Feenagh, County Limerick
Feenagh
Fíodhnach | |
|---|---|
Village | |
Former village pump | |
Feenagh Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 52°23′25″N 08°52′48″W / 52.39028°N 8.88000°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Limerick |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
Feenagh (Irish: Fíodhnach, meaning 'wooded place') is a village in west County Limerick, Ireland, ten miles from Newcastle West and six miles from Dromcolliher.[1] The village has one shop which is located on the site of the former Royal Irish Constabulary barracks near the old village pump. There is also a butcher shop.
History
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes several ring fort sites within Feenagh townland.[2]
The village originated as a settlement in Cloncrew. Feenagh/Kilmeedy became a parish in 1851. Saint Ita's Catholic Church in Feenagh, which originally dates from the 18th century, was substantially rebuilt in 1877.[3] The stained glass window at the altar of the church was donated in memory of Hanora Irwin-McMahon, by her brother David McMahon, in 1907.[4]
Feenagh's former national (primary) school building, built in 1847, is now used as a community centre. A new national school, Scoil Naisiunta Fiodhnach, was built in 1970. The area's Carnegie Library was built in 1917.[5]
The creamery built in the 1890s is now a garage. A new housing estate was built on the site where the village forge once stood.
People
- Nollaig Ó Gadhra (1943–2008), Irish language activist, journalist and historian, was born on his family's farm in Feenagh in 1943.[6]
- Rory Kiely (1934–2018), former Fianna Fáil senator and Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann[7]
- Jim McCarthy (1917–1982), hurler with Feenagh–Kilmeedy GAA and the Limerick senior team
- Daniel O'Donovan (fl. 1630–1690), 17th century clan chief
See also
References
- ^ "Placenames Database of Ireland". Dublin City University. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ Record of Monuments and Places - County Limerick (PDF), Dublin: National Monuments and Historic Properties Service, 1997
- ^ "Saint Ita's Catholic Church, Feenagh, Limerick". buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "Feenagh-Kilmeedy Churches - Feenagh Church". limerickdioceseheritage.org. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "Feenagh Carnegie Library, Feenagh, Limerick". buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ Quinn, James (December 2014). "Ó Gadhra, Nollaig". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. doi:10.3318/dib.009687.v1. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ Flannery, Maria (June 2018). "Hundreds attend funeral of Limerick's Rory Kiely". limerickleader.ie. Retrieved 31 August 2025.