Editing Spiddal

{{Short description|Village in Connemara, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Spiddal
| other_name                      = Spiddle
| native_name                     = {{lang|ga|An Spidéal}}
| settlement_type                 = Village
| image_skyline                   = An Spidéal (County Galway) - Old harbour.jpg
| image_caption                   = Old harbour and Cill Éinde, [[5th century]] chapel
| pushpin_map                     = Ireland
| pushpin_label_position          = none
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Ireland
| coordinates                     = {{coord|53.24418|-9.3059|dim:5000_region:IE-G|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = Ireland
| subdivision_type1               = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Connacht]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[County Galway]]
| unit_pref                       = Metric
| population_footnotes            = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=806e627d-f59d-4fa5-9e5f-7ddbd29da5ec | title = Census Mapping - Towns: An Spidéal - 2022 - Population Snapshot| publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] | work = Census 2022 | access-date = 3 April 2024 }}</ref>
| population_as_of                = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
| population                      = 254
| blank_name                      = [[Irish grid reference system|Irish grid reference]]
| blank_info                      = {{iem4ibx|M130225}}
| footnotes                       = In statute law, the village's official name is {{lang|ga|An Spidéal}}, or in the English language, Spiddle.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/si/872/made/ga/print | website = irishstatutebook.ie | title = I.R. Uimh. 872/2004 -An tOrdú Logainmneacha (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) 2004 | language = Irish | date = 2004 }}</ref>
}}
[[File:An Spidéal (County Galway) - Ceardlann.jpg|thumb|The craft centre]]

'''Spiddal''', also known as '''Spiddle''' ([[Irish language|Irish]] and official name: {{lang|ga|An Spidéal}}, {{IPA|ga|ənˠ ˈsˠpʲɪdʲeːlˠ|pron}}, meaning 'the hospital'),<ref name="logainm">{{cite web|url= http://www.logainm.ie/18722.aspx|title= An Spidéal / Spiddle | website = logainm.ie|publisher= Placenames Database of Ireland |access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref> is a village on the shore of [[Galway Bay]] in [[County Galway]], Ireland. It is {{convert|18|km}} west of [[Galway]] city, on the [[R336 road (Ireland)|R336 road]].<ref name="devPlan">{{cite web |url = https://consult.galway.ie/en/consultation/adopted-galway-county-development-plan-2022-2028/chapter/121-spid%C3%A9al-small-growth-village| work = Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028 | publisher = Galway County Council | title = Volume 2 - Small Growth Villages - 12.1 An Spidéal Small Growth Village | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref> It is on the eastern side of the county's [[Gaeltacht]] (Irish-speaking area) and of the [[Connemara]] region. According to the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]], approximately 75% of the population are Irish-speaking and, of these, approximately 40% speak Irish on a daily basis outside the education system.<ref name=cso2022/> It is a centre for tourism with a beach, harbour, and shore fishing. The village is part of the [[Civil parishes in Ireland|civil parish]] of [[Moycullen (civil parish)|Moycullen]].

== Name ==
The name of the village in [[Irish language|Irish]], {{lang|ga|An Spidéal}}, derives from the word {{lang|ga|ospidéal}}, which in turn derived from the Insular French, or [[Anglo-Norman language | Anglo-Normand]], word {{lang|fr|ospitel}}.<ref name="enty">{{cite web|url = https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ospid%C3%A9al| publisher = Wiktionary | title = oispidéal | accessdate = 31 March 2024 }}</ref>

The name originates from a mediaeval leper hospital situated in {{lang|ga|An Spidéal Thiar}} (West Spiddal). A number of other hospital facilities were based in the area over the years, including a famine hospital during the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]] of the mid-1840s. While "Spiddle" is recorded in the [[Placenames Database of Ireland]] as the English variant of the name, "Spiddal" is used locally.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.logainm.ie/en/18722 | publisher = Placenames Database of Ireland | website = logainm.ie | title = An Spidéal | accessdate = 31 March 2024 | quote = town [..] An Spidéal [..] Spiddle (English) [..] Other names: Spiddal local name (English) }}</ref>

== History ==
Spiddal, like much of the west of Ireland, suffered greatly during the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]] of the 1840s, with many people being evicted, and many starving. Appeals were made by the parish priest John O'Grady and by A.W. Blake and, as a result, the Board of Works employed some men in improvements to the village harbour.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.oughterardheritage.org/content/topics/murt-molloy-killannin-and-oughterard-local-history/the-famine-barony-of-moycullen-co-galway-1845-1850-2 | title = Spiddal | website = www.oughterardheritage.org}}</ref>

From 1848, the evangelical Protestant [[Irish Church Missions]] were active, establishing the Connemara Orphan's Nursery (Spiddal Orphanage or {{lang|ga|Nead Le Farraige}}) in the early 1850s,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://clifdenheritage.org/the-protestant-missions-in-connemara-miriam-moffitt/ | title = The Protestant Missions in Connemara, Miriam Moffitt | website = www.connemaraheritage.org | date = 28 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.advertiser.ie/Galway/article/4528/an-unseemly-brawl-over-god-and-scripture | title = An unseemly brawl of god and scripture | work = Galway Advertiser | date = 13 November 2008}}</ref> the home could accommodate up to 90 boys and girls, and became affiliated with the Protestant-run Smyly Homes (and was even referred to as ''The Bird's Nest'', the name of the home in Dublin).<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/SpiddalSmyly/ | title = Spiddal Orphan Home | website = childrenshomes.org.uk}}</ref> Following its closure as an orphanage, it became a secondary school for girls run by the Catholic [[Sisters of Mercy]].

The local [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] church, {{lang|ga|Cill Éinde}} (church of [[Enda of Aran|Saint Enda]]), was built in 1904.<ref name="devPlan"/><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/30327010/cill-einde-spiddle-west-an-spideal-spiddle-co-galway | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Cill Éinde, Spiddle West, An Spidéal [Spiddle], Galway | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref> The ruin of an older chapel, dating to 1776, is nearby.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/30327012/spiddle-west-an-spideal-spiddle-co-galway | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Spiddle West, An Spidéal [Spiddle], Galway | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref>

== Amenities ==
[[File:An Spidéal (County Galway) - Thatched house in centre.jpg|thumb|[[Thatching|Thatched house]] in front of the main church]]
There are a number of pubs, shops and other services in the village.<ref name="devPlan"/> Spiddal's [[Garda Síochána|Garda]] (police) station is on Mountain Road.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://vha.ie/project/spiddal-garda-station/ | website = vha.ie | publisher = Vincent Hannon Architects | title = Spiddal Garda Station | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.galwaydaily.com/news/planning-permission-sought-for-new-garda-station-in-spiddal/ | work = Galway Daily | title = Planning permission sought for new Garda station in Spiddal | date = 28 May 2021 | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref> {{lang|ga|An Cheardlann}} ("the workshop" in [[Irish language|Irish]]) is a craft centre east of the village where craft works are made and sold.

There is a primary school ({{lang|ga|Scoil Náisiúnta Éinne}}) and secondary school ({{lang|ga|Coláiste Chroí Mhuire}}).<ref name="devPlan"/>

The area is served by [[Bus Éireann]] route 424 from Galway City.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/bus-eireann-announces-improved-services-and-timetables-on-route-424-galway-to-leitir-meallain-via-an-cheathru-rua/ | website = transportforireland.ie | title = Bus Éireann announces improved services and timetables on Route 424, Galway to Leitir Mealláin via An Cheathrú Rua | date = 7 December 2023 | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref> The Boluisce River flows south from Boluisce Lake and enters Galway Bay at Spiddal.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.logainm.ie/116481.aspx | title = Owenboliskey River | publisher = Placenames Database of Ireland | website = logainm.ie | accessdate = 20 November 2011 }}</ref>

== Culture and sport ==
Each summer, groups of Irish teenagers visit Spiddal for three-week Irish language courses. {{lang|ga|Coláiste Chonnacht}} and {{lang|ga|Coláiste Lurgan}} are two Irish language summer schools. American students visit for the autumn term each year to study Irish-language literature and culture.{{fact|date=April 2024}}

Live [[Music of Ireland|traditional Irish music]] is regularly performed in the village's [[Irish pub|pubs]].{{fact|date=April 2024}} The music group [[The Waterboys]] recorded part of their ''[[Fisherman's Blues]]'' album in Spiddal.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.hotpress.com/music/day-1988-waterboys-release-fishermans-blues-22791967 | work = [[Hot Press]] | title = On this day in 1988: The Waterboys release Fisherman's Blues | date = 17 October 2019 | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref> They also recorded a song called ''Spring Comes to Spiddal'' on their album ''[[Room to Roam]]''. The television series {{lang|ga|[[Ros na Rún]]}} is filmed there, and broadcast on [[TG4]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://xn--anspidal-g1a.ie/an-spideal/an-spideal-stair-agus-pobal/ | website = anspidéal.ie | title = An Spidéal: Stair agus Pobal | language = ga | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20230605210720/https://xn--anspidal-g1a.ie/an-spideal/an-spideal-stair-agus-pobal/ | archivedate = 5 June 2023 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The local [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] club is {{lang|ga|Cumann Lúthchleas Gael An Spidéal}}, with [[Gaelic football]] and [[hurling]] being the most popular sports. There is also a sailing club in the village.

== Notable people ==
{{See also|Category:People from Spiddal}}
* [[Mary Bergin]], musician
* [[Ronan Browne]], musician
* [[Thom McGinty]], actor and stillness artist
* [[Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin]], journalist and the sixth [[Presidents of the International Olympic Committee|president of the International Olympic Committee]], had family connections to the area.<ref>{{cite magazine |url = https://www.historyireland.com/lord-killaninthe-renaissance-man-of-the-olympic-movement/ | magazine = History Ireland | title = Lord Killanin:the Renaissance man of the Olympic movement | issue = 4 | date = July 2012 | volume = 20 | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref>
* [[Máirtín Ó Cadhain]], writer of [[modern literature in Irish]], and author of the [[comic literature|comic]] and [[modernist literature|modernist]] work ''[[Cré na Cille]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.dib.ie/biography/o-cadhain-mairtin-a6285| publisher = Royal Irish Academy | work = Dictionary of Irish Biography | title = Ó Cadhain, Máirtín | date = October 2009 | accessdate = 3 April 2024 | doi = 10.3318/dib.006285.v1 }}</ref>
* [[Dónall Ó Héalai]], actor{{fact|date=April 2024}}
* [[Seán Ó Neachtain (politician)|Seán Ó Neachtain]], former [[Member of the European Parliament]] and [[Fianna Fáil]] party politician{{fact|date=April 2024}}
* [[Eimear Ní Chonaola]], journalist and broadcast news presenter{{fact|date=April 2024}}
* [[Máire Ní Thuathail]] (1957–2016), television producer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Death of TV producer and Tourmakeady native |url=https://www.mayonews.ie/news/28621-death-of-tv-producer-and-tourmakeady-native |work=mayonews.ie | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160928161440/https://www.mayonews.ie/news/28621-death-of-tv-producer-and-tourmakeady-native | archivedate = 28 September 2016 | date = 27 September 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Gráinne Seoige]], television presenter<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40994168.html | title = Culture That Made Me: Gráinne Seoige on dance music and Minority Report | work = Irish Examiner | date = 31 October 2022 | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref>
* [[Síle Seoige]], television presenter<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40829255.html | title = Síle Seoige: I love the fact that I am nearly 43 | work = Irish Examiner | date = 2 April 2022 | accessdate = 3 April 2024 }}</ref>
* [[Mairtin Thornton|Máirtín Thornton]] (died 1984), heavyweight boxer in the 1940s<ref>{{cite web|url = http://irishboxers.ie/martin_thornton_snr.html | website = irishboxers.ie | title = Boxer Profile - Martin Thornton (Snr) | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110731231448/http://irishboxers.ie/martin_thornton_snr.html | archivedate = 31 July 2011 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Spiddal}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://anspideal.ie/ Website of ''Comhlacht Forbartha an Spidéil'']
* [https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/S/Spiddle-Moycullen-Galway.php "Spiddle"] in ''[[A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland]]'' (1837) by Samuel Lewis

{{Gaeltacht}}
{{County Galway}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns and villages in Connemara]]
[[Category:Gaeltacht places in County Galway]]
[[Category:Beaches of County Galway]]
[[Category:Gaeltacht towns and villages]]