Ballygowlan is a townland in the Republic of Ireland, situated in County Westmeath. It forms part of the civil parish of St Mary’s within the historic barony of Brawny and lies on the western periphery of the town of Athlone.
Geography
- County: Westmeath
- Barony: Brawny
- Civil parish: St Mary’s
- Area: Approximately 181 acres (≈0.73 km²) according to the Irish Placenames Database.
Etymology
The name is derived from the Irish Baile an Ghabhláin, which can be interpreted as “townland of the little fork” (from gabhal = fork). This reflects a common pattern in Irish place‑names where baile denotes a settlement.
Administrative context
Ballygowlan is classified as a rural townland, a basic land division used in Irish cadastral surveys. It falls under the jurisdiction of Westmeath County Council and is included in the Athlone electoral area for local government purposes.
Demographics
Specific population figures for Ballygowlan are not separately published in recent national censuses; data are typically aggregated at the electoral division level. Consequently, detailed demographic information is unavailable.
References
- Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie), entry for “Ballygowlan, Co. Westmeath.”
Note: Information presented reflects the current extent of reliable, verifiable sources.
