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A Short History Of Banagher ©James
Scully 1994 •
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Origins:
Banagher lies in the heart of the Irish Midlands at a major crossing point
on the River Shannon.
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St.
Rynagh: Rynagh was one of a remarkable
group of female Irish saints prominent in Early Christian Ireland.
Her name is best
known as patron of the parish, some local groups and particularly
St. Rynagh's G.A.A.
Club.
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Town:
Up to the early seventeenth century Bangher was the territory of the
MacCoghlan clan. Whatever there was of a town at that time was due to
the efforts of Sir John MacCoghlan. However, it was the arrival of Sir
Mathew De Renzi that accelerated the town's growth. De Renzi, was granted
lands at Clonony, near Banagher in 1613. In the struggle between De
Renzi and MacCoghlan to gain control of the lands, De Renzi was victorious.
De Renzi's plans to build a fort and town here were adopted and Fort
Falkland was built here in1624.
A small town soon
grew adjacent to the fort and in1629 Banagher was
incorporated as a
borough and a Royal School established. In the 1650s a horse fair was
held in Banagher. This was to become an annual event which still takes
place to this day.
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