Gorey

Town in County Wexford, Ireland

This article is about the town in Ireland. For other uses, see Gorey (disambiguation).

Town in Leinster, Ireland

Gorey

Guaire

Town

Main Street

Coat of arms

Gorey

Location in Ireland

Coordinates: 52°40′37″N 6°17′31″W﻿ / ﻿52.677°N 6.292°W﻿ / 52.677; -6.292
Country| Ireland
Province| Leinster
County| County Wexford
Elevation

| 48 m (157 ft)
Population

(2022)[1]

| 11,517
Time zone| UTC±0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+1 (IST)
Eircode routing key|

Y25

Telephone area code| +353(0)53
Irish Grid Reference| T151598

Gorey (Irish: Guaire)[2] is a market town in north County Wexford, Ireland. It is bypassed by the main M11 Dublin to Wexford road. The town is also connected to the railway network along the same route. Local newspapers include the Gorey Guardian.

As a growing commuter town to Dublin for some residents,[3] there has been an increase in population in the early 21st century.[4] Between 1996 and 2002, the population of the surrounding district grew by 23%,[5] and the town itself almost trebled in population (from 3,939 to 11,517 inhabitants) in the period between the 1996 and 2022 census.[6][1]

## Name

[edit]

While the town and parish were sometimes historically known as Kilmichaelogue (Irish: Cill Mhocheallóg, meaning 'church of Mocheallóg'),[7][8] the town's modern English name may derive from the Irish Gabhraighe, meaning a "a place abounding in goats".[9]

The town was granted a charter as a borough in 1619, under the name Newborough.[10] However, as noted in A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (published in 1837 by Samuel Lewis) and in Wexford Guide and Directory (published by George Henry Bassett in 1885), this name "never [grew] into general use" as the "inhabitants did not take kindly to the name chosen for the town".[11][12]

## History

[edit]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±%

|
|

1821| 2,132| —
1831| 3,944| +85.0%
1841| 3,365| −14.7%
1851| 2,972| −11.7%
1861| 2,673| −10.1%
1871| 2,639| −1.3%
1881| 2,450| −7.2%
1891| 2,213| −9.7%
1901| 2,178| −1.6%
1911| 2,339| +7.4%
1926| 2,296| −1.8%
1936| 2,323| +1.2%
1946| 2,687| +15.7%
1951| 2,889| +7.5%
1956| 2,816| −2.5%
1961| 2,671| −5.1%
1966| 2,858| +7.0%
1971| 3,024| +5.8%
1981| 3,554| +17.5%
1986| 3,884| +9.3%
1991| 3,850| −0.9%
1996| 3,939| +2.3%
2002| 5,282| +34.1%
2006| 7,293| +38.1%
2011| 9,114| +25.0%
2016| 9,822| +7.8%
2022| 11,517| +17.3%
[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][1]

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of standing stone, fulacht fiadh, burnt mound, holy well and ringfort sites in the townlands of Gorey Hill, Gorey Corporation Lands and Ramstown Lower.[20][21]

Among the earliest written recordings relating to Gorey are Norman records from 1296 which refer to an existing town on the site.[22][10] Several centuries later, in 1619, the town was granted a charter as a borough, under the name Newborough.[10] The borough charter had been obtained by the then Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, Thomas Ram (1564–1634).[12]

As the principal local landlords, the Ram family laid-out the town as a "planned town" in the early 17th century.[23] Together with several other developments in the area, the Ram family also built a large estate to the north of the town.[24] The manor house of this estate, Ramsfort, was burned following the Irish Rebellion of 1641, and again during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.[11][12][24] Ramsfort house was rebuilt in the 19th century to designs attributed to architect Daniel Robertson.[25]

In addition to Gorey's 18th century market house,[26] many of the larger buildings within the town itself date to the mid-19th century. These include Gorey railway station which dates to 1863,[27] the Church of Ireland church (Kilmakilloge) dating to 1861,[28] and the Roman Catholic church (dedicated to Saint Michael) completed in 1843.[29] Gorey was the centre of several conflicts during the 1798 Rebellion, and a memorial to these events was erected in the town in the rebellion's centenary year (1898).[30]

The parents of Jim Bolger, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, emigrated from Gorey in the 1930s.[31]

## Amenities

[edit]

Esmonde Street

Courtown Harbour or Courtown, a small holiday resort used by weekend visitors from Dublin, is situated 6 km (3.7 mi) east of Gorey.

The town marked the 150th anniversary of the consecration of Christ Church (Kilmakilloge) in 2011.[32] The church, which was completed in 1861, was designed by James Welland, one of the provincial architects of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of the Church of Ireland.[28] Its stained glass windows were designed by Harry Clarke and Catherine O'Brien.[33]

## Sport

[edit]

Naomh Éanna GAA was founded in 1970 by a group of Christian Brothers. Naomh Éanna's club ground is called Pairc uí Síochain located at the top of Clonattin Gorey, County Wexford. Naomh Éanna won their first senior hurling county title in 2018.[34]

There are also two soccer clubs located in the town: Gorey Rangers and Gorey Celtic. Gorey Rangers are located at The Showgrounds and Ramstown, while Gorey Celtic are located in Mullaunfin Creagh on the outskirts of the town.[citation needed]

Gorey Rugby Club is located at Clonattin. Former players include Nick Popplewell and Robin Copeland.[citation needed]

Shops on Gorey Main Street, c.1920s

## Education

[edit]

Gorey's largest secondary school, Gorey Community School has over 1,500 students.[35] In 2011 another post-primary school, Creagh College, opened to accommodate Gorey's increased population of secondary school students. Then, in 2021 an Educate Together Secondary School opened to accommodate more second-level students. Five local primary schools, Gorey Educate Together National School, Gorey Loreto Primary, Saint Joseph's Primary, Gorey Central School and Gaelscoil Moshíológ Guaire feed the secondary schools in Gorey, as do a number of schools in the surrounding area. Gorey School of Art is Post Leaving Certificate school for the arts.[36]

The library in Gorey opened its doors in 2011 - after a decade of plans to build it.[37]

## Transport

[edit]

Gorey railway station opened on 16 November 1863.[38] It is located on the Dublin to Rosslare Europort line, and is served by a total of 12 trains per weekday.

The town lies on the N11 road route (Dublin-to-Rosslare) and, until a by-pass was opened in June 2007, local traffic congestion was an issue. The by-pass is a 23-kilometre-long high standard dual carriageway and was upgraded to motorway status in August 2009.[citation needed]

Several bus services serve Gorey, with most serving the Main Street's two opposing bus stops. Bus Éireann's Expressway route 2 links the town with Dublin Airport, Dublin and Wexford.[39] Bus Éireann also operates route 379 between Gorey, Ballycanew and Wexford on Mondays and Saturdays only.

Wexford Bus's route 740 links Gorey with Wexford, Dublin and Dublin Airport.[40] The company's route 740A also provides a service to Dublin Airport via Arklow and Wicklow. Route UM11 is operated by Wexford Bus between Gorey and Maynooth University during term time for students. It also operates route 389 under the TFI Local Link brand.[citation needed]

Gorey Bus Links operates route 879 from Gorey Shopping Centre, linking Gorey with Ballycanew, Ballygarrett and Courtown.[41] Dunnes Coaches operates route IW07 between Gorey's Main Street and Carlow College via Camolin.[42]

## Media and entertainment

[edit]

The Gorey Guardian is the local newspaper.[43]

Gorey has had a local theatre group since the 1950s, which hosts a number of performances annually from its 300-seat auditorium.[44]

Gorey Musical Society has one production a year, and its 2007 staging of Oklahoma! received the 'Best Overall Show' award at the Association of Irish Musical Societies awards in Killarney.[45]

Gorey Choral Group, a mixed-voice choir founded in the 1970s, has participated in a number of contests and won the first plan in the jazz and popular music section of the 2016 Cork International Choral Festival.[46]

For 15 years during the 1970s and early 1980s, the Gorey Arts Festival, organised by local artist Paul Funge, was held in the town during the summer.[47] Performers at the festival included U2, Horslips, Chris de Burgh, Christy Moore, Planxty, Makem and Clancy, Niall Tóibín and Eamon Morrissey.[48][49]

Every year, varying from late July to early August, Gorey's main street closes over several days for the Market House Festival.[50]

There are a number of pubs, bars, and nightclub in the town. A seven-screen cinema is located on the Courtown road.[51]

## People

[edit]

See also: Category:People from Gorey

* Jim Bolger, 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand; parents were born in Gorey[31][52]
* Paul Boyle, Connacht and Ireland rugby union player[53]
* Billy Byrne, former hurler and All-Ireland winner[54]
* Robin Copeland, Munster, Connacht and Ireland rugby union player[55]
* Ger Cushe, former hurler and All-Ireland winner
* Michael W. D'Arcy, politician[56]
* James Godkin, author and journalist[57]
* Herbert F. Hore, historian, author and archaeologist[citation needed]
* Conor McDonald, hurler[58]
* Darragh McDonald, former paralympic gold medalist in swimming[59]
* Colm O'Gorman, director of Amnesty International Ireland[60]
* Alanna O'Kelly, artist, born in Gorey[61]
* Aisling O'Neill, actress, lives in Gorey[62]

## Town twinning

[edit]

Gorey is twinned with Oban in Scotland.[63]

## See also

[edit]

* List of towns and villages in Ireland
* Market Houses in Ireland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Census 2022 - F1015 Population". Central Statistics Office Census 2022 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. August 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
2. ^ "Guaire / Gorey (see scanned records)". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
3. ^ "Nearly 2,500 people commute to Dublin every day for work". Gorey Guardian. Independent News & Media. 9 September 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017. "Thousands commute into Dublin city from Gorey each day"
4. ^ "North Wexford shows largest population growth in county". Enniscorthy Guardian. 27 July 2006. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017. "[P]opulation growth in the entire Gorey electoral area surpassed all other areas in the county, and was more than twice the average growth rate for the county as a whole"
5. ^ McDonald, Frank. "An overdeveloped vision". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2007. "Wexford County Council's plan for Gorey is riddled with contradictions"
6. ^ "Gorey (Ireland) Agglomeration". City Population. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
7. ^ "Guaire / Gorey (scanned record - SÓD)". Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 15 November 2024 - via logainm.ie. "Dubhairt an Donnoabhánach gur abé Cill Mocheallóg an ainm chaert ar an áit, ach anois is baolach go caithfimíd bethth sásta le "Guaire""
8. ^ Hogan, Edmund (1910). Onomasticon Goedelicum. locorum et tribuum Hiberniae et Scotiae - An index, with identifications, to the Gaelic names of places and tribes. Dublin - via ucc.ie. "c. mochellóig [..] old name of Gorey, c. Wex."`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
9. ^ "Guaire / Gorey (scanned record - OSNB)". Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 15 November 2024 - via logainm.ie. "OSNB [Ordnance Survey Name Books] "seems to be Irish and to denote gaḃraiġe, a place abounding in goats : but no ancient Irish authority has been yet discovered for the old spelling of the name""
10. ^ a b c Furlong, Nicholas (2003). A History of County Wexford: A comprehensive study of Wexford's history, culture and people. Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 9780717165407.
11. ^ a b Lewis, Samuel, ed. (1837). "Gorey". A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Lewis - via libraryireland.com.
12. ^ a b c Bassett, George Henry (1885). "Wexford County Guide and Directory". Sealy, Bryers & Walker. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
13. ^ "Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports. Central Statistics Office. April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
14. ^ "Census for post 1821 figures". Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
15. ^ "Histpop - The Online Historical Population Reports Website". Histpop.org. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
16. ^ "Census of Population". Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
17. ^ 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.
18. ^ 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 2012.473-488&rft.date=1984-11&rft_id=info:hdl/10197/1406&rft_id=info:doi/10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x&rft.aulast=Mokyr&rft.aufirst=Joel&rft.au=Ó+Gráda,+Cormac&rft_id=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Gorey" class="Z3988">
19. ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Gorey". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
20. ^ Bailey, F. (2013), Final report on archaeological excavations at Gorey Corporation Lands and Ramstown Lower, Co. Wexford. Licence No. 12E0306, Irish Archaeological Consultancy
21. ^ Moore, Michael, ed. (1996). Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford. Dublin: Government Stationery Office. ISBN 070762326X.
22. ^ Hore, Philip Herbert (1911). History of the Town and County of Wexford, Volume 6. London: Elliot Stock. p. 609. "Gorey [..] A small town in the north of the County [..] A place of goats. See Joyce [..] That there was a town or community here as early as 1296 is shown by a Return [..] "From the community of the town (Ville) of Gory, 13s" [..] Gorey, spelt Gory"
23. ^ "NMS mapping data - WX007-033
-" - via heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com. "WX007-033
- [..] Historic town : Gorey Corporation Lands [..] There may have been a settlement at Gorey in the thirteenth century as a payment of 13 shillings was made by 'the communityh of the town (ville) of Gorey' in 1296, but nothing further is known until the 17th century when Gorey emerges a planned town, part of the early 17-century plantation of north county Wexford"
24. ^ a b "Back to his roots". Gorey Guardian. Independent News & Media. 8 April 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
25. ^ "Ramsfort, Gorey, Co. Wexford". Architecture of Wexford. archiseek.com. 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
26. ^ "Gorey Market House, Main Street, Gorey, County Wexford". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 9 May 2020.
27. ^ "Gorey Railway Station, Gorey, County Wexford". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 9 May 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
28. ^ a b "Christ Church (Kilmakilloge), Main Street, Gorey, County Wexford". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 9 May 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
29. ^ "Catholic Church of Saint Michael, Saint Michael's Road, Gorey, County Wexford". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 9 May 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
30. ^ "1798 Monument, McCurtain Street, Gorey, County Wexford". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 9 May 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
31. ^ a b Shand, Greg (16 December 1985). "The Bolger challenge". Auckland Star. p. B1.
32. ^ "Historian delivers talk on history of churches". Gorey Guardian. Independent News & Media. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
33. ^ "Church of Ireland Notes". Irish Times. 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2017 - via Ireland.anglican.org.
34. ^ "First-time finalists Naomh Éanna claim historic first Wexford senior crown". rte.ie. RTÉ Sport. 21 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
35. ^ "Gorey Community School". www.education.ie. Department of Education. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
36. ^ "As pretty as a picture". Gorey Guardian. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018 - via PressReader.
37. ^ "Readers Paradise at New Library". Gorey Guardian. Independent News & Media. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
38. ^ "Gorey station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
39. ^ "Bus Éireann 2 Timetable" (PDF).
40. ^ "Wexford-Dublin Airport Express". Wexford Bus. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
41. ^ "Home". Gorey Bus Links. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
42. ^ "Gorey to IT Carlow". Dunnes Coaches. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
43. ^ Ireton, Robbie. "Massive dangerous leaves". Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
44. ^ "Little Theatre News - About Us". Gorey Little Theatre. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017. "Gorey Little Theatre Group has been running strong since the 1950s [..with a..] 300+ seater auditorium today"
45. ^ The 2008 production of South Pacific was complemented by the performance of Garreth Kinsella, a Transition Year student in G.C.S. "Association of Irish Musical Societies". Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
46. ^ "Top honours at Cork Festival for Gorey Choral Group". Gorey Guardian. Independent News & Media. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
47. ^ "Wexford artist Paul Funge dies aged 67". Irish Times. 22 February 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
48. ^ "Sadness at death of man who brought U2 to Gorey". Gorey Guardian. Independent News & Media. 22 February 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
49. ^ "The day U2 rocked the rafters in Gorey - in 1980". Enniscorthy Guardian. Independent News & Media. 15 August 2001. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
50. ^ "Gorey is getting ready for the Market House Festival". Gorey Guardian. Independent News & Media. 15 July 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
51. ^ "Movies@Gorey - About". moviesatgorey.ie. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
52. ^ "Craanford native, Cecilia (104) passes away in New Zealand". Enniscorthy Guardian. April 2006. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
53. ^ "Wexford's Paul Boyle Comes On To Make Irish Rugby Debut | Wexford Weekly". wexfordweekly.com. 10 July 2021.
54. ^ "20 years on: Wexford's Billy Byrne recalls 1997 Leinster final win over the Cats - Irish Mirror Online". Irishmirror.ie. 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
55. ^ Brendan Furlong (30 May 2020). "Robin on the move – Gorey native signs for French outfit". Gorey Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2022 - via Irish Independent.
56. ^ "Michael D'Arcy". Fine Gael. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
57. ^ Armstrong, William M. (1978). E. L. Godkin: A Biography. p. 2\. ISBN 9780873953719.
58. ^ "Wexford Hurler Conor McDonald Is Opening His Own Fitness Studio – Wexford Weekly". Wexfordweekly.com. 16 January 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
59. ^ "Paralympic Swimmer Darragh Makes Shock Decision to Retire from Competition". Wexfordpeople.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
60. ^ "O'Gorman to stand for PDs". Enniscorthy Guardian. 27 April 2006. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011.
61. ^ Marshall, Catherine (1994). "Alanna O'Kelly" (PDF). RIA.
62. ^ "Fair City's Aisling O'Neill talks about her new healthy lifestyle". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 19 July 2016. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019. "The actress is currently living in Gorey, Co. Wexford... 'It's a beautiful spot. I'm ten minutes from the beach and an hour from Dublin'."
63. ^ Lambe, Fintan (22 September 2015). "Hello Gorey, this is Oban calling". Gorey Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2020.

## External links

[edit]

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