View source for Moate

{{Short description|Town in County Westmeath in Ireland}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Moate
| native_name        = {{native name|ga|An Móta}}
| native_name_lang   = ga
| settlement_type    = Town
| image_skyline      = Moate - Main Street (N6) - geograph.org.uk - 1606693.jpg
| image_caption      = Main Street ([[R446 road (Ireland)|R446 road]])
| pushpin_map        = Ireland
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland
| coordinates        = {{coord|53.3954|-7.7205|dim:100000_region:IE-WH|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = Ireland
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
| subdivision_type3  = Dáil Éireann
| subdivision_name1  = [[Leinster]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[County Westmeath]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Longford–Westmeath (Dáil constituency)|Longford–Westmeath]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_total_km2     = 1.943
| elevation_m        = 72
| population_total   = 3013
| population_as_of   = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | title = Census Mapping – Moate | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=6b532195-ba4a-4cfd-8c7f-51e628c9f908 | work = [[2022 census of Ireland|Census 2022]] | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] | access-date = 11 December 2023}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the Republic of Ireland|Telephone area code]]
| area_code          = +353(0)90
| postal_code_type   = [[Eircode]] routing key
| postal_code        = N37
| timezone           = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset         = ±0
| timezone_DST       = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1
| postal2_code_type  = Postal Sorting Office
| blank_name_sec1    = Irish Grid Reference
| blank_info_sec1    = {{iem4ibx|N182383}}
}}
'''Moate''' ({{IPAc-en|m|oʊ|t|}}; {{Irish place name|An Móta|no_translate=yes}})<ref>[http://www.logainm.ie/1413965.aspx Moate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926220119/https://www.logainm.ie/ga/1413965 |date=26 September 2021 }} Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved: 2012-12-30.</ref> is a town in [[County Westmeath]], Ireland. As of the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]], it had a population of 3,013.<ref name=cso2022/>

The town's Irish name, ''An Móta'', is derived from the term [[motte-and-bailey]], as the [[Normans]] built an example of this type of fortification here. The earthwork is still visible behind the buildings on the main street.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The town later became an important marketplace and [[Quaker]] village. It made the town more wealthy than equivalent towns in [[Leinster]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} There are several extant examples of Quaker houses on the main street, which itself is typical of an Irish marketplace.

==Location==
[[File:Moate at night.jpg|thumb|Nocturnal aerial view of the town]]
Moate is on the Cloghatanny River, also known as the Moate Stream, which is a tributary of the [[River Brosna]]. The confluence between the Cloghatanny and Brosna is {{convert|7.5|km|mi|}} to the southeast of Moate.<ref>[http://www.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/090151b28036f421.pdf Inspectors Report on a Waste Water Discharge Licence Application] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024152306/http://www.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/090151b28036f421.pdf |date=24 October 2013 }} Environmental Protection Agency, 2010-05-27.</ref>

The town is on the [[R446 road (Ireland)|R446 road]] between [[Kinnegad]] and [[Athlone]]. Before July 2008, this was the [[N6 road (Ireland)|N6 road]], a national primary route, and Moate was a serious traffic bottleneck. The new [[M6 motorway (Ireland)|M6 motorway]] bypasses the town.

== Amenities ==
Moate, which doubled in population (from 1,520 to 3,013) between the 2002 and 2022 census,<ref>{{cite web|url =https://citypopulation.de/en/ireland/towns/westmeath/13197__moate/ | website = citypopulation.de | title = Moate (Ireland) Census Town | accessdate = 2 November 2024 }}</ref> is home to a number of businesses, several supermarkets, a post office, pharmacy, coffee shops, restaurants, pubs and a hotel. The area also has an amenity and heritage park, a greenway running through the town, golf club, tennis courts, sports pitch, a pastoral centre and a community centre.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

===Parks===
Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park is a community park located on the outskirts of the town, encompassing ecology, play, heritage, arts and education. The park comprises the ''Scéal Exhibition'' in the ''Comhaltas Teach Cheoil'', heritage trail, [[sensory garden]], pet farm, walking trails, native Irish woodland, [[Turlough (lake)|turlough]], playground and tea rooms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dunnasi.ie/|title=Dún na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park - Home|website=www.dunnasi.ie|access-date=2018-12-07|archive-date=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009051243/http://dunnasi.ie/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Another park, Patrick Kelly Memorial Park, opened in December 2008. This memorial park is named after the only Irish soldier to die in combat in Ireland since the end of the [[Irish Civil War]]. On 16 December 1983, [[Killing of Patrick Kelly|Private Patrick Kelly]], who was from Moate, was attempting to free American businessman Don Tidey, who had been kidnapped by [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|the Irish Republican Army]]. Along with [[Garda Síochána|Garda]] recruit Gary Sheehan, he was killed in a shoot-out with IRA gunmen at Derrada Woods in [[Ballinamore]], [[County Leitrim]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/news/town-honours-murdered-soldier-1.924713 | title = Town honours murdered soldier| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714081135/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1217/1229035813345.html |archive-date=14 July 2012 | work = Irish Times | date = 17 December 2008}}</ref>

==Culture and heritage==
[[File:Meet Moate's Main Street - from the west! (26920278699).jpg|thumb|Main Street, Moate c1910s]]
The local [[Gaelic football]] club is the Moate All Whites. The club's name and playing kit colours are based on the white religious habits worn by the Carmelite White Friars, a long established Moate institution.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Tuar Ard Arts Centre is a community-lead project which opened in October 2000. The centre has tiered seating in an auditorium that seats 173 people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facilities - Conference Room Booking - Gallery - Theatre - Meeting Rooms|url=https://tuarard.ie/art-centre-facilities/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Tuar Ard Arts Centre|language=en-US|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126182845/https://tuarard.ie/art-centre-facilities/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The former gaol, part of the old courthouse, contains a small museum housing artefacts found in the area dating from the Stone Age through to the modern era. The main building of the old courthouse has been renovated into a public library.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-06-17|title=New Westmeath library features Colm Murray archive|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0617/796338-moate-court-house-restoration-colm-murray/|language=en|journal=|access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=28 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528030942/https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0617/796338-moate-court-house-restoration-colm-murray/|url-status=live | website = rte.ie }}</ref>

[[File:Moate - Church of the Immaculate Conception - 20180916140818.jpg|thumb|upright|Church of the Immaculate Conception, Moate]]
A 17th-century ruined Quaker Meetinghouse stands in the centre of the town, the Church of St. Patrick serves as the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] parish church and the Church of St. Mary is the local [[Church of Ireland]] church. A second Catholic church, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, stands to the north of the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WM&regno=15317050|title=Cartronkeel, Moate, County Westmeath|publisher=[[National Inventory of Architectural Heritage]]|website=buildingsofireland.ie|access-date=3 December 2018|archive-date=4 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204005928/http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WM&regno=15317050|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Bus===
[[Bus Éireann]] and [[Irish Citylink]] operate [[Dublin]]–[[Galway]] bus routes that service Moate.<ref>[http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1314893562-20.pdf Bus timetable: Dublin (and airport)–Galway route] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025063128/http://buseireann.ie/pdf/1314893562-20.pdf |date=2012-10-25 }} Bus Éireann. Retrieved: 2012-12-30.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://citylink.ie/images/citylink-dublin-commuter-for-web.pdf |title=Bus timetable: Dublin (and airport)–Galway route |work=City Link |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/10702/20121219151651/http://citylink.ie/images/citylink-dublin-commuter-for-web.pdf |archive-date=2012-12-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Rail===
The disused [[Moate railway station]] was built by the [[Midland Great Western Railway]] to connect Dublin and Galway and opened on 1 August 1851. It closed for goods traffic on 2 December 1974, and closed for passenger traffic on 27 January 1987.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Moate station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2007-11-04 | archive-date=2 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302022802/http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> Parts of the film ''[[The First Great Train Robbery]]'' (1979)<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079240/locations Filming locations for The Great Train Robbery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307200236/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079240/locations |date=7 March 2016 }} Internet Movie Database. Retrieved: 2012-12-30.</ref> were filmed on the local railway. The crew of about 150 actors, extras, and production team, spent around two weeks in and around Moate filming. The cast of the movie stayed at the Royal Hoey Hotel during this time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McCormack|first=Stan|date=2020-08-13|title=When the movies came to town|url=https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2020/08/13/when-the-movies-came-to-town/|access-date=2022-07-19|website=[[Westmeath Examiner]]|language=en}}</ref> The train station depicted as "Ashford" is actually Moate Station.

===Dublin to Galway Cycleway===
The Mullingar (West) to Garrycastle (Athlone East) section of the [[Dublin-Galway Greenway]] (cycleway) was opened on 3 October 2015 by the [[Taoiseach]] [[Enda Kenny]] in Moate.<ref>[http://www.galwaytodublincycleway.ie/#!mullingar-to-garrycastle-athlone/cdtz Mullingar to Garrycastle Cycleway opening] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531205413/http://www.galwaytodublincycleway.ie/#!mullingar-to-garrycastle-athlone/cdtz |date=31 May 2016 }} - Galway to Dublin Cycleway website, October 2015.</ref>  The cycleway links Moate to Athlone and Mullingar on a 3m wide 40&nbsp;km long cycleway.

==Climate==
{{Weather box/concise_C
| location=Moate, Westmeath
| source=The Weather Channel<ref>{{Cite web | title=Moate, Ireland Monthly Weather Forecast | url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/EIXX8462:1:EI | access-date=2017-07-23 | archive-date=26 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926220142/https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/EIXX8462:1:EI | url-status=live }}</ref>
| 10|10.6|12.3|14.1|17.8|20.1|23.4|22.8|18.9|16.3|11.9|10.6<!--highs-->
| -3.1|-1.6|-0.3|1.1|3.5|6.9|9.3|7.8|5.7|3.3|0.2|-0.3 <!--lows-->
}}

== Education ==
=== Primary ===
Moate has two primary schools: St. Brigid's Primary School on Station Road, formerly known as Convent Primary School, is [[Mixed-sex education|co-educational]] and was founded by the [[Sisters of Mercy]] in 1861.<ref>[http://www.stbrigidsmoate.ie/index.html St. Brigid's Primary School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107183932/http://www.stbrigidsmoate.ie/index.html |date=2015-01-07 }} Retrieved: 2013-08-09.</ref> The other is St. [[Oliver Plunkett]] Boys' Primary School on Lake Road.

=== Secondary ===
The town's secondary school is Moate Community School on Church Street. It was created on September 1, 1996 by combining three schools: the Convent of Mercy Secondary School, the [[Carmelites|Carmelite]] College secondary school, and Moate Vocational School.<ref>{{cite web
	| url = https://moatecs.com/
	| title = Welcome To Moate Community School
	| access-date = 2024-05-09
	| website = Moate Community School
}}</ref> A new building opened in the school in 2002 containing a gymnasium, four new science laboratories, a home economics room, art room, lecture hall, technical drawing classroom and an oratory as well as general classrooms and offices. It has approximately 1,250 students (including Moate Business College) and a staff of 130. The business college provides courses including performance arts and information technology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://moatebusinesscollege.com/about-us/|title=About MBC – Moate Business College|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-07|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403162352/https://moatebusinesscollege.com/about-us/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Abraham Boulger]], [[Victoria Cross]] recipient
* [[T.R. Dallas]], singer
*[[Killing of Patrick Kelly|Patrick Kelly]], soldier
* [[Ray Lynam]], country singer
* [[Colm Murray]], sports broadcaster
*[[Lorcan Robbins]], (1884/85–1939), activist and politician
*[[Nessa Robins]], food writer
* [[Joe Ward (boxer)|Joe Ward]], boxer
* [[William Duckett White]] (1807–1893), politician and member of the [[Queensland Legislative Council]]<ref>{{cite web|author=E. M. Allingham|author2=S. D. Bassingthwaighte|title=White, William Duckett (1807–1893)|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/white-william-duckett-4841|work=Australian Dictionary of Biography|publisher=National Centre for Biography, Australian National University|access-date=25 December 2014|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923101344/http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/white-william-duckett-4841|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Moate}}
* [https://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/ourservices/regeneration/moatetowncentrefirstmasterplan/ Moate Town Centre Development Plan - Westmeath County Council]

{{County Westmeath}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns and villages in County Westmeath]]