History of Gort

The  Irish/Gaelic name for the town of Gort is  Gort Inse Guaire.. This translates as "the field of the island of Guaire". Guaire became King of Connacht circa 655 A.D. He had two royal residences, one in Kinvara, known as Dunguaire and another in Gort. He was renowned for his hospitality, so much so that one of his hands was supposed to be longer than the other, from giving!

St. Colman Mac Duagh was a cousin of Guaire and it was through the king's generosity that he founded the monastery of Kilmacduagh.

By about 700 A.D. Guaire's family were no longer kings of Connacht. The O'Clearys were now recognised as chiefs of Ui Fiachrach Aidhne, a district which was roughly co-extensive with the diocese of Kilmacduagh, or south Co. Galway. They were succeeded by the O'Hynes and the Kilkellys around the close of the tenth century.

The O'Shaughnessys came to prominence in the twelfth century and held sway until the end of the seventeenth century in spite of fierce opposition from the Normans and later the English.

The family of Prendergast-Smyth were granted the estates of the O'Shaughnessys at the end of the seventeenth century,  after the Battle of the Boyne. The Prendergast-Smyths began to build the town of Gort as we know it today. One of their members, John Prendergast Smyth was granted the title Lord Gort in 1817.

From then onwards Gort became a thriving market town.

For further reference see:

Fahey Rev. Jerome, The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, (Gill, 1893).

Fahy M. de Lourdes, Kiltartan, Many Leaves, One Root,  A History of Kiltartan, (Kiltartan, 2004)

Fahy M. de Lourdes, Near Quiet Waters, A History of Gort Convent, (Gort, 2007)

McNamara M. & Grey M. (eds), Gort Inse Guaire, A Journey Through Time, (Gort, 2000).