Finnea

Village in Leinster, Ireland

Finnea

Fiodh an Átha

Village

Finnea village

Finnea

Location in Ireland

Coordinates: 53°46′57″N 7°23′44″W﻿ / ﻿53.78260°N 7.39545°W﻿ / 53.78260; -7.39545
Country| Ireland
Province| Leinster
County| County Westmeath
Elevation

| 66 m (217 ft)
Time zone| UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference| N399816

Finnea (Irish: Fiodh an Átha, meaning 'wood of the ford')[1] is a small village in County Westmeath on the border with County Cavan. It straddles the R394 road, in the northern portion of Ireland.

## Transport[edit]

Bus Éireann route 447 provides a link to Castlepollard, Crookedwood and Mullingar on Thursdays only.[2] The nearest railway station is Edgeworthstown railway station approximately 22 km. distant.

## History[edit]

Inscription on "Slasher" monument

The village is known for its association with Myles "The Slasher" O'Reilly whose monument in the town (pictured) relates how he died on 5 August 1646 defending the Bridge of Finnea against English-Scottish forces. Percy French also mentioned the Bridge of Finnea in his ballad "Come Back Paddy Reilly".

Finnea lies on land between Lough Sheelin and Lough Kinale, and the bridge crosses the River Inny flowing between them.

Finnea is also the birthplace of writer Dermot Healy. Thomas Davis celebrated Finnea with his ballad 'The Flower of Finnea'. Finnea is also known for its scenery, fishing and game shooting which attract many foreign tourists.

Victoria Cross recipient, General Sir Mark Walker, was born in Gore Port, Finnea. He was the brother of Sir Samuel Walker, 1st Baronet, who was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland by Gladstone in 1892.

## Demographics[edit]

The area had a population of 317 in the 2006 Census, a 21.9% increase from the 2002 Census.[citation needed]

## Notable residents[edit]

* General Sir Mark Walker, recipient of the Victoria Cross and his younger brother Sir Samuel Walker, 1st Baronet, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

## Gallery[edit]

* Finnea village, due north

* Painting by Bernard Reynolds of the River Inny at Finnea[3]

## See also[edit]

* List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland
* List of Irish towns with a Market House

## References[edit]

1. ^ A. D. Mills, 2003, A Dictionary of British Place-Names, Oxford University Press
2. ^ "Timetable - Route 447" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
3. ^ A painting of The River Inny on Bernard Reynolds website

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Places in County Westmeath

County town: Mullingar

Towns|

* Athlone
* Kilbeggan
* Kinnegad
* Moate
* Mullingar

Villages|

* Ballinahown
* Ballinalack
* Ballinea
* Ballykeeran
* Ballymore
* Ballynacargy
* Baylin
* Castledaly
* Castlepollard
* Castletown Geoghegan
* Clonmellon
* Collinstown
* Coole
* Coralstown
* Crookedwood
* Dalystown
* Delvin
* Drumcree
* Drumraney
* Dysart
* Finnea
* Fore
* Glassan
* Glencara
* Horseleap
* Killucan and Rathwire
* Loughnavalley
* Meedin
* Milltownpass
* Mount Temple
* Moyvoughly
* Multyfarnham
* Raharney
* Rathconrath
* Rathowen
* Rochfortbridge
* Rosemount
* Shandonagh
* Streamstown
* Street
* Tang
* Tubberclare
* Tyrrellspass

Baronies|

* Brawny
* Clonlonan
* Corkaree
* Delvin
* Farbill
* Fartullagh
* Fore
* Kilkenny West
* Moyashel and Magheradernon
* Moycashel
* Moygoish
* Rathconrath

* List of townlands of County Westmeath
* List of civil parishes of County Westmeath
* Category:Geography of County Westmeath

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