Furbo, County Galway Explained

Furbo
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Ireland
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Ireland
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Ireland
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Connacht
Subdivision Type3:County
Subdivision Name3:County Galway
Unit Pref:Metric
Population As Of:2022
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population:868
Population Density Km2:auto
Coordinates:53.249°N -9.205°W
Elevation M:15
Blank Name:Irish Grid Reference
Footnotes:Na Forbacha is the only official name. The anglicised spellings Furbo and Furbogh have no official status.

Furbo or Furbogh (officially known as Na Forbacha in both Irish and English)[2] is a settlement in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. As of the 2022 census, it had a population of 868 people.[1] It lies along the coast, overlooking Galway Bay, in a Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area.

Location

Furbo lies between Barna and Spiddal on the coastal R336 road.[3] It is a typical Gaeltacht-style settlement with no village centre, but rather comprises around fourteen townlands, most of which run north to south from the bog to the foreshore. Furbo (officially Na Forbacha) spans the townlands of Cnocán an Bhodaigh, an Straidhp, an tSaoirsin, Baile na hAbhann, na Poillíní, Doire Uachtair, Aill an Phréacháin, an Coisméig Mór, na Forbacha Garbha, Seanadh Fhréachóg, and Cnoc na Gréine.[4]

Irish language

Located in a Gaeltacht area, Irish is the main language used in the local school, church and at community meetings. The headquarters of the Gaeltacht Authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta, is located in Na Forbacha.[5]

The figure for those who self-report as speaking Irish daily is 39%. Housing developments in the area have a requirement that 80% plus of housing units are reserved for Irish speakers.

Amenities

Furbo has a large community pitch (the Sportlann) which is used by several sports groups. These include the local hurling club (Bearna/Na Forbacha GAA),[6] Gaelic football club (CLG Bhearna), and soccer club (Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe).[7]

The local Catholic church is Our Lady Star of the Sea church (Séipéal Mhuire Réalt na Mara). It is in the parish of Bearna & na Forbacha in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.[8] A mausoleum, alongside the church, dates to .[9]

The national (primary) school, Scoil na bhForbacha, had an enrollment of over 200 pupils as of 2023.[10]

Notable people

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Interactive Data Visualisations: Towns: Na Forbacha . Census 2022 . . 8 December 2023 .
  2. Web site: Na Forbacha / Furbogh . Placenames Database of Ireland . logainm.ie .
  3. Web site: 'Serious' hit and run in Furbo sees pedestrian rushed to hospital . galwaybeo.ie . 8 December 2023 . 25 October 2021 .
  4. Web site: Na Forbacha Electoral Division, Co. Galway . townlands.ie . 8 December 2023 .
  5. Web site: Údarás na Gaeltachta . udaras.ie . 15 June 2023 . Údarás na Gaeltachta, Na Forbacha, Co. na Gaillimhe .
  6. Web site: Bearna/na Forbacha - Location . bnaf.ie . 26 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211226041833/http://bnaf.ie/index.php/the-club/location . dead .
  7. Web site: Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe - Contact Us . sacarbnaf.com . 9 December 2023 .
  8. Web site: Parishes - Bearna & na Forbacha . galwaydiocese.ie . 8 December 2023 .
  9. Web site: Séipéal Mhuire Réalt na Mara [Catholic Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea], Ballynahown (Moycullen By), Na Forbacha [Furbogh], Galway ]. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage . buildingsofireland.ie . 8 December 2023 .
  10. Web site: S N na bhForbacha . gov.ie . Department of Education . 8 December 2023 . 20 July 2023 .
  11. Web site: Woodford stood up to the power of Lord Clanricarde . Galway Advertiser . Ronnie . O'Gorman . 6 May 2010 . 9 December 2023 .
  12. Web site: Ó Gráinne, Diarmaid (1950–2013) . ainm.ie . 15 June 2023 . Mártan . Ó Ciardha. Irish .