Welcome to Ardagh West

Ardagh West is a lovely little townland in County Cork, Ireland's biggest county. This townland has a rich history that goes back hundreds of years.

Long, long ago, before your great-great-great-grandparents were even born, Ardagh West was a bustling place. People worked the land, growing crops and raising animals. Can you imagine living in a time without televisions, smartphones, and computers? That's how it was!

Historically, Ardagh West was part of the ancient territory of the O'Keeffe clan. The O'Keeffes were a powerful family in Ireland, just like kings and queens! They ruled their lands from their castle. It's not like the castles you see in fairy tales, though. These were strong, fortified homes, built to protect the family and their people.

Although we don't have any big historical events that happened in Ardagh West, it's the small everyday stories of the people who lived there that make this townland special. These people lived, worked, and played in Ardagh West, shaping it into the place we know today.

So, next time you think about Ardagh West, imagine the children like you, living there hundreds of years ago, playing old-fashioned games and going to school, just like you do!

  1. What is Ardagh West?
  2. Who were the O'Keeffes?
  3. What were the castles used for in the past?
  4. Why do you think the everyday stories of the people from Ardagh West are important?
  5. If you could travel back in time to Ardagh West, what would you want to do or see? Explain why.

All About Ardagh West

Ardagh West in County Cork, Ireland, is a special place full of natural beauty. It's not a big city with tall buildings. Instead, it's a peaceful countryside area where you might see cows and sheep grazing in the fields.

If you visited Ardagh West, you would see lots of green fields and gentle rolling hills. There are no famous streets like in big cities, but there's plenty of country roads where you can see tractors and farm animals.

The River Ilen flows nearby, where you can spot ducks and maybe even an otter if you're very lucky! You might also see foxes, rabbits, and lots of birds in the fields and woods.

The plants in Ardagh West are also wonderful. You can find gorse bushes with bright yellow flowers, and lots of different types of trees like oak, ash and birch.

You won't find big mountains in Ardagh West, but the surrounding hills give you beautiful views of the countryside. It's a lovely place to go for a walk and explore nature.

Remember, it's always important to respect the animals and plants, and not to leave any litter behind..

  1. What types of animals might you see if you visited the River Ilen in Ardagh West?
  2. Name three types of trees you might find in Ardagh West.
  3. Using a map of Ardagh West, can you identify the route the River Ilen takes through the area?
  4. Why is it important to respect the animals and plants and not to leave any litter behind when visiting places like Ardagh West?
  5. Plan a visit to Ardagh West. What places of geographical interest would you want to see and why?

My Family and Ardagh West

Hi, I'm Pat and I'm 8 years old. I live in Ardagh West, Co. Cork, which is a beautiful place! I love to explore around my home. There's this super cool castle called Ardagh Castle nearby. It's really old and sometimes, I pretend I'm a knight defending it.

My house is near the River Ilen. It's full of all sorts of fish and sometimes, I go fishing with my dad. We always let the fish go back into the water though. I think they're happier there.

I have a dog named Spot. We go for walks along the hills and fields around our house. There are so many sheep and cows here. Spot tries to chase them, but they're not scared of him. I think it's funny.

There's also a really big forest near where I live. Sometimes, my friends and I build forts there. It's like we have our own little world. I think it's the best place in Ardagh West.

There's so much more to see and do here. It's the best place to grow up. I love Ardagh West, Co. Cork!

  1. What is the name of the castle near Pat's home?
  2. What does Pat sometimes pretend to be when visiting the Ardagh Castle?
  3. What type of animals does Pat see when walking with Spot?
  4. What activities does Pat enjoy doing in the forest?
  5. What does Pat and his dad do with the fish they catch in the River Ilen?

The Logainm of Ardagh West

Ardagh West is a beautiful place in County Cork, Ireland. The name 'Ardagh West' is special because it tells us something about the place. In Irish, 'Ardagh' means 'high field'. So when we say 'Ardagh', we are really saying 'high field'. This might be because the place is on a hill or because it's higher than the places around it.

A long time ago, people in Ireland used to speak only Irish. They used names like 'Ardagh' to describe the places where they lived. These names often told something about the place, like what it looked like or what happened there. Over time, these names were translated into English. But even though we now say 'Ardagh' instead of 'high field', the old meaning is still there.

Today, even if we don't speak Irish, we can still learn about the history of places like Ardagh West by thinking about what their names mean. And when we visit Ardagh West, we can remember that its name tells us it's a high place, and look around to see if we can see why it got that name.

  1. What does 'Ardagh' mean in English?
  2. Why do you think Ardagh West might be called 'high field'?
  3. How did places in Ireland get their names?
  4. How can the name of a place tell us something about its history?
  5. Why do you think it's important to remember what place names mean?

Slideshow - Ardagh West
A full set of teaching plans for teaching about Ardagh West