Castlegar

Menlo is the name of a Village and Townland in the Parish of Castlegar, County Galway , Ireland.

• Menlo is an old Village, steeped in history.
• The Famous Menlo Castle is in this place.
• A Pier, is built here, on the South bank of the Lough Corrib, while more of this Townland is East of the River Corrib.
• Menlo National School, provides some of the Primary Education.
• The famous Writer and Novelist, Walter Macken, lived here for some time after building a house in the Village around 1966. This house is still there.
• A Monument lies to the South East. Another, known as "An Chroís" or "The Cross", is in the Village.
• In Irish, this place is called Mionloch. It used to be known as Menlough, before the abbreviated form was established.
• You can still see a traditional Irish Cottage, which is well kept.
• Coolough Village, is due South, as is the Church of Saint Peter and Paul. Another Church existed here, but in a private house.
• Two Graveyards lie here.
• A Shop - Maloneys, used to serve the community.
• This is a Limestone region, but also had bogs.
• About three miles from Galway City.
• Coordinates; 53.302376° , -9.072407°
• Elevation; About 40 feet, but rises to the East towards the adjoining Townland of Killoughter.
• As the Lake and River were important components of the transport system of the time, Menlo was well known. Traders, Farmers and visitors would pass here from places like the famous Annaghdown.
• The Emmetts Rowing Club were from this area, as were the players with Menlo Emmetts.
• Its thought that the name of Menlo associated with American addresses, had its origins here - a product of emigration in times past. See one example at Menlo Park in California on Wikipedia (new window).
• 03 September 2010 - The Bogs to the West of Menlo Village caught fire and continued to the next day.

Map

• Dynamic Map of Menlo Village with Flash Earth (new window)
• Included on our main Google Maps page

Mythology

A "Real Account" suggests that "In the primitive village of Menlo, standing at the entrance to Menlo Castle, Firbolg blood is strong" - See http://places.galwaylibrary.ie/history/chapter321.html for the detail on that.