Riverstown, historically called Ballyederdaowen (Irish: Baile idir dhá Abhainn, meaning 'town between two rivers'),[2] is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. Known for its musical tradition it is located at a bridging point of the River Unshin (Arrow), 17.2 km (10 miles) south of Sligo town and 4 km east of the N4 road.
Riverstown
Irish: Baile idir dhá Abhainn | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Street corner in Riverstown | |
  Riverstown Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 54°07′54″N 8°23′40″W / 54.1317°N 8.3944°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Sligo |
| Elevation | 74 m (243 ft) |
| Population | 394 |
| Irish Grid Reference | G742203 |
Amenities
editAmenities and notable buildings in the area include the post office, Coopershill House and the Garda barracks (built c. 1890).[3] There are also a number of pubs and shops.[citation needed]
The local Church of Ireland church, Tawnagh parish church, dates to c. 1817.[4] The Roman Catholic church in Riverstown, the Church of the Sacred Heart, was built in 1940.[5]
Culture and community
editEach year the village hosts the Riverstown Vintage Festival on the June Bank Holiday Weekend,[6] and the James Morrison Traditional Music Festival during the August Bank Holiday Weekend.[7]
During the 1990s, Riverstown and the Brookeborough Community Development Association launched the 'Riverbrooke Cross-Border Initiative' linking the two villages in a programme of cross-community/cross-border working.[8][9]
Folk park
editSligo Folk Park, situated at the east end of the town, was created as the result of a community effort in the 1990s.[10][11]
People
edit- El Marqués de Osorno, Viceroy of Peru, was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator in Chile and Peru from 1788 to 1801. He was born Ambrose O'Higgins at Ballynary, about halfway between Riverstown and Ballinafad.[citation needed]
- Michael Bowles (1909–1998), conductor and composer, born in Riverstown.[12]
- James Morrison (1893–1947), South Sligo-style fiddler was born in the townland of Drumfin close to Riverstown.[13]
Gallery
edit-
Riverstown Catholic church -
John Stenson memorial in Riverstown -
The James Morrison Teach Cheoil or the Morrison Cottage -
Riverstown Church of Ireland -
Riverstown Garda station
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ "Census Mapping – Towns: Riverstown". Census 2022. Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Baile idir Dhá Abhainn / Riverstown (see archival records)". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Riverstown Garda Station, Cooperhill, Riverstown, Sligo". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Tawnagh Parish Church of Ireland Church, Cooperhill, Riverstown, Sligo". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Church of the Sacred Heart, Ardkeeran [corran By.], Riverstown, Sligo". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Sligo Folk Park". 18 July 2021. Our Events. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021.
our Vintage & Heritage Day on the June Bank holiday weekend
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "James Morrison". Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Riverbrooke Cross-border Initiative - A Brief History". riverbrookeinitiative.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009.
- ^ "Riverbrooke crossborder initiative celebrates 15 years". Sligo Champion. Independent News & Media. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "HISTORY – Sligo Folk Park". sligofolkpark.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Hope and history rhyme in Riverstown Folk Park". Independent.ie.
- ^ Klein, Axel (2013). "Bowles, Michael". In White, Harry; Boydell, Barra (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland. Dublin: UCD Press. p. 112.
- ^ "James Morrison Biography". jamesmorrisonfestival.com. Retrieved 17 July 2021.