Ballyconnell
The name stands for the mouth of Connalls ford. During a long war between the armies of Ulster and Connacht, a legendary warrior renowned school of classical studies at Tomregan near Ballyconnell. In the beginning of medieval ages there was A curiously carved head from the church there is currently in Ballyconnell parish church. Tn 1688 Ballyconnell was founded and very soon grew into a thriving town on the coach route to the spas at Swanlinbar. The canal linking the Shannon and Erne via Ballyconnell was opened In 1856. Totaly about eight boats used it. Since it was re-opened for non-commercial boating it has gained its new vitality. In Irish Gaelic football Ballyconnell has a special place. In 1885 The club was founded and here was the first in Ulster and is still called Ballyconnell First Ulsters. The Ballyconnell area plenty of sites of archaeological importance, including the promontory fort at Ballyhugh, three miles east and Kllycluggin, four miles south-west, where the decorated Killycluggin Stone was found.
