Abbeyfeale
Encyclopedia
Abbeyfeale is a historical market town in County Limerick
, Ireland
near the boundary with County Kerry
. The town is in the midwest of Ireland
, some 21 km (13 mi) from Newcastle West
on the N21
– the main road
from Limerick
to Tralee.
in the foothills of the Mullaghareirk Mountains
.
team is named in his honour. Recently the town celebrated the centenary of Fr. Casey's influence by having a Fr. Casey themed St. Patricks Day Parade.
The May Bank Holiday weekend sees the town host the "Fleadh by the Feale
" traditional music festival. The 2007 festival was the thirteenth of these annual events. The International Bone
Playing Competition is the highlight of the festival and is held on the Bank Holiday Monday evening on the open air stage in the town square.
The town is known for its extensive musical tradition, notably the Celtic progressive-rock musician Lorcan O'Neill being raised in this town with other exponents of traditional music such as Donal Murphy and Eibhlin Healy both living in the town. Others of notoriety include the striker Denis Behan for Cork City and Republic of Ireland U23.
There was a cinema in the town, but this closed in the early 1990s. The remains can be still seen today.
The town previously had an abbey
, located in the centre of the town square, but this has since all but disappeared, and the only identifiable remnants are those which were used in the construction of the Roman Catholic Church in 1847, on the site of the current boys national school on Church street. Church street as it is now know was originally named Chapel street, as can be seen in old period OS maps of the town. The Geraldine Portrinard Castle
(or Purt Castle) is situated about 2.5 km northwest of the town, on the northbank of the Feale.
Phil Danaher, Irish Rugby International (28 senior caps) and Gaelic Footballer (Limerick Senior team, Kerry minor team), also grew up in Abbeyfeale.
Future plans for Abbeyfeale have paved the way for the first new street opening since 1880. The new town redevelopment proposal was designed by Conor Dennison, a local architect who himself is originally a native of Abbeyfeale town.
opened on 20 December 1880, but was finally closed on 3 November 1975. The Great Southern Trail
is a greenway
rail trail
that follows the route of the former Limerick-Tralee railway line between Abbeyfeale and Rathkeale
.
Collins, O'Connor, Harnett, Lane, O'Donnell, Broderick, O'Connell, O'Sullivan, Flynn, Healy, Cotter, Fitzgerald, Moloney, Leahy, Colbert, Connell, Dillane, Keane, Lyons, McCarthy, Sheehy, Curtin, Hartnett, Roche, Daly, Donoghue, Doody, McAuliffe, Murphy, Quirke, Scannell, Sullivan.
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
near the boundary with County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
. The town is in the midwest of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, some 21 km (13 mi) from Newcastle West
Newcastle West
Newcastle West is a town in west County Limerick, Ireland. The town is the largest town in the county, excluding Limerick city, and is sited on the River Arra which flows into the River Deel...
on the N21
N21 road
The N21 road is a national primary road in Ireland. The route runs from the M20 outside Limerick to Tralee with connecting roads to other parts of County Kerry. It is in length. It runs through the towns of Abbeyfeale, Newcastlewest, Adare and the village of Templeglantine. Prior to October 2010...
– the main road
Roads in Ireland
The island of Ireland, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has an extensive network of tens of thousands of kilometres of public roads, usually surfaced. These roads have been developed and modernised over centuries, from trackways suitable only for walkers and horses, to...
from Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
to Tralee.
Geography
The town is situated on the banks of the River FealeRiver Feale
The River Feale rises near Rockchapel in the Mullaghareirk Mountains of County Cork in the southwest of Ireland and flows northwestwards through Abbeyfeale and Listowel in County Kerry before finally emptying into the Mouth of the Shannon by Ballyduff.-External links:*...
in the foothills of the Mullaghareirk Mountains
Mullaghareirk Mountains
The Mullaghareirk Mountains is a range of mountains in Ireland that stretches from the borders of County Kerry County Limerick to Newmarket, County Cork. The villages of Mountcollins, Tournafulla, Brosna and Rockchapel are set in the mountains....
.
Town
The main feature in Abbeyfeale's Square is a statue of Father William Casey. Fr. Casey was the parish priest from 1883 to 1907 and helped the tenant farmers fight against their landlords. The local Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
team is named in his honour. Recently the town celebrated the centenary of Fr. Casey's influence by having a Fr. Casey themed St. Patricks Day Parade.
The May Bank Holiday weekend sees the town host the "Fleadh by the Feale
River Feale
The River Feale rises near Rockchapel in the Mullaghareirk Mountains of County Cork in the southwest of Ireland and flows northwestwards through Abbeyfeale and Listowel in County Kerry before finally emptying into the Mouth of the Shannon by Ballyduff.-External links:*...
" traditional music festival. The 2007 festival was the thirteenth of these annual events. The International Bone
Bones (instrument)
The bones are a musical instrument which, at the simplest, consists of a pair of animal bones, or pieces of wood or a similar material. Sections of large rib bones and lower leg bones are the most commonly used true bones, although wooden sticks shaped like the earlier true bones are now more...
Playing Competition is the highlight of the festival and is held on the Bank Holiday Monday evening on the open air stage in the town square.
The town is known for its extensive musical tradition, notably the Celtic progressive-rock musician Lorcan O'Neill being raised in this town with other exponents of traditional music such as Donal Murphy and Eibhlin Healy both living in the town. Others of notoriety include the striker Denis Behan for Cork City and Republic of Ireland U23.
There was a cinema in the town, but this closed in the early 1990s. The remains can be still seen today.
The town previously had an abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
, located in the centre of the town square, but this has since all but disappeared, and the only identifiable remnants are those which were used in the construction of the Roman Catholic Church in 1847, on the site of the current boys national school on Church street. Church street as it is now know was originally named Chapel street, as can be seen in old period OS maps of the town. The Geraldine Portrinard Castle
Purt castle
Purt Castle or Port castle, Caisleán Phort Trí Namhad is a Geraldine castle situated in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland.The castle is situated about 2.5 km northwest of the town of Abbeyfeale, on the northbank of the Feale.- Name :...
(or Purt Castle) is situated about 2.5 km northwest of the town, on the northbank of the Feale.
Phil Danaher, Irish Rugby International (28 senior caps) and Gaelic Footballer (Limerick Senior team, Kerry minor team), also grew up in Abbeyfeale.
Future plans for Abbeyfeale have paved the way for the first new street opening since 1880. The new town redevelopment proposal was designed by Conor Dennison, a local architect who himself is originally a native of Abbeyfeale town.
Transport
Abbeyfeale railway stationAbbeyfeale railway station
Abbeyfeale railway station served the market town of Abbeyfeale in County Limerick, Republic of Ireland.-History:Opened by the Limerick and Kerry Railway, by the beginning of the 20th century the station was run by the Great Southern and Western Railway...
opened on 20 December 1880, but was finally closed on 3 November 1975. The Great Southern Trail
Great Southern Trail
The Great Southern Trail is a greenway rail trail under development in Counties Limerick and Kerry, Ireland. It is intended to be long when completed and run from Limerick to Tralee. It is an off-road trail intended for use by cyclists and walkers...
is a greenway
Greenway (landscape)
A greenway is a long, narrow piece of land, often used for recreation and pedestrian and bicycle user traffic, and sometimes for streetcar, light rail or retail uses.- Terminology :...
rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
that follows the route of the former Limerick-Tralee railway line between Abbeyfeale and Rathkeale
Rathkeale
Rathkeale is a town in west County Limerick, Ireland. It is located 30 km southwest of Limerick city on the N21 road to Tralee, and lies on the River Deel. Rathkeale has a significant Irish Traveller population....
.
Common surnames in Abbeyfeale
According to Irish Census 1901 & 1911.Collins, O'Connor, Harnett, Lane, O'Donnell, Broderick, O'Connell, O'Sullivan, Flynn, Healy, Cotter, Fitzgerald, Moloney, Leahy, Colbert, Connell, Dillane, Keane, Lyons, McCarthy, Sheehy, Curtin, Hartnett, Roche, Daly, Donoghue, Doody, McAuliffe, Murphy, Quirke, Scannell, Sullivan.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland