Kilmallock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kilmallock (Cill Mocheallóg in Irish) is a historic and sporting town in south County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Cork. There is a Dominican Priory in the town 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. The Dominican Priory of Kilmallock was attacked and destroyed by a Parliamentary Army under Lord Inchiquin in 1648. Its noble ruins are the best known historic landmark of Kilmallock . The local cemetry is the burial place of the famous eighteenth century poet Andrias Mac Craith better known as An Mangaire Sugach , whose most famous poem is " Slan Le Maigh " , a song in praise of the entire Maigue valley when he was temporarily exiled from it . The house where he died still stands at the bottom of Wolfe Tone street near the river Lubagh . The house known as Tigh An Fhile has information panels about the poet at the doorway . The town also has a small museum depicting the historic past of this once great Geraldine fortress town . It is located on the way down to the Dominican Priory .
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.
3} The Kilmallock Journal , published by the Kilmallock Historical Society
4} Chun Gloire De : a guide to the very fine neo-Gothic Catholic Church
- See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
 |
This Ireland geographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
