Borrisoleigh (Irish: Buiríos Ó Luigheach, meaning "O'Lea's Borough") is a small town in North Tipperary in Ireland. According to the 2006 census, the town has a population of 1,178. The parish, which encompasses 14,215 acres (57.53 km2), has a population of just 2,000--down from a high count of 7,000 taken in 1842, before the Potato Famine. It is in the barony of Kilnamanagh Upper, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The parish church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, and is paired with an older church some three kilometers away at Ileagh.
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It is a busy market town on the R498 Nenagh-Thurles road. To the east, the R501 goes to Templemore with fine views of the Devil's Bit mountain on the left hand side near Drom and Barnane.
Borrisoleigh derives its name from the ancient territory of Uí Luighdheach in which it was situated. An annual cattle fair was held here every 27th of November until the 1960s.
The first recorded settlement here was an abbey established by St. Cualan at Glean Caoin, anglicized as "Glenkeen Abbey." Kilcuilan (St. Cualan's Church) was dedicated to him at a nearby holy well. A bell attributed to this saint, known as the "Bearnan Culan" or "Glenkeen Bell" is now housed at the British Museum in London. A replica may be seen in the sanctuary of the parish church in Borrisoleigh.
After the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th Century, the O'Dwyer and DeBurgo clans established a fortress on the River Camoge as a defense against the native settlement at Ileagh. Its ruins may still be seen as you leave Borrisoleigh on the Templemore Road.
The parish priest Michael Slattery was selected to head the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly in 1833.
In October 1846, absentee landlord Lord Portarlington threw a banquet at the Temperance Hall in Borrisoleigh while the surrounding parish was suffering through the Potato Famine. He left a meager one hundred pound donation to the local Poor Relief Committee when he returned to England.
Slattery was succeeded by Father William Morris, who led 118 local men in signing the Cormack Petition in 1858. This document provides a vital snapshot of the town's population, including its largest families (in this order): Ryan, Bourke, Kennedy, Dwyer, Maher, Gleeson, and Harrington. It also shows the top 10 male given names were: John, James, Patrick, William, Michael, Daniel, Martin, Philip, Thomas, Edmond (tie), and Jeremiah (tie).
Borrisoleigh has produced two well-known Catholic bishops: Joseph Shanahan (1871-1943) and Thomas Quinlan (1896-1970).
Among its attractions are some traditional shop fronts, and a 15th century tower house. An inscribed slab inserted into the gable of one of a pair of red sandstone houses are engraved the names Richard Burke and Ellis Hurley, 1643. Walter Doolin was the architect of the church in the main street. The window and door surrounds were quarried at Drombane, 12 miles (19 km) away. It is similar to the stone used in Cormac's Chapel, Cashel.
Borrisoleigh is the headquarters of Gleeson Group which markets Tipperary Natural Mineral Water and Devil's Bit Cider.
The best known sporting club in the area is Borris-Ileigh GAA. The club's name is distinctive and is not to be confused with the place name Borrisoleigh. Famous All-Ireland champion hurlers with the club were Liam Devaney, Paddy Kenny, Seán Kenny and Jimmy Finn whose years of glory were in the period 1949-1965. In 1987, Richard Stakelum captained Tipperary to their first Munster championship in 17 years. Also in that era, brothers Bobby and Aidan Ryan were victorious in the 1989 and 1991 All-Ireland Championships, Bobby being the victorious captain in 1989. In 2001, Philip Maher was full back on the Tipperary Team that won the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Putting the barony in its historico-geographical context.
Explanation for the use of "North Tipperary" instead of "County Tipperary".