Balscadden village is said to derive its name from the Irish (The Town of the Herrings); despite this, the village is situated at least two miles from the coast. Local tradition relates that in days gone by herrings were transported inland from a small fishing port, in the townland of
Bremore, commonly called Balscadden Bay or "Cromwell's harbour". The fish was prepared at Balscadden village for transportation to the
Dublin market. Balscaddan was the birthplace of
Saint Benignus, a disciple of
Saint Patrick who later became the
Archbishop of Armagh in the 5th century. ==Sport==