Ballyboy

Ballyboy or Ballaboy (Irish: Baile Átha Buí, meaning "settlement of the yellow ford") is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is about two kilometres east of Kilcormac.

Prior to the Plantations of Ireland, Ballyboy was ruled by O'Molloy in a territory known as Firceall which was allied to the Kingdom of Meath. When the Gaelic chieftains were removed from power following the English Plantations, Firceall was broken up with Ballyboy forming its own Barony within the then newly formed King's County (now County Offaly).

Although now a small village of several houses, a pub and a primary school, it was an important and thriving hub in the Middle Ages. During this era, the town had a hat and glove factory, a large mill and even its own mint. It also had a mill called The Jacksons mill; the mill was used for making flour grinding corn and cutting timber. The ruins of the mill are still standing today and can be seen as one leaves the village and heads in the direction of Ballyoran. The mill, one of several in the area was powered by water from the Silver River which is a tributary of the River Brosna.

Ballyboy (barony)

Ballyboy (Irish: Baile Átha Buí) is a barony in County Offaly (formerly King's County), Republic of Ireland.

Etymology

Ballyboy barony derives its name from the village of Ballyboy (Irish Baile Átha Buí, "settlement of the yellow ford").

Location

Ballyboy barony is located in central County Offaly. The Silver River flows through it.

History

Ó Maolmhuaidh (O'Molloy) of the Southern Uí Néill were lords of Fir Cell, a territory here (and in Ballycowen) within the ancient province of Mide (Meath). The baronies of Ballycowen, Ballyboy and Eglish were part of the country of the O'Molloys.

List of settlements

Below is a list of settlements in Ballyboy barony:

References

Ballyboy (disambiguation)

Ballyboy may refer to:

Ballyboy also refers to several other townlands in the Republic of Ireland

See also