Summary
Mayo or Mayo Abbey (Irish: Maigh Eo, meaning "plain of the yew trees")[1] is a village in County Mayo, Ireland. Although it bears the same name as the county, it is not the county seat, which is Castlebar. Mayo Abbey is a small historic village in south Mayo approximately 16 km to the south of Castlebar and 10 km north west of Claremorris. The village is in a civil parish of the same name.[1]
Mayo
Maigh Eo | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Mayo Abbey in December 2010 | |
  Mayo Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°45′44″N 9°07′12″W / 53.7622°N 9.1200°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Mayo |
| Elevation | 72 m (236 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | M262796 |
History edit
The village was an important centre in the Gaelic and Anglo-Saxon Christian world in the seventh and eighth centuries. St. Colmán, Bishop of Lindisfarne, founded a monastery here for a group of Saxon monks, called the School of Mayo. Saint Gerald became its first abbot in 670. Danish raiders attacked the monastery in 783 and again in 805.[2] Finally Turgesius completely destroyed it in 818 [2]
The village was the centre of the diocese of Mayo from 1152. It was suppressed in the thirteenth century.[3] Bishops were appointed, however, as late as the sixteenth century.[3] One of its bishops, Patrick O'Hely, who died in 1589, is numbered among the Irish martyr saints.[3] The diocese was formally joined to Tuam by papal decree in 1631.[3]
Culture edit
The BBC four-part documentary Amongst Women was filmed in Mayo Abbey using the Old Catholic Church, the graveyard and the post office/shop.
Sport edit
Mayo Gaels is the local Gaelic football team. They compete at all underage levels as well as senior and junior football. [4]
Annalistic references edit
- 726 - Gerald, of Magh Eo, died on the 13th of March.
- 726 - Muireadhach, son of Indreachtach, was slain; he was Bishop of Magh Eo.
- 905 - The oratory of Magh-eo was burned.
- M1209.1. Kele O'Duffy, Bishop of Mayo of the Saxons ... died.
- M1478.1. The Bishop O'Higgin, i.e. Bishop of Mayo-na-Saxon, died.
See also edit
References edit
External links edit
- HistoryIreland.com - Maigh Eo na Sacsan