About Gort

Gort (Gort Inse Guaire) is situated in south county galway in the west of Ireland, about half an hour's drive south of Galway city. It lies just north of the border with County Clare. 

Transport to Gort by car on the old N18 road, or just off of the M18 motorway (Google Map). If you are travelling by public transport, by bus (Bus Éireann - Gort timetable) and also by rail (Iarnród Éireann). There is also a public transport listings service with up to the minute information located here on the "get there" website.

 

The Market Town Of Gort

From yon Market Square, when free from care
I gazed in days of yore.
But those childhood scenes have gone like dreams
to return nevermore.
They will ne'er come back, alas! Alack!
and a day was far too short.
When I met my friends, around
John Glynn's
in the Market Town of Gort.
A health to Sonny Mullins
musician of renown.
From far and near they came to 
cheer
while he entertained in town
From Camden Square and all over
Clare
Loughrea and Woodford too
Violins and Pipes, accordions and 
fifes
Tin Whistles and Bodhrán, a few.
In a house well run, sure we had
some fun,
he gave every man his Dew!
 
Joe Cooley too, so brave and true
had played for Kings and Queens.
Now he plays on high beyond the 
sky
I can hear him in my dreams.
And Des Mulkere, is a born player
Chris Droney of the gifted few.
While Joe Burke, don't forget, is
hard to be 'bet'
when lashing out a reel or two.
To name them all, is not for me at 
all
and space gets rather short.
But tradition sounds of music 
abound
round the Market Town of Gort.

 

When Hitler's crews were very bad 
news
round Warsaw and Budapest.
Those Derrybrien creels, with their
tidy 'Maols'
paraded with the best.
On the Market Square, I do declare
round the statue of Christ the King
While bargains we made and
prayers were said
as the Angelus Bells did ring.Around Barrack Street we often did meet

Woolbuyers, with horses too.
And pony loads of Hazelrods
for thatching near Curranroo.
Herrings, sea-graass and mackerel
anything from a gossoon's shirt.
Could be bought and sold in the
days of old
in the Market Town of Gort.

The man who made the first sliotar
in a GAA game to play
Had plied his trade in Crowe
Street,
at Harness making for many a day.
Ned Treston, sure, that was his
name
I remember him quite well.
And also Paddy Nolan
who many a boot did sell.
Like many more they are dead and
gone
to join that good old sort
Who helped to make a merry place
of that grand ould town of Gort.
 
Peadar Ó Fathaigh

 

More About Gort

Gort Inse Guaire on Facebook Gort Chamber of Commerce facebook page.

I Love Gort Campaign on Facebook The I Love Gort campaign was started through the Georges Street Residents Association. The campaign proposes to reinvigorate local pride in our area and in the process make our street and our town Gorgeous.

For more information on Gort, see this  Wikipedia page