Work to preserve Fore Gaol begins

Fore may best be known for its religious heritage – but it has also a history as the location of a jail, and indeed, a place of execution

Beside the Seven Wonders pub stands a ruin that served for many years as a jail – and chillingly, just a short walk away, Gallows Hill.

The more fortunate prisoners would be sent from Fore Gaol to the jail in Mullingar – but there were others who were sentenced to death, local area councillor Frank McDermott reveals.

“They used to march the prisoners from there right across Joe Gilsenan’s field, and up to the top of the hill where the gallows was – and indeed the track of the gallows is still there,” says Frank.

For decades, the ruin has been covered in ivy, but last week, workmen moved in to Fore to begin the first stage towards preserving the ruin.

“I have tried for the last 10 years to obtain different funds so we could have work done on it and thankfully Melanie McQuade, our heritage officer, came on board and secured €16,280 to take off the vegetation that is on it at the minute and then do the research and archaeology and various other things that have to be done before the next steps,” says Frank, adding that at this stage, because of the encroachment of the vegetation, the walls may need to be stabilised.

“The last person was incarcerated there in 1800-and-something,” says Frank, who hopes that historians will be able to put together a fuller picture with all this sort of detail as the project moves along.

“This is all a great step forward and we have to commend and compliment the owner of the property, Ita Halpin, of the Seven Wonders bar, who has co-operated brilliantly with all efforts in our village.”

The work is a continuation of a programme that began in the mid-noughties with a heritage plan for the area, and which has seen looped walking trails developed locally.