Glin, County Limerick
Encyclopedia
Glin is a village in the northwest of County Limerick
, Ireland
. It is on the south shore of the River Shannon
's estuary, on the N69 road
between Foynes
and Tarbert. The population of the village in 2006 was 566.
of the Knight of Glin
after the Norman invasion
. Glin was not included in the Down Survey
of the 1650s. The village, as it was then, was called Ballygullyhannane. Glin An Gleann was previously Gleann Corbraighe, "Valley of the Corbry", from the stream flowing through the village into the Shannon. Glin is in the barony of Shanid, formerly a division of the barony of Lower Connello. A road through the mountains south to Abbeyfeale
was completed in 1836
Glin gave its name to a Poor Law Union
established in 1850. 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. Reports of abuse
of the residents were documented by the 2009 report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
.
, the residence of the Knight of Glin
and now a luxury hotel. The first castle they built was by Thomas Fitzgerald in Shanid around 1200. Its ruins are still visible. It was the home of the Knights of Glin from about 1260 until 1642, when a house was built near the site of the present castle. The present day castle was built between 1780 and 1790 by John Bateman. Although it is called a castle, it is actually a Georgian house. The contractor was a Mr. Sheehy and the stone was brought from Athea by horse drawn sledge. By 1798, the majority of the interior was finished but with the Fitzgeralds about to become bankrupt, the craftsmen downed tools and left the castle.
days in Glin were 8 June, the first Wednesday in September, and 3 December, with a weekly market each Wednesday.
A tradition that survives in the parish concerns weddings. When a newly married couple emerge from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, they are prevented from leaving the church. Children block the road by placing a rope across the road. The road is reopened when the children have received money from the newlyweds.
club won seven county football championships between 1926 and 1934. Notable rivals include Fr. Caseys and Newcastle West. It reached the 2009 County Junior Final, losing a replay to Mountcollins
.
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,...
. It is on the south shore of the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
's estuary, on the N69 road
N69 road (Ireland)
The N69 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It runs from Limerick to Tralee and passes though Mungret, Clarina, Kildimo, Askeaton , Foynes, Loughill, Glin, Tarbert and Listowel.-References:* – Department of Transport...
between Foynes
Foynes
Foynes is a village and major port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland, located at the edge of hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. The population of the town was 606 as of the 2006 census.-Foynes's role in aviation:...
and Tarbert. The population of the village in 2006 was 566.
History
The lands around Glin were the manorManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of the Knight of Glin
Knight of Glin
The Knight of Glin, also called the Black Knight, was a hereditary title in the Fitzgeralds of Limerick, Ireland since the early 14th century. The family was a branch of the FitzGerald dynasty or Geraldines, related to the Earls of Desmond , who were granted extensive lands in County Limerick by...
after the Norman invasion
Norman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
. Glin was not included in the Down Survey
Down Survey
The Down Survey, also known as the Civil Survey, refers to the mapping of Ireland carried out by William Petty, English scientist in 1655 and 1656....
of the 1650s. The village, as it was then, was called Ballygullyhannane. Glin An Gleann was previously Gleann Corbraighe, "Valley of the Corbry", from the stream flowing through the village into the Shannon. Glin is in the barony of Shanid, formerly a division of the barony of Lower Connello. A road through the mountains south to Abbeyfeale
Abbeyfeale
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 from Newcastle West on the N21 – the main road from Limerick to Tralee.-Geography:...
was completed in 1836
Glin gave its name to a Poor Law Union
Poor Law Union
A Poor Law Union was a unit used for local government in the United Kingdom from the 19th century. The administration of the Poor Law was the responsibility of parishes, which varied wildly in their size, populations, financial resources, rateable values and requirements...
established in 1850. A workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
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
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
, and girls, run by the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
. The workhouse closed in 1920, and the District School in 1924. In 1928, St Joseph’s industrial school
Industrial school
In Ireland the Industrial Schools Act of 1868 established industrial schools to care for "neglected, orphaned and abandoned children". By 1884 there were 5,049 children in such institutions....
for boys moved to the site from Sexton Street in 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...
. The school, also run by the Christian Brothers, closed in 1966. Reports of abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
of the residents were documented by the 2009 report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is one of a range of measures introduced by the Irish Government to investigate the extent and effects of abuse on children from 1936 onwards. It is commonly known in Ireland as the Ryan Commission , after its chair, Justice Seán Ryan...
.
Glin Castle
Upstream on the Corbry from the village is Glin Castle and demesneDemesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
, the residence of the Knight of Glin
Knight of Glin
The Knight of Glin, also called the Black Knight, was a hereditary title in the Fitzgeralds of Limerick, Ireland since the early 14th century. The family was a branch of the FitzGerald dynasty or Geraldines, related to the Earls of Desmond , who were granted extensive lands in County Limerick by...
and now a luxury hotel. The first castle they built was by Thomas Fitzgerald in Shanid around 1200. Its ruins are still visible. It was the home of the Knights of Glin from about 1260 until 1642, when a house was built near the site of the present castle. The present day castle was built between 1780 and 1790 by John Bateman. Although it is called a castle, it is actually a Georgian house. The contractor was a Mr. Sheehy and the stone was brought from Athea by horse drawn sledge. By 1798, the majority of the interior was finished but with the Fitzgeralds about to become bankrupt, the craftsmen downed tools and left the castle.
Culture
The fairFair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
days in Glin were 8 June, the first Wednesday in September, and 3 December, with a weekly market each Wednesday.
A tradition that survives in the parish concerns weddings. When a newly married couple emerge from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, they are prevented from leaving the church. Children block the road by placing a rope across the road. The road is reopened when the children have received money from the newlyweds.
Glin GAA
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...
club won seven county football championships between 1926 and 1934. Notable rivals include Fr. Caseys and Newcastle West. It reached the 2009 County Junior Final, losing a replay to Mountcollins
Mountcollins
Mountcollins is a village in the extreme south west of County Limerick, Ireland, barely 100 metres from the border with County Kerry and just a mile from County Cork. The River Feale runs parallel to the village and is fed by the Caher River that divides the village.Mountcollins is in the Parish...
.
External links
- GLIN, a market and post-town, and a parish from A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) by Samuel Lewis
- A collection of images of Glin, Co. Limerick