemes in the area. Gort's Fever Hospital, and the adjacent workhouse, were built at this time.[18]

Coole House, Lady Gregory's home, served as a base for the Irish Literary Revival in the late 1800s and early 20th century. There is an "Autograph Tree", still there, that has the carved initials of some of her notable guests: George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Seán O'Casey, Jack B. Yeats, John M. Synge, and Lady Margaret Sackville.[19] W. B. Yeats bought a tower house, Thoor Ballylee, from the Gregorys, restored it, and made it his summer residence in the 1920s. Yeats wrote about the restoration using "smithy work from the Gort forge".[20] Jack B. Yeats painted and drew scenes of everyday life in Gort.[21]

As a barracks town, Gort had a strong presence of Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and Black and Tans during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921). A young woman, Eileen Quinn, was shot dead while holding her infant just outside of the town by the Auxiliary Division of the RIC on 1 November 1920 – in what has been described as "essentially a drive-by shooting".[22][23][24] On November 26 the Loughnane brothers were interrogated in the Gort barracks before being "tied to the tailgate of a lorry and dragged to Drumharsna Castle" and killed by the RIC.[25] The British forces conducted raids, tortured, stole, and terrorised people in Gort and the area. Beatings took place at the Gort barracks.[citation needed] The town also hosted the military court.[citation needed]

Geography

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Gort is in County Galway and lies just north of the border with County Clare. This is on the old Galway to Limerick road (now the R458), and is about halfway between Ennis and Loughrea. It is around 35 kilometres (22 mi) by road from Galway City.

The town straddles the Gort River, a river that "disappears" underground several times between its source and Galway Bay.[26] Gort is in a valley between the exposed limestone region of the Burren, and the peaty hills of the Slieve Aughty.[27][28]

The town is in the historical territory of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne also known as Maigh Aidhne ("the plain of Aidhne"), which is within the diocese of Kilmacduagh (Cill Mhic Dhuach). Gort stands in 3 parishes and 3 townlands, namely Beagh, Kilmacduach and Kiltartan, each in the barony of Kiltartan.[3]

Population

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As of the 2016 census, Gort had around 3,000 inhabitants and was one of the most diverse towns in Ireland, with 26.6% being non-Irish.[34]

According to the 2006 census, approximately 40% of the residents of Gort were non-Irish, mainly Brazilians. These people originally came to work in the meat processing plants in Gort where the pay is generally much higher than in similar plants in Brazil. According to Claire Healy's Irish Migration Studies in Latin America, a "large community of Brazilians now live, work and attend school in Gort, gradually altering the appearance and the character of the town".[35] By the time of the 2011 census, non-Irish nationals accounted for 27.2% of the population. The largest group (417 people) were still Brazilians, followed by UK nationals (81).[36]

Economy

[edit]

Gort was once an agricultural market town.[37] As of the 21st century, it is home to a Lidl, an Aldi, and a Supervalu. It was one of the worst affected towns in Ireland in the post-2008 recession. According to a 2019 Irish Times article, "[b]etween 2006 and 2011, it lost 400 jobs and 14 per cent of its population. Jobs were lost with the closure of Duffy Meats, a factory in which many Brazilians had been working, and also when the construction industry imploded".[37]

Gort Co-operative Mart was founded in 1962, operated in the town until 1996, when it moved 2.5 kilometres out of the centre. As of 2020, approximately 16,500 cattle and 7,000 sheep "passed through its gate with a €15.6 million turnover".[38]

There are three factories in town: counter fabricator Top Form, electronics maker Lisk, and medical device maker Natus.[39][40][41]

In December 2022, An Bord Pleanála overturned a Galway County Council planning decision and permission was granted for a biogas plant near the town.[42][43] As of August 2023, a challenge against this decision was being heard by the High Court.[44]

Tourism

[edit]
Stable yard and visitor centre of Coole Park

According to a 2019 Irish Times article, local business people saw tourism as an important sector to expand in the town.[37] Gort has a number of bars and restaurants, and guest accommodation.[45] The websites of Fáilte Ireland and the "Burren Lowlands" destination marketing group, list nearby tourist destinations as The Burren, Coole Park Visitor Centre & Gardens, Kilmacduagh cathedral churches and round tower, Thoor Ballylee, and Kiltartan Gregory Museum.[45][46]

Culture

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A number of the town's cultural organisations are grouped under an umbrella organisation, the Gorgeous Gort Forum.[47] The Wild Swans Theatre Company is a local group of actors which put on plays in St. Colman's Hall.[48][49] The Cooley Collins Festival is a traditional Irish music event that takes place at the end of October.[50] There is a museum dedicated to Lady Gregory, Kiltartan Gregory Museum, in an old schoolhouse.[51] The Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society keeps Yeat's 15th century tower house open with events, a studio, and tours.[52] Guaire Magazine is a magazine on local history and culture, it dates back to the mid-1970s.[53] Since 1981, the town hosts the annual Gort and District Show, a community event which awards prizes in a number of categories from photography and crafts, to flowers and ponies.[54][55] There is a Gort Arts Collective of 40 plus regional artists which organised a small St. Brigid's Day festival in 2023.[56]

Places of interest

[edit]
Buildings in the Market Square of Gort dating to c. 1800.
Lough Cutra Castle

Gort has a number of buildings of architectural interest, being a well preserved planned Georgian period market town.[14]

There is a mid-19th century Weigh House in the centre of the old square, as well as a 1933 marble sculpture of Christ the King by the Irish sculptor Albert Power.[57] The town hall is a former 19th century school which is now used for community theatre. There is a large Catholic church, St. Colman's Church (built 1825),[58] with a public park, Canon Quinn Park, behind. The old Church of Ireland church, built c. 1820, is now the public library.[59] The Gort River Walk, opened a 3 km looped walking trail along the Gort River with a new bridge in October 2022.[60]

Next to the river and the original bridge (constructed in 1771) is Bridge House, the original residence of Lord Gort before the move to Lough Cutra Castle. This house, dated around 1770,[61] has since been added to and was a Sisters of Mercy convent from 1857 until 2022,[62] with a primary school on the grounds.[63] As of 2022 it houses Ukrainian refugees.[64]

Sports

[edit]

Gort GAA club was founded in 1884 and is primarily dedicated to its hurling team.[65][66] The town also has a rugby club, the Gort Gladiators, and two football (soccer) teams, Coole Football Club and Gort United Football Club.[67][68] There is also the Gort Golf Club.[69]

Cliona D'Arcy, of Gort, won the heavyweight gold medal at the 2022 IBA Youth World Boxing Championships, becoming the first Irish woman to do so.[70][71]

Transport

[edit]

Motorway

[edit]

Gort is accessible from the M18 motorway from Shannon to Galway, at Junction 16. The M18 ends at junction 18 of the M6 motorway. The road continues northbound as the M17 towards Tuam and Sligo. The segment from Ennis to Gort of the M18 motorway bypass of the town was officially opened on 12 November 2010. This was followed by the Gort to Tuam section which opened on 27 September 2017.[72]

Rail

[edit]

Gort railway station opened on 15 September 1869 and was closed for goods traffic on 3 November 1975 and for passenger traffic on 5 April 1976.[73] It was reopened in 2010 as part of the Western Railway Corridor project.[74][75]

Gort rail services are on the Galway to Limerick route with connections to Cork and Tralee from Limerick station and to Dublin via Athenry and Galway.[76][77]

Bus

[edit]

Gort is served by Bus Éireann routes 51 (north to Galway and south to Shannon and Limerick), 434 (to Galway), and Local Link Galway line 934 (to Loughrea).[78][79][80]

Education

[edit]

The secondary school Gort Community School, founded in 1995, has more than 800 students, and serves a large area of south County Galway.[81][82] The school facilities include a GAA pitch, rugby union pitch, football pitch, and canteen. The school's sports teams include hurling, rugby, soccer and swimming.[83][better source needed]

Notable people

[edit]
Thoor Ballylee, near Gort, was restored and used as a summer home by W. B. Yeats
[edit]

A 2018 documentary film, Town of Strangers, was made by Dr. Treasa O’Brien on Gort's immigrants "who have helped make that town such a cosmopolitan hub".[84][85]

Local director Keith Walsh and producer Jill Beardsworth made the film When All is Ruin Once Again, a "highly personal documentary essay" shot in, and about, Gort and neighbouring village Crusheen, in 2018. It won several awards and was considered in an RTE review to be a "masterpiece of cinema" and "beautiful but philosophically shaky" by The Irish Times.[86][87]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Bermingham Scully, Pauline (2017). South Galway Stories: Volume 1. Athenry [Ireland]: Book Hub Publishing.
  • De Lourdes Fahy, Mary (2004). Kiltartan: Many Leaves One Root - a history of the parish of Kiltartan. Kiltartan Gregory Museum. ISBN 9780954777500.
  • Hanley, Mary (1995). Thoor Ballylee home of William Butler Yeats. Liam Miller (3d ed., rev ed.). Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire [Great Britain]: Colin Smythe Limited. ISBN 0-85105-511-7.

References

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Profile 1 - Population Distribution and Movement F1015 - Population: Gort, Co. Galway". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  2. ^ "An Gort / Gort". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "People and Places of Galway". places.galwaylibrary.ie. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  4. ^ Gosling, Paul, ed. (1993). Archaeological inventory of County Galway. Dublin: Government Stationery Office.
  5. ^ Magnier, Eileen (19 June 2022). "Fortress dating back to 800-1200BC an "incredible find"". rte.ie.
  6. ^ Ó Conaire, Peadar (1978). "Guaire's Generosity" (PDF). Guaire Magazine (1): 10.
  7. ^ Fahey 1893, p. 174.
  8. ^ Grey & McNamara 2000, p. 53.
  9. ^ Grey & McNamara 2000, p. 55.
  10. ^ "Kilmacduagh | Monastic Ireland". Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  11. ^ Fahey 1893.
  12. ^ Ryan, Anne (1989–1990). "Gort Inse Guaire, a Royal Residence in South Galway". Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. 42: 143–150 – via JSTOR.
  13. ^ Grey & McNamara 2000, pp. 96–98.
  14. ^ a b Grey & McNamara 2000, p. 116.
  15. ^ "Gort Races". Finns Leinster Journal. 6 August 1774. p. 6.
  16. ^ "Gort Races – Newtown Course". Freemans Journal. 9 September 1856. p. 3.
  17. ^ "Old mill was dangerous say Co-op in row on demolition". Connacht Tribune. 1 March 1985. p. 1.
  18. ^ Grey & McNamara 2000, pp. 136–166.
  19. ^ O'Gorman, Ronnie. "The names on the Autograph Tree at Coole". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  20. ^ Felton, R. Todd (2007). A journey into Ireland's literary revival. Berkeley, CA: Roaring Forties Press. ISBN 978-0-9823410-4-9. OCLC 427511039.
  21. ^ "Now you can own a Jack B Yeats for €200". independent. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Eileen Quinn". www.lawsociety.ie. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Eileen Quinn". www.lawsociety.ie. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Sordid murder of hurling brothers still resonates in south Galway". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  25. ^ "One of most powerful images of War of Independence". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Karst Features of Ireland: Gort River". Show Caves of the World. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  27. ^ Cunningham, George (1998). Exploring the Burren. Dublin. ISBN 0-946172-59-5. OCLC 40251870.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  28. ^ "aughty.org - history/heritage". aughty.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  29. ^ "Census for post 1821 figures". Archived from the original on 9 March 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  30. ^ "histpop.org". Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  31. ^ "Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency – Census Home Page". Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
  32. ^ Lee, J. J. (1981). "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses". In Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A. (eds.). Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
  33. ^ Mokyr, Joel; Ó Gráda, Cormac (November 1984). "New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850". The Economic History Review. 37 (4): 473–488. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x. hdl:10197/1406. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012.
  34. ^ "All non-Irish nationals in Ireland - CSO - Central Statistics Office". www.cso.ie. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  35. ^ Healy, Claire (July 2006). "Carnaval do Galway: The Brazilian Community in Gort, 1999–2006". Irish Migration Studies in Latin America. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007 – via irlandeses.org.
  36. ^ "Area Profile For Town - Gort Co. Galway". census.cso.ie. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  37. ^ a b c Boland 2019.
  38. ^ Halpin, Conor (17 March 2021). "Bernie Fahey on her journey to becoming Gort Mart's manager". thatsfarming.com. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  39. ^ "Topform Limited named Overall Winner at the National Small Business Awards 2021 - SFA". www.ibec.ie. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  40. ^ Cahill, Fiona; Limited, Dreamglade (4 April 2022). "Workers At LISK In Gort Begin Campaign Of Industrial Action". Clare FM. Retrieved 4 November 2023. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  41. ^ "Medical devices maker Natus grows in Gort, plans to expand work force to 200". Independent.ie. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  42. ^ "Anger over granting of permission for biogas facility in Gort". Galway Bay FM. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  43. ^ Corr, Shauna (22 November 2021). "Galway town's desperate plea to save area from biogas plant with flame stack 'higher than church spire'". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  44. ^ "Court challenge launched against planned biogas plant in 'ecologically sensitive' part of Galway". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  45. ^ a b "Explore Gort in County Galway". Discover Ireland. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  46. ^ "The Burren Lowlands". The Burren Lowlands. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  47. ^ "Gort set for transformation under regeneration plans". connachttribune.ie. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  48. ^ McMahon, Paraic (28 May 2020). "Gort priest finding new ways of engaging with congregation". Clare Echo. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  49. ^ "Gort's Wild Swans take their wake to the stage". Galway Advertiser. 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  50. ^ "Trad festival aims to break world record". connachttribune.ie. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  51. ^ "Sir William Gregory was detested for his role during the Irish Famine". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  52. ^ Corbett, Kevin (11 April 2022). "Thoor Ballylea to reopen on East Saturday". The Clare Champion. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  53. ^ "Archives". Guaire Magazine - Gort, Co. Galway, Ireland. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  54. ^ "Gort & District Show". Irish Shows Association. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  55. ^ "Gort show gets bigger and better". Galway Advertiser. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  56. ^ Corbett, Kevin (2 February 2023). "Gort to celebrate St Brigid's bank holiday with arts events". The Clare Champion. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  57. ^ "Críost Rí, Market Square, BALLYHUGH, Gort, GALWAY". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  58. ^ "Saint Colman's Church, Market Square, Church Road, Ballyhugh, Gort, Galway". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  59. ^ "Gort Library, Church Road, Ballyhugh, Gort, Galway". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  60. ^ "Major Gort amenity to officially open today". connachttribune.ie. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  61. ^ Grey & McNamara 2000, pp. 117.
  62. ^ Corrigan, Stephen. "Mercy Convent is home to 48 refugees – as nuns depart after 140 years". connachttribune.ie. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  63. ^ "Sisters of Mercy Convent, Bridge Street, Queen Street, Ballyhugh, Gort, Galway". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  64. ^ "New Foundations | Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy". sistersofmercy.ie. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  65. ^ "Galway club crux resolved after Thomas' gesture to Gort". RTÉ.ie. 14 November 2021.
  66. ^ "Gort end their long wait in style". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  67. ^ "Gladiator spirit gives historic club fighting chance". independent. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  68. ^ "FAI Club Map | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  69. ^ "Gort Golf Club Launches Its Summer Golf Classic". Galway Bay FM. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  70. ^ "Cliona D'Arcy: World Youth Heavyweight Champion". iaba.ie. Irish Athletic Boxing Association. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  71. ^ "Cliona D'Arcy wins heavyweight gold medal at World Youth Championships". independent. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  72. ^ "Opening of Gort-Tuam motorway unlocks opportunity for effective regional economic growth". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  73. ^ "Gort station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
  74. ^ "Western Railway Corridor Project, Ireland". Railway Technology. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  75. ^ "Western rail corridor set to reopen". Irish Examiner. 25 April 2005. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  76. ^ "Train Timetables by Station". Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  77. ^ "Timetable: Galway Limerick Cork Tralee" (PDF). Irish Rail. November 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2019.
  78. ^ "Timetable - Expressway - Route 51" (PDF). buseireann.ie.
  79. ^ "Timetable - Route 434" (PDF). buseireann.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  80. ^ "Route 934 - Gort to Loughrea". Local Link Galway. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  81. ^ "Gort Community School, Gort, Co. Galway | The Irish Times Feeder Schools". www.irishtimes.com. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  82. ^ "History Of Gort CS | Gort Community School". 28 March 2016. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  83. ^ School website
  84. ^ "Gort film Town of Strangers is a fascinating hybrid of fact and fiction". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  85. ^ O'Brien, Treasa (14 July 2018), Town of Strangers (Documentary, Western), Stinging Hornet Films, Wildfire Films, retrieved 16 November 2022{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  86. ^ Kehoe, Paddy (16 April 2020). "When All is Ruin Once Again: A poignant warning note". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  87. ^ "When All Is Ruin Once Again: Celebration of a simpler Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 May 2023.

Sources

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