Duncannon

This article is about the place in Ireland. For the city in the United States, see Duncannon, Pennsylvania.
Duncannon
Dún Canann
Village
Duncannon

Location in Ireland

Coordinates: 52°13′16″N 6°55′55″W / 52.221°N 6.932°W / 52.221; -6.932Coordinates: 52°13′16″N 6°55′55″W / 52.221°N 6.932°W / 52.221; -6.932
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
County County Wexford
Elevation 48 m (157 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Urban 328
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Irish Grid Reference S722093
A sandcastle building contest taking place on the sandy Duncannon beach.
Lighthouse located north of Duncannon near Arthurstown, Ballyhack, An Pasaiste, Passage and Passage East, County Wexford

Duncannon (Irish: Dún Canann)[1] is a village in southwest County Wexford, Ireland. Bordered to the west by Waterford harbour and sitting on a rocky headland jutting into the channel is the strategically prominent Duncannon Fort which dominates the village.

Primarily a fishing village, Duncannon also relies heavily on tourism and is situated on the clearly signposted and very scenic Ring of Hook drive. Duncannon beach, a mile long golden beach, very popular spot with locals and tourists alike and once a blue flag recipient.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Duncannon Fort, which was built in 1588 incorporates a maritime museum, Cockleshell Arts Gallery, Officer's Mess Café and Craft shop and various other Art and Craft outlets and is open daily to visitors 7 days from June to September. Rest of year 5 days Guided tours are available. Duncannon Fort was the location for the opening scenes of the 2002 remake of 'The Count of Monte Cristo', starring Jim Caviezel and Richard Harris.[8]

Transport

Bus Éireann route 370 links Duncannon to New Ross, Waterford and Wellingtonbridge. There are several buses daily except Sundays.[9] The nearest railway station is Waterford railway station, some 22 km distant via the Ballyhack - Passage East ferry.

History

According to legend, the settlement at Duncannon dates back to the time of Fionn mac Cumhaill[10] (pop: Finn McCool) and the Fianna in the 3rd century AD.

Duncannon was of vital strategic importance as its fort commanded the bay giving sea access to Waterford harbour. As a result, it was centrally involved in wars and sieges during the 17th and 18th centuries.

During the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–1652), the fort at Duncannon was initially occupied by English soldiers and used as a base for an attack on nearby Redmond's Hall (now Loftus Hall). During this period it was besieged three times. In 1645, it was taken by an Irish Confederate army under general Thomas Preston. Its English garrison surrendered after lengthy bombardment, during which their second in command Larcan was killed, and a ship, The Great Lewis, trying to bring supplies to the garrison was sunk with the loss of 200 lives (see Siege of Duncannon). During the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Duncannon was besieged again,[11] as part of the Siege of Waterford, firstly in November 1649 by Oliver Cromwell and Michael Jones in 1649. The fort's Irish garrison held out, and the siege was abandoned in December of that year. However in July 1650, Henry Ireton renewed the siege, and the fort and town surrendered after the fall of Waterford, but before their food and supplies had run out.[12]

In 1659 and 1660, Duncannon was the only town to remain openly loyal to Edmund Ludlow after forces loyal to General George Monck took control of Dublin and other towns.[13]

In the Williamite war in Ireland (1689–1691) James II, after his defeat at the battle of the Boyne, embarked at Duncannon for Kinsale and then to exile in France. Later his son in law and enemy William of Orange, marched on its cobblestones as the town and fort surrendered to his army without resistance.[14]

The fort at Duncannon was one of the few places in county Wexford that did not fall to the rebels during the 1798 rebellion though a force sent out from the fort to defend Wexford town was defeated at the battle of Three Rocks. The fort and town then became a sanctuary for fleeing loyalists and troops in south Wexford and was also used as a prison and place of execution for suspected rebels.[15]

Duncannon's strategic importance continued to be recognised throughout the 19th century. Napoleon sought and got intelligence on its strength and weakness, in preparation for a possible invasion of Ireland.[16]

Duncannon fort was used by the FCA (Irish army reserve) as a barracks and training facility until recent years.[16]

Events

There are three festivals of note held in Duncannon every year. On the June Bank Holiday week-end there is an annual Military and Vehicle Re-Enactment.[17] In August there are two festivals. Firstly a Sandsculpting Festival[18] is held on the beach and secondly the Kitesurfing Fesitival.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland
  2. ↑ "EU removes blue flag from Duncannon". An Taisce.
  3. ↑ "Sewage Treatment Plant". New Ross Standard.
  4. ↑ "Duncannon loses blue flag". RTÉ.
  5. ↑ "Duncannon loses blue flag due to poor water quality" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency.
  6. ↑ "Duncannon not up to standard for swimming". Swimmers guide to irish beaches.
  7. ↑ "Duncannon water quality below blue flag standards" (PDF). Wexford County Council review of Duncannon beach.
  8. ↑ "Count of Monte Cristo comes to Duncannon". Wexford People. August 28, 2000.
  9. ↑ http://buseireann.ie/pdf/1284376415-370.pdf
  10. ↑ "Duncannon town history". Duncannon Parish.
  11. ↑ McKeiver
  12. ↑ "A new history of Ireland: Early modern Ireland, 1534-1691". Google Books.
  13. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=VgPmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA303&lpg=PA303&dq=ludlow+duncannon&source=bl&ots=I-D_8FPiW1&sig=tJeYS4fW7DqNck3AubUmrdozVHQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=x_OWVb_cONGy7Qb9j6ioAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=ludlow%20duncannon&f=false
  14. ↑ "William III. of Orange". Library Ireland.
  15. ↑ "About Duncannon Fort". Duncannon Fort.
  16. 1 2 "Fort of Conán". biz-ire.com.
  17. ↑ "Military Re-enactment". Duncannon Fort.
  18. ↑ "Duncannon Sandsculpting Festival". Duncannon Sandscultping Facebook page.
  19. ↑ "Hooked Kitesurfing". Hooked Kitesurfing Facebook page.

External links

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