Village in County Mayo, Ireland
Village in Connacht, Ireland
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]
History
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
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
Mayo Gaels is the local Gaelic football team. They compete at all underage levels as well as senior and junior football. [4]
Annalistic references
- 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
References
External links
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