Welcome to Haggardstown

Haggardstown is an interesting place in County Louth, Ireland. Long, long ago, this townland was part of a larger area called "Ballymascanlan." That's quite a mouthful, isn't it? The name "Haggardstown" might sound a bit funny, but it actually means "farmyard" in old Irish language.

Many years ago, people lived differently. They grew their own food, and Haggardstown was a great place for farming because of its rich soil. Can you imagine growing all the food you eat in your own backyard?

One of the most exciting things about Haggardstown is the old Kilcurly Church, which is said to date back to the 13th century! That's over 700 years old! Imagine a building that has been standing while hundreds of years passed by, with all their changes and events. Wow!

Though Haggardstown may not have big battles or famous kings in its history, it's still an important part of Ireland's past. The people who lived there, just like you and me, helped to make Ireland what it is today. Isn't it fascinating to find out about the everyday life of people from the past?

  1. What does the name "Haggardstown" mean in old Irish language?
  2. Why was Haggardstown a great place for farming?
  3. How old is the Kilcurly Church in Haggardstown?
  4. Even though Haggardstown didn't have big battles or famous kings, why is it still an important part of Ireland's past?
  5. How do you think the everyday life of people from Haggardstown in the past differs from your life today?

All About Haggardstown

Haggardstown is a small, friendly village in County Louth, Ireland. It's just south of the bustling town of Dundalk, like a little brother looking up to its big brother! This means it's easy to get to lots of fun places from Haggardstown.

The village is surrounded by lovely green fields where sheep and cows may be seen grazing, and sometimes horses too. It's a great place to spot some of Ireland's native birds, like the cheeky chaffinch and the beautiful bullfinch.

There are no big mountains or rivers in Haggardstown, but there is the lovely Blackrock beach nearby, where you can build sandcastles while watching ships in Dundalk Bay. Isn't that cool?

There's a special street in Haggardstown called "Stapleton Drive". It's special because it has an old church, St. Fursey's, which is very pretty and has a tall spire that you can see from far away.

The village also has a football club called Geraldines, where many boys and girls love to play. The club's grounds are a lively place where you can always hear the sound of laughter and cheers.

Haggardstown may be small, but it's full of life and charm!

  1. What are some of the animals you might see in the fields around Haggardstown?
  2. Describe the geographical features of Haggardstown. Are there any mountains or rivers?
  3. Can you find "Stapleton Drive" on a map? What makes this street special?
  4. Go on an adventure around Haggardstown or research online. Can you find something of geographical interest that wasn't mentioned in the article?
  5. Using your mapping skills, can you plot a route from Dundalk to Haggardstown? Remember to consider the surrounding geographical features.

My Family and Haggardstown

Hi there! I'm Casey, and I'm 8 years old. I live in a cool place called Haggardstown Co. Louth. It's really fun growing up here. My favourite place to visit is the Dundalk Bay. It's really big and on sunny days, it sparkles like a giant diamond. I love watching the birds there. Some of them are bigger than our dog!

There's also this really old church called St. Mary's. It's super old, like hundreds of years! I think it's a bit spooky, but I like the tall tower. You can see it from almost anywhere in town. Sometimes, I pretend it's a castle and I'm the knight protecting it.

I also like going to Dundalk Stadium with my family. They have horse races there, and even though I can't bet, I love picking a horse and cheering it on. It's really exciting when my horse wins!

So that's my life in Haggardstown. I think it's the best place in the world to be a kid. I can't wait to have more adventures here!

  1. Why do you think Casey loves watching the birds at Dundalk Bay?
  2. What does Casey imagine when they see St. Mary’s church tower?
  3. How does Casey feel when their chosen horse wins at Dundalk Stadium?
  4. Why does Casey think Haggardstown is the best place to be a kid?
  5. What can you tell about Casey's personality based on their blog post?

The Logainm of Haggardstown

Haggardstown is a town in County Louth, Ireland. The name Haggardstown comes from the Irish words 'Haggard' and 'town'. 'Haggard' means a paddock or a small enclosed field near a house. So Haggardstown basically means 'the town with the small field'.

It is believed that this town got its name hundreds of years ago. Back then, people used to have small fields or 'haggards' near their houses to keep animals or to grow food. The town was probably named Haggardstown because there were lots of these small fields there.

Today, Haggardstown is still a rural area with lots of fields. There may not be as many small 'haggards' as there were in the past, but the name of the town reminds us of how people used to live. So, even though times have changed, the name Haggardstown keeps us connected to our history.

  1. What does the name Haggardstown mean?
  2. Why do you think the town was called Haggardstown?
  3. How does the name Haggardstown connect us to the past?
  4. What is a 'haggard' and why were they important to people in the past?
  5. How has Haggardstown changed from the past to the present day?

Slideshow - Haggardstown
A full set of teaching plans for teaching about Haggardstown