Swanlinbar

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Swanlinbar
irlandais : An Muileann Iarainn
Swanlinbar
Sainte-Mary - Hall.
Administration
Pays Drapeau de l'Irlande Irlande
Province Ulster
Comté Comté de Cavan
Immatriculation CN
Démographie
Population 207 hab.[1] (2016)
Géographie
Coordonnées 54° 11′ 33″ nord, 7° 42′ 22″ ouest
Localisation
Géolocalisation sur la carte : Irlande
Voir sur la carte topographique d'Irlande
Swanlinbar
Géolocalisation sur la carte : Irlande
Voir sur la carte administrative d'Irlande
Swanlinbar

Swanlinbar (irlandais : An Muileann Iarainn) est un petit village sur la route secondaire nationale N87, au nord-ouest du comté de Cavan, près de la frontière avec le comté de Fermanagh, en Irlande.

Géographie[modifier | modifier le code]

Le village se trouve dans la baronnie de Tullyhaw, à une douzaine de kilomètres de Ballyconnell. La rivière Cladagh (ou Claddagh) passe à proximité.

Dans les années 1860, Swanlinbar possédait la plus renommée des nombreuses sources minérales du comté de Cavan[2]

Toponymie[modifier | modifier le code]

Le premier nom relevé pour le village est Sra[Note 1] -na-muck qui signifie la « rivière des cochons »[3].

Le nom officiel irlandais An Muileann Iarainn signifiant « moulin de broyage du minerai de fer » est dû à la création d'une fonderie en 1700[4] tout comme le nom de Swanlinbar qui provient des quatre entrepreneurs à l'origine de la création du haut-fourneau[5].

La première mention du village suivant le nom actuel semble se trouver dans un bail en date du où elle est orthographiée Swanlingbar. Le bailleur était Morley Saunders, l'un des hommes qui a donné son nom à Swanlinbar[6].

En 1750, le nom de Swanlinbar était d'usage courant[7].

Cependant, les anciens du secteur se réfèrent encore au nom de Swadlinbar (avec Swad signifiant « court »)[8].

Parrmi les nombreuses graphies employées, il faut citer aussi Swadling-bar[9].

Histoire[modifier | modifier le code]

L'église Sainte-Augustine.

En 1732, le spa est fréquenté aussi bien par la paysannerie locale que par la noblesse qui s'associent de manière exceptionnelle dans des festivités[10].

Le Post-Chaise Companion de 1786 raconte que les eaux guérissent de nombreux maux[11].

En 1786, un incendie détruit 22 maisons[12].

Le poète George Sackville Cotter (1755–1831) écrit « Epistles from Swanlinbar » en 1788 et parle de ses aventures vécues au spa de Swanlinbar[13].

La difficulté de voyager dans la région est mise en évidence dans des écrits de 1799[14].

En 1837, le village compte 398 habitants et les activités minières ne sont plus qu'un lointain souvenir[15].

Personnalités[modifier | modifier le code]

Transports[modifier | modifier le code]

Swanlinbar est desservi par trois lignes de bus.

Les Leydons Coaches assurent la ligne 930 qui relie Swanlinbar à Bawnboy, Ballyconnell, Belturbet, Cavan et Enniskillen[16].

La ligne 192 d'Ulsterbus fournit un aller-retour vers Enniskillen le matin et le soir, du lundi au samedi inclus[17].

Le mardi seulement, les Bus Éireann, avec la ligne 464, relient Swanlinbar à Enniskillen, Ballinamore et Carrigallen[18].

Liens externes[modifier | modifier le code]

Sur les autres projets Wikimedia :

Notes et références[modifier | modifier le code]

Notes[modifier | modifier le code]

  1. Srath, noun : vallée de rivière

Références[modifier | modifier le code]

  1. (en) « Census 2016 ».
  2. (en) « Cavan County Directory, 1862 ».
  3. (en) « The Irish Book Lover... ».
  4. (en) « The history of water power in Ulster »
  5. (en) Jonathan Swift (« Il existe également une ville renommée où est fabriqué le plus mauvais fer du royaume : Swandlingbar. Je vais vous expliquer l'origine de ce nom, de crainte que les chercheurs des temps futurs ne puissent s'en sortir. Ce fut la plus vicieuse vanité de quatre messieurs qui se sont ruinés avec ce projet de fabriquer du fer. "Sw" signifie Swift (l'oncle de Swift, Godwin, pour lequel il n'avait pas beaucoup d'égards, était l'instigateur du projet. Il a perdu sa fortune à cause de la mauvaise gestion de l'entreprise), "and" représente Sanders, "Ling" est pour Darling et "Bar" vient pour Barry. Il me semble que je vois les quatre personnages qui sont assis pour la réflexion, comme Smectimnius, chacun apportant gravement une partie de son propre nom et essayant d'en constituer un pour la fonderie... »), « On Barbarous Denominations In Ireland : The works of Jonathan Swift, containing additional letters, tracts, and... », sur Jonathan Swift - Google Books, .
  6. (en) « Acte de 1714 ».
  7. (en) Reverend William Henry (« The River Duanim or Stragownagh sweeps by the small market-town of Swanlinbar where once was a great iron-work. Some time ago there were forests of oak along the bank of this river; but they have been so entirely extirpated in order to supply the iron-works at Swanlinbar, that there is scarce a stump left. »), Upper Lough Erne, , PDF (lire en ligne).
  8. (en) John Wesley's journal (« Thursday 4th May 1769 — I found near Swadlinbar, as artless, as earnest, and as loving a people as even at Tonny-Lommon. About six I preached at the town's end, the very Papists appearing as attentive as the Protestants; and I doubt not thousands of these would soon be zealous Christians, were it not for their wretched Priests, who will not enter into the kingdom of God themselves, and diligently hinder those that would. »), REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL (lire en ligne).
  9. (en) Irish Relief of Insolvency Act (Reference to "Redmond Mc Manus of Swadling-bar in the county of Cavan, merchant"), .
  10. (en) Rev. William Henry (« "the fine beau and the country girl with her hair plaited behind, the nice lady and the ploughman tilting most merrily together in a country dance by five o'clock in a morning, with the bagpiper playing tunes such as 'The Black Joke' or "Westmeath Election'". »), A natural history of the parish of Killesher, .
  11. « Swanlinbar » (« "About half a mile from Swanlinbar is the famous spa; the waters of which are excellent for scurvey, nerves, low spirits and bad appetite.They are to be drank as the stomach can bear them, preparing first with gentle physic. You go to bed at ten, without supper, in the morning you appear at the spa well at 6, drink till 9, taking constant exercise, and breakfast a little after 10. At one you return to the well, and drink two or three glasses, returning home at 3, to be dressed for dinner at 4. There is no particular regimen necessary, but to be temperate in wine, and to drink as little Chinese tea as possible. Your chambers are 8s.1d or 11s.4d per week. At Mr.Castle's ordinary, you have a most excellent table. Breakfast at 0.8d. Dinner at 1s.7d. Lady's wine 6d. The gentlemen pay the remainder of the wine bill. Your horse's hay 10d per night. Grass 6d per night. Oats 10d per peck. Servant's lodging 2s.8d. per week. Board 7s.7d. per week. Evening tea 6d per day. Washing very cheap and good. The Post from Dublin comes in Monday, Thursday & Saturday at 11 in the forenoon and goes out on Sunday, Thursday and Friday at 10 at night" »), Post-Chaise Companion,‎ .
  12. (en) Charles Coote (« "It is to be regretted that the ravages of the fire, which happened in the village of Swanlinbar above 15 years ago (i.e., in 1786), have not yet been repaired, in which 22 houses were destroyed. A great deal of harmony and sociability prevails in this retired watering place. The celebrated spa is in an ornamented enclosure, which is very handsomely improved with pleasant walks and neat plantations. The breakfast room is contiguous to the well, and here the company generally partake of this sociable meal, at the same table drink the waters, and ride or walk till dinner, when an excellent ordinary is provided." »), Statistical Survey of County Cavan, .
  13. (en) « Verse in English from Eighteenth-century Ireland »
  14. (en) John Jebb, the Protestant curate of Swanlinbar (He wrote of his experiences there in a letter dated 18 January 1800. « I began yesterday to write to you, when I was summoned, at no very seasonable hour, to visit a sick parishioner, through snow, and bog, and mountain. So disagreeable a walk I never before experienced. Some of the places through which I passed, were nearly impassable; and, to increase my annoyance, I was obliged to return, partly on foot, partly on horseback, through this bleak and marshy tract, in darkness and intense frost. However, I enjoyed the satisfaction of thinking I was discharging my duty »), A letter of 18 January 1800, (lire en ligne).
  15. (en) Samuel Lewis (« "SWANLINBAR, a post-town, in the parish of KinAwley, barony of Tullaghagh, county of Cavan, and province of Ulster, 8 miles (N.W.) from Ballyconnell, to which it has a penny-post; containing 398 inhabitants. This town is supposed to have derived its origin from a rich iron mine in the neighbouring mountain of Cuilcagh, which was worked at a remote period to a very considerable extent. The ore was smelted into pig iron in furnaces about half a mile distant, and manufactured into bars at some works erected upon a powerful mountain stream which flows through the village : these works were continued till all the timber of the mountains was consumed in smelting the ore, when they were necessarily abandoned. In 1786 a considerable part of the town was destroyed by an accidental fire, which consumed 22 houses. It now contains 79 houses, and is situated on the old road from Ballyconnell to Enniskillen, and surrounded by the wild mountains of the barony: it is chiefly distinguished for its mineral waters, which are strongly impregnated with sulphur, earth, sea salt and fossil alkali, and in their medicinal effect are both alterative [restorative] and diaphoretick and are esteemed highly efficacious as a restorative from debility. From April to September it is the resort of numbers of the gentry of the surrounding district. The spa is situated in an enclosure tastefully laid out in pleasant walks and embellished with thriving plantations. Contiguous to the well is a handsome pumproom, in which the visiters usually take breakfast, and on re-assembling an excellent dinner is provided. The surrounding mountains afford ample scope for the researches of the mineralogist, and contain several natural and artificial caves ; on the neighbouring townlands of Lurgan and Coolagh are strong indications of coal. A few linens are manufactured in the vicinity, besides other articles of clothing for the inhabitants. Fairs are held annually on Feb. 2nd, March 30th, May 18th, June 29th, July 27th, Aug. 18th, Sept. 3rd and 29th, Oct. 26th, and Dec. 1st and 29th. A chief constabulary police station has been established; and petty sessions are held on alternate Wednesdays. On the summit of the mountain of Cuilcagh, is a fine spring of excellent water: on this mountain, which is intimately associated with much of the legendary history of the district, the Maguires anciently invested their chiefs with supreme command over the adjacent country of Fermanagh." »), Topographical Dictionary, .
  16. (en) « Archived copy » (version du sur Internet Archive).
  17. (en) « Archived copy », .
  18. (en) « Archived copy » [PDF] (version du sur Internet Archive).