Gort

Gort is short for the complete Irish name, Gort Inse Guaire (gort: a meadow, field, inse: an island, and Guaire: a proper name) and translates to "field of Guaire's island".{{Cite web |title=People and Places of Galway |url=http://places.galwaylibrary.ie/place/56177 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=places.galwaylibrary.ie |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103202056/http://places.galwaylibrary.ie/place/56177 |url-status=dead }}

File:Kilmacduagh Monastic Site - geograph.org.uk - 805538.jpg, reputedly founded in the 7th century, is approximately 5 km from Gort]]

File:Gort, Co. Galway.jpg

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes ringfort, souterrain and holy well sites in the townlands of Gort, Ballyhugh, Cloghnakeava, Cloonnahaha and Lavally.{{cite book |title=Archaeological inventory of County Galway |date=1993 |publisher=Government Stationery Office |editor=Gosling, Paul |place=Dublin}} In 2022, a large Bronze Age fort, located in Coole Park near Gort, was dated between 800 and 1200 BCE during archaeological work in the Burren lowlands.{{Cite web |last=Magnier |first=Eileen |date=2022-06-19 | website = rte.ie |title=Fortress dating back to 800–1200 BC an 'incredible find' |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2022/0619/1305770-bronze-age-monument-discovered/ |language=en}}

The Guaire in Gort Inse Guaire refers to King Guaire "The Generous" (Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin), the seventh century King of Connacht.{{Cite journal |last=Ó Conaire |first=Peadar |date=1978 |title=Guaire's Generosity |url=http://www.guaire.org/uploads/2/5/1/3/2513401/guaire_1978_issue_1.pdf |journal=Guaire Magazine |issue=1 |page=10}} Guaire reputedly kept royal residences in Gort on a small island on the Gort river and also built a fort in nearby Kinvara named Dunguaire ("Fort of Guaire" in Irish).{{sfn|Fahey|1893|p=174}}{{sfn|Grey|McNamara|2000|p=53}} He was the patron of his first cousin St. Colman MacDuagh (giving him the land for Kilmacduagh monastery){{sfn|Grey|McNamara|2000|p=55}}{{Cite web |title=Kilmacduagh {{!}} Monastic Ireland |url=http://monastic.ie/history/kilmacduagh/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |language=en-GB}}

During the Middle Ages the chiefs of Cenél Áeda na hEchtge, the O'Shaughnessys (Ó Seachnasaigh, a clan descended from Guaire Aidhneach), had their principal stronghold in Gort, a castle on the island site which later became a cavalry barracks.{{sfn|Fahey|1893}} The castle, and manor house, were put under siege in 1652 by Cromwellian forces. The structures were taken, burned, and later destroyed.{{Cite journal |last=Ryan |first=Anne |date=1989–1990 |title=Gort Inse Guaire, a Royal Residence in South Galway |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25550139?searchText=gort&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3Fscope%3DeyJwYWdlTmFtZSI6ICJKb3VybmFsIG9mIHRoZSBHYWx3YXkgQXJjaGFlb2xvZ2ljYWwgYW5kIEhpc3RvcmljYWwgU29jaWV0eSIsICJwYWdlVXJsIjogIi9qb3VybmFsL2pnYWxhcmNoaGlzdHNvYyIsICJ0eXBlIjogImpvdXJuYWwiLCAiamNvZGVzIjogImpnYWxhcmNoaGlzdHNvYyJ9%26Query%3Dgort&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Ac841ada820095a7d515d533f5c86b587# |journal=Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=42 |pages=143–150 |JSTOR=25550139}}

At the end of the 17th century, the O'Shaughnessy lands were confiscated and granted to Sir Thomas Prendergast, 1st Baronet, whose grandson was John Prendergast Smyth, 1st Viscount Gort.{{sfn|Grey|McNamara|2000|pp=96–98}} The centre of the town was built at this time (the late period in Georgian architecture) according to Lord Gort's plans. It was designed around a large triangular market.{{sfn|Grey|McNamara|2000|p=116}}

In the 18th and 19th century, the Gort Races took place at the Newtown Course. There were prizes and this was hosted by the local landlords for the "turf loving gentry of both provinces" [Munster and Connacht].{{Cite news |date=6 August 1774 |title=Gort Races |page=6 |work=Finns Leinster Journal}}{{Cite news |date=9 September 1856 |title=Gort Races – Newtown Course |page=3 |work=Freemans Journal}}

There was a large flour mill built along the river in 1806, it was 4 stories tall, with a wooden wheel, and very active. It operated until 1966. It was sold to the Gort Co-operative Mart and destroyed in 1985.{{Cite news |date=1 March 1985 |title=Old mill was dangerous say Co-op in row on demolition |page=1 |work=Connacht Tribune}}

The Great Famine caused hardship and destitution in Gort, with a decrease in the population in the mid-19th century. Many people emigrated to Canada and the United States, while others fell ill and died. In 1841, the town had a population of 3,056, in 1861 the population was 2,097. There was unrest among the population, as well as rampant theft. There were also a number of relief and work schemes in the area. Gort's Fever Hospital, and the adjacent workhouse, were built at this time.{{sfn|Grey|McNamara|2000|pages=136–166}}

Coole House, Lady Gregory's home, served as a base for the Irish Literary Revival in the late 1800s and early 20th century. There is an "Autograph Tree", still there, that has the carved initials of some of her notable guests: George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Seán O'Casey, Jack B. Yeats, John M. Synge, and Lady Margaret Sackville.{{Cite web |first=Ronnie |last = O'Gorman |title=The names on the Autograph Tree at Coole |url=https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/113927/the-names-on-the-autograph-tree-at-coole |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Galway Advertiser}} W. B. Yeats bought a tower house, Thoor Ballylee, from the Gregorys, restored it, and made it his summer residence in the 1920s. Yeats wrote about the restoration using "smithy work from the Gort forge".{{Cite book |last=Felton |first=R. Todd |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/427511039 |title=A journey into Ireland's literary revival |date=2007 |publisher=Roaring Forties Press |isbn=978-0-9823410-4-9 |location=Berkeley, CA |oclc=427511039}} Jack B. Yeats painted and drew scenes of everyday life in Gort.{{Cite web |title=Now you can own a Jack B Yeats for €200 |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/now-you-can-own-a-jack-b-yeats-for-200-26676250.html |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=independent |date=30 August 2010 |language=en}}

As a barracks town, Gort had a strong presence of Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and Black and Tans during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921). A young woman, Eileen Quinn,{{Cite web |title=The killing of Eileen Quinn |url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/in-depth/eileen-quinn |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=lawsociety.ie}} was shot dead while holding her infant just outside of the town by the Auxiliary Division of the RIC on 1 November 1920 – in what has been described as "essentially a drive-by shooting".{{Cite news |title=Sordid murder of hurling brothers still resonates in south Galway |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/sordid-murder-of-hurling-brothers-still-resonates-in-south-galway-1.4420619 |access-date=2022-11-28 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} On November 26 the Loughnane brothers were interrogated in the Gort barracks before being "tied to the tailgate of a lorry and dragged to Drumharsna Castle" and killed by the RIC.{{Cite news |title=One of most powerful images of War of Independence |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/one-of-most-powerful-images-of-war-of-independence-1.4194150 |access-date=2022-11-28 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} RIC personnel conducted raids, tortured, stole, and terrorised people in Gort and the area. Beatings took place at the Gort barracks.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} The town also hosted a military court, which investigated Eileen Quinn's murder.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Starting in the early 2000s, there was an influx of Brazilian immigrants to Gort; in 2006, they made up around 30% of the town's population. The town hosts celebrations of Brazilian Carnival and a branch of Brazilian evangelical church Assembléia de Deus, and the local Catholic church holds services in both English and Portuguese.{{cite news |title=Brasileiros causam revolução demográfica na pequena Gort |url=https://www.dw.com/pt-br/brasileiros-causam-revolu%C3%A7%C3%A3o-demogr%C3%A1fica-na-pequena-gort/a-2115070 |access-date=3 January 2025 |work=dw.com |date=August 1, 2006 |language=pt}}{{cite news |title=Brasileiros relatam clima de medo na Irlanda após agressões – DW – 04/12/2024 |url=https://www.dw.com/pt-br/brasileiros-relatam-clima-de-medo-na-irlanda-ap%C3%B3s-ataques-violentos/a-70960507 |work=dw.com |language=pt}}

Gort is in County Galway and lies just north of the border with County Clare. This is on the old Galway to Limerick road (now the R458), and is about halfway between Ennis and Loughrea. It is around {{convert|35|km|mi|0}} by road from Galway City.

The town straddles the Gort River, a river that "disappears" underground several times between its source and Galway Bay.{{Cite web |title=Karst Features of Ireland: Gort River |url=https://www.showcaves.com/english/ie/karst/GortRiver.html |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Show Caves of the World |language=en}} Gort is in a valley between the exposed limestone region of the Burren, and the peaty hills of the Slieve Aughty.{{Cite book |last=Cunningham |first=George |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/40251870 |title=Exploring the Burren |date=1998 |isbn=0-946172-59-5 |location=Dublin |oclc=40251870}}{{Cite web |title=aughty.org - history/heritage |url=http://aughty.org/heritage.htm |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=aughty.org |archive-date=28 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028133016/http://www.aughty.org/heritage.htm |url-status=dead }}

The town is in the historical territory of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne also known as Maigh Aidhne ("the plain of Aidhne"), which is within the diocese of Kilmacduagh (Cill Mhic Dhuach). Gort stands in 3 parishes and 3 townlands, namely Beagh, Kilmacduach and Kiltartan, each in the barony of Kiltartan.

{{Historical populations|state=collapsed

|1821|2559

|1831|2627

|1841|3056

|1851|2398

|1861|2097

|1871|1773

|1881|1719

|1891|1498

|1901|1339

|1911|1166

|1926|1083

|1936|1034

|1946|1046

|1951|1008

|1956|1094

|1961|1044

|1966|990

|1971|975

|1981|1095

|1986|1021

|1991|1093

|1996|1182

|2002|1776

|2006|2734

|2011|2644

|2016|2994

|2022|2870

| footnote={{Cite web |url=http://www.cso.ie/census |title=Census for post 1821 figures |access-date=1 August 2009 |archive-date=9 March 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309005718/http://www.cso.ie/census/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org/ |title=histpop.org |access-date=31 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url = http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census | title = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency – Census Home Page |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}{{cite book

| last=Lee|first=J. J.| author-link =J. J. Lee (historian)|editor-last=Goldstrom|editor-first=J. M.|editor2-last=Clarkson

| editor2-first=L. A.|title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell

| year=1981|publisher=Clarendon Press|location=Oxford, England

| chapter=On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses}}{{Cite journal | last1 = Mokyr | first1 = Joel | author-link = Joel Mokyr | last2 = Ó Gráda | first2 = Cormac | author2-link = Cormac Ó Gráda | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850 | journal = The Economic History Review | volume = 37 | issue = 4 | pages = 473–488 |date=November 1984

| url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract | url-status = dead | archive-date = 4 December 2012 | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x | hdl = 10197/1406 | hdl-access = free }}

}}

As of the 2016 census, Gort had around 3,000 inhabitants and was one of the most diverse towns in Ireland, with 26.6% being non-Irish.{{Cite web |title=All non-Irish nationals in Ireland – CSO – Central Statistics Office |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp7md/p7md/p7anii/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=www.cso.ie |language=en}}

According to the 2006 census, approximately 40% of the residents of Gort were non-Irish, mainly Brazilians. These people originally came to work in the meat processing plants in Gort, where the pay is generally much higher than in similar plants in Brazil. According to Claire Healy's Irish Migration Studies in Latin America, a "large community of Brazilians now live, work and attend school in Gort, gradually altering the appearance and the character of the town".{{cite web|url = http://www.irlandeses.org/healy_gort.htm | title = Carnaval do Galway: The Brazilian Community in Gort, 1999–2006 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070625220331/http://www.irlandeses.org/healy_gort.htm |archive-date=25 June 2007 | first = Claire |last = Healy | work = Irish Migration Studies in Latin America | date = July 2006 | via = irlandeses.org | accessdate = 14 August 2007}} By the time of the 2011 census, non-Irish nationals accounted for 27.2% of the population. The largest group (417 people) were still Brazilians, followed by UK nationals (81).{{Cite web|url=http://census.cso.ie/areaprofiles/areaprofile.aspx?Geog_Type=ST&Geog_Code=27010|title=Area Profile For Town – Gort Co. Galway | website = census.cso.ie |access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=23 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623172110/http://census.cso.ie/areaprofiles/areaprofile.aspx?Geog_Type=ST&Geog_Code=27010|url-status=live}}

Gort was once an agricultural market town.{{sfn|Boland|2019}} As of the 21st century, it is home to a Lidl, an Aldi, and a Supervalu. It was one of the worst affected towns in Ireland in the post-2008 recession. According to a 2019 Irish Times article, "[b]etween 2006 and 2011, it lost 400 jobs and 14 per cent of its population. Jobs were lost with the closure of Duffy Meats, a factory in which many Brazilians had been working, and also when the construction industry imploded".{{sfn|Boland|2019}}

Gort Co-operative Mart was founded in 1962, operated in the town until 1996, when it moved 2.5 kilometres out of the centre. As of 2020, approximately 16,500 cattle and 7,000 sheep "passed through its gate with a €15.6 million turnover".{{Cite web |last=Halpin |first=Conor |date=2021-03-17 |title=Bernie Fahey on her journey to becoming Gort Mart's manager |url=https://thatsfarming.com/beef/bernie-fahey-gort-mart/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=thatsfarming.com |language=en-GB}}

There are three factories in town: counter fabricator Top Form, electronics maker Lisk, and medical device maker Natus.{{Cite web |title=Topform Limited named Overall Winner at the National Small Business Awards 2021 – SFA |url=https://www.ibec.ie/sfa/news-insights-and-events/news/2021/12/01/topform-limited-named-overall-winner-at-the-national-small-business-awards-2021 |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=www.ibec.ie |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cahill |first=Fiona |last2=Limited |first2=Dreamglade |date=2022-04-04 |title=Workers At LISK In Gort Begin Campaign Of Industrial Action |url=https://www.clare.fm/news/current_affairs/workers-lisk-gort-begin-campaign-industrial-action/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Clare FM |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2019-07-01 |title=Medical devices maker Natus grows in Gort, plans to expand work force to 200 |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/medical-devices-maker-natus-grows-in-gort-plans-to-expand-work-force-to-200/38269541.html |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Independent.ie |language=en}}

In December 2022, An Bord Pleanála overturned a Galway County Council planning decision and permission was granted for a biogas plant near the town.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-23 |title=Anger over granting of permission for biogas facility in Gort |url=https://galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/anger-over-granting-of-permission-for-biogas-facility-in-gort/ |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Galway Bay FM |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Corr |first=Shauna |date=2021-11-22 |title=Galway town's desperate plea to save area from biogas plant with flame stack 'higher than church spire' |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/galway-towns-desperate-plea-save-25517063 |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Irish Mirror |language=en}} As of August 2023, a challenge against this decision was being heard by the High Court.{{Cite web |title=Court challenge launched against planned biogas plant in ‘ecologically sensitive’ part of Galway |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2023/08/03/concerns-about-nitrogen-depositions-from-proposed-bigas-plant-in-ecologically-sensitive-part-of-galway-court-hears/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

File:Photo of the Stable Yard or Visitor Centre with gorgeous blue skies in the background.jpg

According to a 2019 Irish Times article, local business people saw tourism as an important sector to expand in the town.{{sfn|Boland|2019}} Gort has a number of bars and restaurants, and guest accommodation.{{Cite web |title=Explore Gort in County Galway |url=https://www.discoverireland.ie/gort |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=Discover Ireland |language=en}} The websites of Fáilte Ireland and the "Burren Lowlands" destination marketing group, list nearby tourist destinations as The Burren, Coole Park Visitor Centre & Gardens, Kilmacduagh cathedral churches and round tower, Thoor Ballylee, and Kiltartan Gregory Museum.{{Cite web |title=The Burren Lowlands |url=https://www.burrenlowlands.org/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=The Burren Lowlands |language=en-IE}}

A number of the town's cultural organisations are grouped under an umbrella organisation, the Gorgeous Gort Forum.{{Cite web |title=Gort set for transformation under regeneration plans |url=https://connachttribune.ie/gort-set-for-transformation-under-regeneration-plans/ |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=connachttribune.ie |language=en-GB |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102130135/https://connachttribune.ie/gort-set-for-transformation-under-regeneration-plans/ |url-status=dead }} The Wild Swans Theatre Company is a local group of actors which put on plays in St. Colman's Hall.{{Cite web |last=McMahon |first=Paraic |date=2020-05-28 |title=Gort priest finding new ways of engaging with congregation |url=https://www.clareecho.ie/gort-priest-finding-new-ways-of-engaging-with-congregation/ |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Clare Echo |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date = 2010 |title=Gort's Wild Swans take their wake to the stage |url=https://www.advertiser.ie/Galway/article/24306/gorts-wild-swans-take-their-wake-to-the-stage |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Galway Advertiser}} The Cooley Collins Festival is a traditional Irish music event that takes place at the end of October.{{Cite web |title=Trad festival aims to break world record |url=https://connachttribune.ie/trad-festival-aims-to-break-world-record-432/ |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=connachttribune.ie |language=en-GB |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102230210/https://connachttribune.ie/trad-festival-aims-to-break-world-record-432/ |url-status=dead }} There is a museum dedicated to Lady Gregory, Kiltartan Gregory Museum, in an old schoolhouse.{{Cite news |title=Sir William Gregory was detested for his role during the Irish Famine |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/sir-william-gregory-was-detested-for-his-role-during-the-irish-famine-1.4221949 |access-date=2022-11-02 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} The Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society keeps Yeat's 15th-century tower house open with events, a studio, and tours.{{Cite web |last=Corbett |first=Kevin |date=2022-04-11 |title=Thoor Ballylea to reopen on East Saturday |url=https://clarechampion.ie/thoor-ballylee/ |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=The Clare Champion |language=en-GB}} Guaire Magazine is a magazine on local history and culture, it dates back to the mid-1970s.{{Cite web |title=Archives |url=http://www.guaire.org/archives.html |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Guaire Magazine – Gort, Co. Galway, Ireland |language=en}} Since 1981, the town hosts the annual Gort and District Show, a community event which awards prizes in a number of categories from photography and crafts, to flowers and ponies.{{Cite web |title=Gort & District Show |url=https://www.irishshows.org/irishshowdirectory/77 |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=Irish Shows Association |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=July 27, 2017 |title=Gort show gets bigger and better |url=https://www.advertiser.ie/Galway/article/94164/gort-show-gets-bigger-and-better |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=Galway Advertiser}} There is a Gort Arts Collective of 40 plus regional artists which organised a small St. Brigid's Day festival in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Corbett |first=Kevin |date=2023-02-02 |title=Gort to celebrate St Brigid's bank holiday with arts events |url=https://clarechampion.ie/gort-to-celebrate-st-brigids-bank-holiday-with-arts-events/ |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=The Clare Champion |language=en-GB}}

File:Gort - Church Street - geograph.org.uk - 3434318.jpg

File:Gothic revival castle, Lough Cutra Castle, Galway, Ireland (20299996302).jpg

Gort has a number of buildings of architectural interest, being a well preserved planned Georgian period market town.{{sfn|Grey|McNamara|2000|p=116}}

There is a mid-19th century Weigh House in the centre of the old square, as well as a 1933 marble sculpture of Christ the King by the Irish sculptor Albert Power.{{Cite web |title=Críost Rí, Market Square, BALLYHUGH, Gort, GALWAY |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/30341016/criost-ri-market-square-ballyhugh-gort-co-galway |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Buildings of Ireland |language=en-US}} The town hall is a former 19th century school which is now used for community theatre. There is a large Catholic church, St. Colman's Church (built 1825),{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/30341030/saint-colmans-church-market-square-church-road-ballyhugh-gort-galway| website = buildingsofireland.ie | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Saint Colman's Church, Market Square, Church Road, Ballyhugh, Gort, Galway | accessdate = 7 November 2022 }} with a public park, Canon Quinn Park, behind. The old Church of Ireland church, built {{circa|1820}}, is now the public library.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/30341042/gort-library-church-road-ballyhugh-gort-galway | website = buildingsofireland.ie | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Gort Library, Church Road, Ballyhugh, Gort, Galway | accessdate = 7 November 2022 }} The Gort River Walk, opened a 3 km looped walking trail along the Gort River with a new bridge in October 2022.{{Cite web |title=Major Gort amenity to officially open today |url=https://connachttribune.ie/major-gort-amenity-to-officially-open-today/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=connachttribune.ie |language=en-GB |archive-date=1 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145709/https://connachttribune.ie/major-gort-amenity-to-officially-open-today/ |url-status=dead }}

Next to the river and the original bridge (constructed in 1771) is Bridge House, the original residence of Lord Gort before the move to Lough Cutra Castle. This house, dated around 1770,{{sfn|Grey|McNamara|2000|page=117}} has since been added to and was a Sisters of Mercy convent from 1857 until 2022,{{Cite web |last=Corrigan |first=Stephen |title=Mercy Convent is home to 48 refugees – as nuns depart after 140 years |url=https://connachttribune.ie/mercy-convent-is-home-to-48-refugees-as-nuns-depart-after-140-years-365/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=connachttribune.ie |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108154106/https://connachttribune.ie/mercy-convent-is-home-to-48-refugees-as-nuns-depart-after-140-years-365/ |url-status=dead }} with a primary school on the grounds.{{Cite web |title=Sisters of Mercy Convent, Bridge Street, Queen Street, Ballyhugh, Gort, Galway |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/30341046/sisters-of-mercy-convent-bridge-street-queen-street-ballyhugh-gort-co-galway |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=buildingsofireland.ie | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage |language=en-US}} As of 2022 it houses Ukrainian refugees.{{Cite web |title=New Foundations {{!}} Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy |url=https://sistersofmercy.ie/2022/05/new-foundations/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=sistersofmercy.ie |date=6 May 2022 |language=en-GB}}

Gort GAA club was founded in 1884 and is primarily dedicated to its hurling team.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-14 |title=Galway club crux resolved after Thomas' gesture to Gort |website=RTÉ.ie |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/1114/1259916-galway-club-crux-resolved-after-thomas-gesture-to-gort/ |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Gort end their long wait in style |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gort-end-their-long-wait-in-style-1.8516 |access-date=2022-11-02 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} The town also has a rugby club, the Gort Gladiators, and two football (soccer) teams, Coole Football Club and Gort United Football Club.{{Cite web |title=Gladiator spirit gives historic club fighting chance |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/gladiator-spirit-gives-historic-club-fighting-chance-30910970.html |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=independent |date=16 January 2015 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=FAI Club Map {{!}} Football Association of Ireland |url=https://www.fai.ie/domestic/fai-club-map |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.fai.ie}} There is also the Gort Golf Club.{{Cite web |date=2019-06-23 |title=Gort Golf Club Launches Its Summer Golf Classic |url=https://galwaybayfm.ie/sports/gort-golf-club-launches-its-summer-golf-classic/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Galway Bay FM |language=en-GB}}

Cliona D'Arcy, of Gort, won the heavyweight gold medal at the 2022 IBA Youth World Boxing Championships, becoming the first Irish woman to do so.{{Cite web |website=iaba.ie |date=2022-11-26 |title=Cliona D'Arcy: World Youth Heavyweight Champion |url=http://iaba.ie/cliona-darcy-world-youth-heavyweight-champion/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |publisher=Irish Athletic Boxing Association |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Cliona D'Arcy wins heavyweight gold medal at World Youth Championships |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/boxing/cliona-darcy-wins-heavyweight-gold-medal-at-world-youth-championships-42176408.html |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=independent |date=26 November 2022 |language=en}}

Gort is accessible from the M18 motorway from Shannon to Galway, at Junction 16. The M18 ends at junction 18 of the M6 motorway. The road continues northbound as the M17 towards Tuam and Sligo. The segment from Ennis to Gort of the M18 motorway bypass of the town was officially opened on 12 November 2010. This was followed by the Gort to Tuam section which opened on 27 September 2017.{{Cite web |title=Opening of Gort-Tuam motorway unlocks opportunity for effective regional economic growth |url=https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/95450/opening-of-gort-tuam-motorway-unlocks-opportunity-for-effective-regional-economic-growth |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Galway Advertiser}}

Gort railway station opened on 15 September 1869 and was closed for goods traffic on 3 November 1975 and for passenger traffic on 5 April 1976.{{cite web |title=Gort station |url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302022802/http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf |archive-date=2 March 2011 |access-date=15 October 2007 |work=Railscot – Irish Railways}} It was reopened in 2010 as part of the Western Railway Corridor project.{{Cite web |title=Western Railway Corridor Project, Ireland |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/westernrailwaycorrid/ |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Railway Technology |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2005-04-25 |title=Western rail corridor set to reopen |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30199677.html |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}

Gort rail services are on the Galway to Limerick route with connections to Cork and Tralee from Limerick station and to Dublin via Athenry and Galway.{{Cite web |title=Train Timetables by Station |url=http://www.irishrail.ie/train-timetables/timetables-by-station#g |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107072443/http://www.irishrail.ie/train-timetables/timetables-by-station#g |archive-date=7 January 2019 |access-date=7 January 2019}}{{cite web |date=November 2016 |title=Timetable: Galway Limerick Cork Tralee |url=http://www.irishrail.ie/media/galway_-_limerickcorktralee_valid_from_20.11.2016.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107072702/http://www.irishrail.ie/media/galway_-_limerickcorktralee_valid_from_20.11.2016.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2019 |website=Irish Rail}}

Gort is served by Bus Éireann routes 51 (north to Galway and south to Shannon and Limerick), 434 (to Galway), and Local Link Galway line 934 (to Loughrea).{{cite web|url = https://www.buseireann.ie/timetables/51-1637337258.pdf | website = buseireann.ie | title = Timetable – Expressway – Route 51}}{{cite web | url = https://www.buseireann.ie/timetable/2310.pdf | website = buseireann.ie | title = Timetable - Route 434 | access-date = 5 November 2022 | archive-date = 26 February 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230226114330/https://buseireann.ie/timetable/2310.pdf | url-status = dead }}{{Cite web |title=Route 934 - Gort to Loughrea |url=https://www.locallinkgalway.ie/dynamic-timetables/route-934---gort-to-loughrea |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Local Link Galway |language=en}}

The secondary school Gort Community School, founded in 1995, has more than 800 students, and serves a large area of south County Galway.{{Cite web |title=Gort Community School, Gort, Co. Galway {{!}} The Irish Times Feeder Schools |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/feeder-schools/gort-community-school/91498C |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.irishtimes.com}}{{Cite web |date=2016-03-28 |title=History of Gort CS {{!}} Gort Community School |url=http://www.gortcs.com/about-gort-cs/history-of-gort-cs/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328090245/http://www.gortcs.com/about-gort-cs/history-of-gort-cs/ |archive-date=28 March 2016 }} The school facilities include a GAA pitch, rugby union pitch, football pitch, and canteen. The school's sports teams include hurling, rugby, soccer and swimming.[https://www.gortcs.com/school-information-2/students/ School website]{{better source needed|independent source requested|date=March 2024}}

File:Thoor Ballylee003(js).jpg ]]

• Lady Gregory (1852–1932), lived at Coole Park
• Aidan Harte (b. 1988), inter-county hurler
• Eileen Huban (c. 1896–1935), actress from Gort, active in New York City
• Robert Lahiffe (1909–1975), politician
• Thomas Laughnan (1824–1864), recipient of the Victoria Cross, was born in Gort
• Sylvie Linnane (b. 1956), All-Star hurler
• Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin (d.663), the 7th century King of Connacht
• Colman mac Duagh (560–632), saint
• Lisa McInerney (b. 1981), novelist and winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction
• Paddy McMahon Glynn (1855–1931), born in Gort, served variously as Attorney-General of Australia, Australian Minister for External Affairs and Minister for Home Affairs
• John Prendergast-Smyth, 1st Viscount Gort (1742–1817), politician
• Frank Quinn (1915–1996), first-class cricketer
• Gerry Quinn (1917–1968), rugby international and first-class cricketer
• Kevin Quinn (1923–2002), rugby international and first-class cricketer
• Jack Butler Yeats (1871–1957), painter who depicted scenes of everyday life in Gort
• William Butler Yeats (1865–1939), Nobel Laureate poet who renovated an old tower house near the town (Thoor Ballylee) and took up residence

A 2018 documentary film, Town of Strangers, was made by Dr. Treasa O’Brien on Gort's immigrants "who have helped make that town such a cosmopolitan hub".{{Cite news |title=Gort film Town of Strangers is a fascinating hybrid of fact and fiction |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/gort-film-town-of-strangers-is-a-fascinating-hybrid-of-fact-and-fiction-1.4506706 |access-date=2022-11-16 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}{{Citation |last=O'Brien |first=Treasa |title=Town of Strangers |date=2018-07-14 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8578324/ |type=Documentary, Western |publisher=Stinging Hornet Films, Wildfire Films |access-date=2022-11-16}}

Local director Keith Walsh and producer Jill Beardsworth made the film When All is Ruin Once Again, a "highly personal documentary essay" shot in, and about, Gort and neighbouring village Crusheen, in 2018. It won several awards and was considered in an RTE review to be a "masterpiece of cinema" and "beautiful but philosophically shaky" by The Irish Times.{{Cite journal |last=Kehoe |first=Paddy |date=2020-04-16 |title=When All is Ruin Once Again: A poignant warning note |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/movie-reviews/2020/0416/1130887-when-all-is-ruin-once-again-a-poignant-warning-note/ |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=When All Is Ruin Once Again: Celebration of a simpler Ireland |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/when-all-is-ruin-once-again-celebration-of-a-simpler-ireland-1.4235045 |access-date=2023-05-09 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}

• Bermingham Scully, Pauline (2017). South Galway Stories: Volume 1. Athenry [Ireland]: Book Hub Publishing.
• {{cite book | first = Mary |last = De Lourdes Fahy | title = Kiltartan: Many Leaves One Root - a history of the parish of Kiltartan | publisher = Kiltartan Gregory Museum | date = 2004 | isbn = 9780954777500 }}
• Hanley, Mary (1995). Thoor Ballylee home of William Butler Yeats. Liam Miller (3d ed., rev ed.). Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire [Great Britain]: Colin Smythe Limited. {{ISBN|0-85105-511-7}}.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite news |title=The town that got over a flood, a recession and a bypass |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/the-town-that-got-over-a-flood-a-recession-and-a-bypass-1.3939241 |access-date=2022-11-02 |first = Rosita | last = Boland | date = 29 June 2019 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Fahey |first=J.A. |title=The history and antiquities of the diocese of Kilmacduagh |publisher=Kenny Gallery |year=1893 |isbn=0906312337 |edition=Reprint 1986 |location=Galway}}
• {{Cite book |title=Gort Inse Guaire : a journey through time |date=2000 |publisher=Gort Heritage Trust |first1=Marguerite |last1 = Grey | first2 = Marie | last2= McNamara |isbn=0-9533200-3-0 |location=Gort, Ireland |oclc=48661676}}

• [http://www.cooleycollinstradfest.com/ Cooley Collins Festival]
• [http://ladygregoryyeatstrail.com/ The Lady Gregory Yeats Heritage Trail]
• [http://www.guaire.org/ Guaire Magazine]

{{County Galway}}

Category:Towns and villages in County Galway

Category:O'Shaughnessy family