It is a grim irony that the place where the legendary Irish sailor and cleric, Brendan the Navigator, reputedly died was also the scene of a terrible drowning tragedy, on a stretch of water that could not be more placid. Annaghdown is a small parish on the edge of Lough Corrib in Co. Galway about half way between the city and Headford (on the N84 - turn at Cloonboo). The view from the pier across the lake looks towards Oughterard and Conemara.
Annaghdown takes it's name from Eanach-dúin, the marsh of the fort.As the presence of the cathedral attests, Annaghdown was once a diocese, and the first known bishop was Conn O Mellaig Concors who was one of three Irish bishops to attend the coronation of Richard the First (the Lionheart - 1189-1199) at Westminister. By order of Pope XXII (1316-1334), the diocese of Annaghdown was merged with that of Tuam, Achonry and Kilmacduagh, though bishops took the title of Annaghdown until the fifteenth century. However, the people of Galway (who were also part of the Annaghdown diocese when it was merged with Tuam) were none too pleased to be associated with a country dicese, and before the end of the fifteenth century, the citizens of Galway petitioned Pope Innocent VIII successfully for the freedom to exercise "the divine duties of their religion"..."seperately from the country folk whom they considered"a savage race...unpolished and illiterate". Ouch.
Most of the information and history here and on the following pages is taken from Spelissy's History of Galway -it's worth reading in full - I have just given a brief summary here.
