Glin contd The 29th Knight of Glin, Desmond FitzGerald, the last heir to one of Ireland’s oldest hereditary titles, died aged 74 in 2011.With no male heir, Desmond was the last knight of Glin, a title dating to the 14th century. A large cemetery is adjacent to the church ruins in Kilfergus. The tomb of the Knights of Glin is near the church ruins. This cemetery has been the resting-place of the Knights of Glin from around 1400 until 1866 according to a plaque, which has been erected over their tomb. In 1843 Scottish Weir was erected on Long Rock, Killacoola to cater for the lucrative salmon stake net fishing industry. This was associated with the Pegums family of Caheragh House who dealt directly with Billingsgate Fish Market in London. To help with transporting the fish, ice was used to keep it fresh; four ice houses were built in Glin parish. The fish was transported by road and from 1858 it was trans- ported by railway when Foynes Railway station opened. The industry continued until 1930s when the Pegums sold the fishing rights to the ESB. A workhouse was erected southeast of the village. In 1891, the poor law union was dissolved. In 1894, the workhouse became the site for a District School for boys, run by the Christian Brothers, and girls, run by the Sisters of Mercy. The workhouse closed in 1920, and the District School in 1924. In 1928, St Joseph’s industrial school for boys moved to the site from Sexton Street in Limerick. The school, also run by the Christian Brothers, closed in 1966. Glin Heritage Walks offer a variety of spectacular coastal and wood- land scenery viewed from three walking trails which can be enjoyed separately or as one long walk. Each walk has interpretative signage which explains the flora and fauna along the way and describes the landmarks seen from various vantage points. Glin Glin CONTINUED Loughill / Ballyhahill The name comes from the with neo classical plasterwork, a rare flying staircase, Loughill comes from the Irish Leamh Irish Gleann which means and reportedly the best collection of Irish 18th century Choill, which means the elm wood. glen. There are numerous furniture, pictures, and porcelain in private hands. Ballyhahill and Loughill form the ancient forts in the parish, The 29th Knight of Glin, Desmond FitzGerald, the present day parish. Ballyhahill comes 5 of which are within last heir to one of Ireland’s oldest hereditary titles, died from the Irish Baile Atha Dha Thuile the castle demense and aged 74 in 2011.With no male heir, Desmond was the which means the ford at the mouth of the two floods. at Flean in the mountains are the ruins of a very last knight of Glin, a title dating to the 14th century. The river Owvaun runs through both Loughill and ancient church of which the history is unknown. A large cemetery is adjacent to the church ruins in Ballyhahill. Bronze Age standing stones are found at Kilfergus. The tomb of the Knights of Glin is near the The area of Loughill developed following the arrival Ballycullane Upper, Killacolla and Tooraree Lower. church ruins. This cemetery has been the resting-place of the Normans to the region in the twelfth century. In These townlands are on the periphery of Glin parish, of the Knights of Glin from around 1400 until 1866 the past there were ironworks in Loughill where the the stones as if marking the boundary in ancient times. according to a plaque, which has been erected over large supply of timber in the area was converted into The Glencorby river flows through the parish and by their tomb. charcoal for the smelting of iron ore. the ruin of the old castle. The lands on the banks of the In 1843 Scottish Weir was erected on Long According to Westropp there was Shannon were granted by King Henry II to John Fitz- Rock, Killacoola to cater for the an early church in Loughill prior to Thomas Fitzgerald in the 13th century, ancestor of the lucrative salmon stake net fishing the building of the parish church in Knights of Glin industry. This was associated with 1819. This church was dedicated to The ruins of the first castle built the Pegums family of Caheragh St Colm Og a sixth century Saint. by Thomas Fitzgerald in 1200 are House who dealt directly with However, only small fragments of the still visible. The present day castle Billingsgate Fish Market in London. To help with church remained when Westropp carried is a Georgian house built between transporting the fish, ice was used to keep it fresh; out his survey of the churches in Limerick four ice houses were built in Glin parish. The fish was 1780 and 1790. The town’s rich and in 1905. All that remained of the church transported by road and from 1858 it was transported varied past includes the castle sieges of the 1600s, the were the choir and the nave. St Colm Og’s by railway when Foynes Railway station opened. The workhouses of famine times, and the salmon fishing well is believed to be near the church ruin. industry of the 1800s and the trade and tragedies of life industry continued until 1930s when the Pegums sold Before the building of the church in Ballyhahill, along the estuary the fishing rights to the ESB. parishioners attended mass in Kilmoylan church, the The old Glin castle was dramatically besieged by A workhouse was erected ruins of which are now in the neighbouring parish of Elizabeth’s forces in July 1600, during the uprising of southeast of the village. In 1891, Shanagolden/Foynes. the ‘Sugan’ or ‘Straw’ Earl of the poor law union was dissolved. Desmond. Before the siege Sir In 1894, the workhouse became There was also a church in Kilteery, the George Carew captured the the site for a District School for site of which was believed to be near the Knight’s six-year-old son, tied boys, run by the Christian Brothers, and girls, run by shoreline. Gerard Curtin’s “Recollections him to the mouth of a cannon the Sisters of Mercy. The workhouse closed in 1920, of Our Native Valley” suggests two reasons and threatened to blow him to and the District School in 1924. In 1928, St Joseph’s for suspecting this to be the location of the pieces unless the Knight did industrial school for boys moved to the site from site. Firstly, a chalice was found here in the not surrender. The Knight replied bluntly that he was Sexton Street in Limerick. The school, also run by the 1940s and, secondly, a large altar shaped stone was virile and his wife was strong and it would be easy to Christian Brothers, closed in 1966. found at the same location in 1993. produce another son. Glin Heritage Walks offer a variety of spectacular Foynes woman Mary Spring Rice was a prominent The Knight of Glin, has been in the FitzGerald coastal and woodland scenery member of the crew of the Asgard that landed 900 rifles family for over 700 years. Situated 32 miles west of viewed from three walking trails and ammunition at Howth harbour in 1914.Lately a Limerick city on the banks of which can be enjoyed separately commemorative plaque sculpted by Cliodna the Shannon River on a 500 or as one long walk. Each walk Cussen, was unveiled at Mount Trenchard acre estate, it is one of the last has interpretative signage which Churchyard to mark the role played by Mary of the great houses to still be explains the flora and fauna along Rice and other limerick people in bringing lived in by the original family. the way and describes the landmarks seen from various in arms for the Irish Volunteers. Mary is Glin Castle has superb interiors vantage points. buried in Mt Trenchard Churchyard. 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. Glin -Loughill/Ballyhahill- Athea www.westlimerickheritage.wordpress.com CLARE Shannon West Limeric Airport Heritage Limerick Pallaskenry Mungret Passing through rural West Limerick you pass through a number of picturesque villages with their own hidden stories Kilcolman Clarina and historical treasures. Kildimo Athea comes from the Irish Áth an tSléibhe, meaning mountain Foynes Patrickswell ford. Athea was sometimes referred to as Templeathea.