NCW Abbey Drom A3
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Newcastle West Abbeyfeale Dromcollogher Newcastle West is Limerick’s largest town and located Situated in the West Limerick uplands, Abbeyfeale is Dromcollogher was one of the in the middle of a great bowl-shaped valley in West the westernmost town in the county and is around 900 starting points for the Irish years old. Co-op Movement, with the Limerick, known one time as the valley of the Wild Boar. The crest of the town carries the image of a wild boar. first Co-operative creamery Mainistir na Féile, meaning “Abbey of the Feale” is named being set up here in 1889 Desmond Banqueting Hall and Castle Newcastle West’s after the former Cistercian monastery which was located on the initiative of Horace adjacent to the current town square and is a historical landmark feature dominates the southern end of the Main Plunkett. The listed building has since been restored, market town. The Abbey has since all but disappeared, and is now the National Dairy Co-operative Museum. Town Square. The banqueting hall of the Desmond Castle, and the only identifiable remnants are those used in the seat of the Earl of Desmond, parts of which date from construction of the Roman Catholic Church in 1847. Dromcollogher Fire the 13th century. The Current Castle dates from the 15th Dromcollogher is also widely known for its tragic past. century. We will journey through the town centre, taking in its monastic and infrastructural development and some of On 5 September 1926, a timber barn being used as a Castle Demesne 99 acres of parkland with numerous forms its buildings of architectural merit. On our way, we will temporary cinema in Dromcollogher caught fire when of flora and fauna as well as playing areas and sports fields. explore how these historical developments interlink with a candle ignited a reel of Nitrate film stock. Forty-eight Abbeyfeale’s peripheral location and its history of agrarian people died in this tragedy, Adjacent to the castle you will see a statue of local poet unrest to play their part in shaping the uniquely independent, always known locally as the Michael Hartnett, perhaps Newcastle West’s most famous son. creative and sociable culture of the town today. Dromcollogher Burning; The life sized sculptur by Rory Breslin was unveiled at the forty-six of them are buried The main feature in Abbeyfeale’s Square is a statue of annual Eigse Michael Hartnett festival in 2011. The festival in a large grave in the Father William Casey. Originally from Kilbehany in East takes place each April. http://www.eigsemichaelhartnett.ie grounds of the local church. Limerick, Fr. Casey was Abbeyfeale’s parish priest from It remains one of the worst Another famous West Limerick personality commemorated 1883 to 1907 and was an advocate of tenant’s rights. known fire disasters in Irish AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE in the square is Sophie Peirce whose family lived in the history . square. The plaque commemorates Sophie, who in the Abbeyfeale also has a number of buildings of important architectural merit. Pat McAuliffe lived and worked in 1920s was one of the most well-known women in the world, In 1962, the town became home to the “Irish Dresden” Listowel, Co. Kerry from 1846 to 1921. In a career as pottery factory and remained so until the factory closed a pioneering aviator, a dispatch rider in World War 1, and a builder he applied exterior plaster, or stucco, upon in April 2009. The company’s products consisted of helped introduce women’s athletics into the Olympics. shopfronts and townhouse facades in the region. From the molded ceramic figurines with the specialist touch being Old IRA Monument - situated opposite the church this 1870s onwards he began to develop an ambitious and often the delicate lace frills and edgings. All pieces were monument commemorates 17 volunteers who were killed exuberant style, using a broad range of elements culled handpainted and glazed. Irish Dresden was revered from the vocabulary of classical architecture and ornament throughout the world for the skilled craftsmanship and during the war of independence and Civil War 1916 - 1922. while exploring an eclectic mix of art nouveau, Celtic and uniqueness of its figurines. The monument was unveiled by President Sean T. O’Kelly Byzantine influences. Some of the finest examples of his in 1955. work can be found in Abbeyfeale. Percy French, the renowned Irish Composer, once stayed Famine Graveyard - located at the rear of St. Ita’s Hospital. in Dromcollogher and composed the song “There’s Only Like much of West Limerick, Abbeyfeale also has links One Street In Dromcollogher”. Many hundreds of people who died in the work house with the Earls of Desmond and the Geraldine Tradition. during the famine are buried there in unmarked graves. The The Geraldine Portrinard Castle (or Purt Castle) is situated cemetery is marked by a plain old cross. about 2.5 km northwest of the town, on the north bank of the “I suppose you’ve not been to Drumcollogher? Feale along the increasingly popular Great Southern Trail Bridge of Tears- located at the south of the town. Known Walking route a unique 85km stretch of countryside in West Ye haven’t? Well now I declare, locally as the Bridge of Sorrows or Tears, during the time Limerick/North Kerry. It is the route taken by the Limerick - of the famine, Emigrants from all over West Limerick said Tralee railway line, which opened in 1867/1880 and closed You must wait till you’ve been to Drumcollogher, their last goodbyes. in 1975/1977. http://www.southerntrail.net/ And seen the fine place we have there.” West Limerick Heritage The West Limerick Heritage Network was developed with the support of local development company West Limerick Resources and comprises of a group of enthusiastic Booking volunteers who have a wealth of knowledge of our local history and who are keenly interested in its preservation and promotion to the wider community – locally, nationally and internationally. As part of Limerick City Information of Culture 2014 the network has developed a series of hidden heritage tours to provide a deeper insight into our email: [email protected] local hidden heritage. As well as visiting some of the key historical sites in West Limerick, the tours aim to help people begin to explore the Tel: 069 79114 local folklore, personalities and events which have helped West Limeric shape the West Limerick area. €5.00 Visit important archaeological sites, medieval castles and ancient abbeys. Learn about the people who built these per seat charge structures and the role they had in the development of our Heritage main towns and villages. www.westlimerickheritage.wordpress.com Take a fresh look at the beauty of our vernacular architecture as well as our rich natural heritage in our hills, river and estuary. Use these tours as a starting point to begin your own journey into West Limerick rich and varied history and heritage. Newcastle West - Abbeyfeale Dromcollogher Area www.westlimerickheritage.wordpress.com CLARE Shannon West Limeric Airport Heritage Limerick Pallaskenry Mungret Passing through rural West Limerick you pass Kilcolman through a number of picturesque villages with their Clarina own hidden stories and historical treasures. Kildimo Foynes Patrickswell Tournafulla Askeaton The Irish for Tournafulla is Tuar na Fola that translates as the “Animal Enclosure of the Blood”. The three counties of limerick, Cork and Kerry converge at a Shanagolden point in the parish of Tournafulla/Mountcollins. A Tarbert Glin Adare plaque has been placed at the river to mark this point. Killeedy Killeedy was originally known as Cluain Chreadhail but in later ages it had taken the name of Cill íde, the Rathkeale Croagh Church of Saint Ita, from a nunnery which was founded there in the sixth century. Legend has it that St. Ita is said to have Croom cursed Tournafulla so that the parish would never be without a widow or a widower, a smoky chimney or a blackguard!! On 15 January of each year, the feast of St. Ita’s Day is Ardagh celebrated in Killeedy. A single stack of Killeedy castle still stands today Ballingarry some 25 years on from a lightning strike in 1988. Athea Templeglantine Located on the main N69 Limerick Tralee Road, Newcastle West the small village of Templeglantine or “the church of the little glen” offers another entry point to the Great Southern Trail Walking Route as well as being a stronghold for traditional music in the West Limerick areas with its multi award winnering Ceoltas group. Kilmeedy Feenagh In 1985 a cist grave was discovered on the lands of James Leahy in the townland of Rathcahill West. These graves Abbeyfeale are box-like slab structures, which are just below ground level. They are believed to date from between 2000 BC to 500 BC. Tournafulla Broadford Glenquin Castle is a tower castle dating from the 12th century, This six story tower castle proved to be a stronghold through the centuries overlooking Newcastle Mountcollins Dromcollogher West. Springfield Castle, the ancestral home of Lord and Lady Muskerry, whose motto Forti et fideli nihil dificile which means ‘nothing is difficult to the strong and faithful‘ underlies over 700 years of family history. The 9th Baron, Robert Fitzmaurice Deane, lives and works in South Africa at present, but his sister Betty and her husband Jonathan run Springfield Castle as a hotel. .