Croom

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Croom (Cromadh in Irish) is a town in County Limerick, Ireland. It is located just off the N20 (which was recently routed around the town as a bypass) on the River Maigue.

8km southeast of Adare on the N20 is Croom, Croom is home to Castle Croom, which was restored in the 19th C. In the 18th C., it was the meetingplace of the "Maigue poets." West of Croom are the ruins of a 15th C. church (National Monument) and a round tower (12th C.), the top part of which is missing.

Many Americans with the surname Croom believe they can trace their ancestry to this town. This is a misconception however. In fact, the last name Croom is rarely found among the Irish. Instead, it is much more likely the name derives from Scotland or England, where it is much more common. Some genealogists believe the name CROOM is of Anglo-Saxon origins and most likely was derived from the an early gaelic word meaning curved, bent or crooked, like the shape of the curved moon. Thus, it is probably pure coincidence that the town name and surname Croom are the same. Scotland and Ireland share Gaelic roots, and therefore the Croom names likely developed separately.

See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland