Kilmallock
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Kilmallock (Cill Mocheallóg in Irish) is a town in south County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Cork. There is a Dominican Friary in the village as well as an Abbey and King's Castle (or King John's Castle). The remains of medieval walls which encircled the settlement are still visible. The Dublin–Cork railway line passes by the town, but the station is now closed. The nearest train station is in Charleville, County Cork, just a few miles south of Kilmallock.
It was a town of considerable importance in the late medieval period, ranking as one of the main urban areas in Ireland at the time. Cill Cill Mocheallóg founded the church. Cill is gaelic for "church of" - therefore the church of Mocheallóg. It was burnt to the ground by Oliver Cromwell's forces during Cromwellian conquest of Ireland 1649-53.
During the battle of Killmallock the town saw bitter fighting in July 1922 during the Irish Civil War, when it was held by anti-Treaty forces under Liam Deasy and eventually taken by Free State troops under Eoin O'Duffy, which was an event which among others contributed to the dissolution of the short-lived Munster Republic.
Kilmallock is a sporting town and particularly nurtures the ancient Irish game of Hurling and many playing members of the local club have represented County Limerick in the Munster and All-Ireland Championships. Kilmallock is also twinned for socio-economic purposes with Croom in County Limerick.
The town is steeped in mystery and has a fantastic plethora of public houses.
Further reading:
1) Kilmallock Dominican Priory: An Architectural Perspective, 1291-1991, by Arlene Hogan (1991), published by the Kilmallock Historical Society.
2) The story of Kilmallock by Mainchín Seoighe (1987), published by the Kilmallock Historical Society.
- See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
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