Ford in Athlone,athlone AND Bigmeadow

The placename Athlone is derived from the Irish Áth Luain meaning the ford of Luain which is a reference to a fording point over the River Shannon. The precise location of this fording point is uncertain but it was located close to the Anglo-Norman castle (WM029-042002-) and described as being 60-70 yards below the medieval stone bridge (WM029-042004-) of Athlone. The present town may have developed around this fording place over the River Shannon. The wealth of prehistoric objects from Athlone shows that this ford was important from prehistoric times onwards. By the close of the early historic period, it is evident that the ford had acquired strategic importance as the main crossing point between Leinster and Connacht (Bradley et. al. 1985, 20). In ninth century Ireland this fording point is listed in the Triads of Ireland where it is described as one of ‘three fords of Ireland: Ath Cliath (Hurdle-ford), Athlone (the ford of Luan), Ath-Caille (Wood-ford)’ (Meyer 1906, 7). In the year 994 the Annals of Clonmacnoise records that Maelsechlainn [king of Mide] and Cathal O’Connor [king of Connacht] ‘made a bridge at Athlone over the Synan’ (Ann. Clon., 165). It has been suggested that this reference to a bridge may be describing the construction of a ford instead (Murtagh 1994, 12). In the year 1001 the Annals of Ulster recorded that the ‘causeway of Ath-Luain [was made] by Maelsechlainn (high king of Ireland), and by Cathal son of Conchobar’ (AU, 509). This causeway may have been a wooden bridge built on the site of the fording point over the River Shannon. In 1114 the Annals of the Four Masters mentions the fording point of Athlone which was then used as a crossing point between the kingdom of Meath and Connacht. In this year the annalists recorded that an army consisting of the ‘men of Breifne; and Murchadh Ua Maelachlainn, with the men of Meath. They all afterwards proceeded across Ath-Luain to Dun-Leodha [Dunlo, Ballinasloe], where Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair; with the Connaughtmen’ (AFM, 997-9). The ford of Athlone played an important role in the 1691 Siege of Athlone. During this siege the ford was described as being located 'fifty or sixty yards below the bridge (WM029-042004-) was a narrow ford' (Graham 1872, 407). The state papers record the role of the ford in the 1691 siege when it records that ‘three Danes, whereof one was a quartermaster, the others common troopers, who had been disgraced formerly as not behaving themselves as they ought on a party sent out by the Duke of Wurtemburg, begged leave to attempt the pass, near the bridge (WM029-042004-) at Athlone, which they performed, and found it not above knee deep in most places, and that 20 might march abreast. They came off well, though thousands of small shot were fired at them by the enemy; only two of them are slightly wounded, the other, who was the quartermaster, was not hurt, though he attempted to pull down the palisado (WM029-042020-) on the other side. It was at that ford, writes Porter, that "the attempt was made yesterday, or will be this morning" '(Hardy 1838 429). Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 31 October 2013