Raheen, County Laois

Raheen An Ráithín
Town

Raheen Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°57′55″N 7°22′11″W / 52.96527°N 7.36983°W / 52.96527; -7.36983Coordinates: 52°57′55″N 7°22′11″W / 52.96527°N 7.36983°W / 52.96527; -7.36983
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	County Laois
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Irish Grid Reference	S426904

Raheen (Irish: An Ráithín, meaning "little ringfort") is a small village in County Laois south of Portlaoise in Ireland

History

Raheen has an imposing Catholic church, dating from 1857. The first Catholic church, a thatched chapel, was built in 1729; the site was granted by a Protestant family named Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin granted the land after seeing poor Catholics assembled at Mass in a deep pit, which is called The Mass Pit even to the present time.

“

The poorer sort of Irish natives," wrote an English tourist in 1746, "are Roman Catholics, who make no scruple to assemble in the open fields. As we passed yesterday in a by-road, we saw a priest under a tree, with a large assembly about him, celebrating Mass in his proper habit; and though at a great distance from him, we heard him distinctly. These sort of people seem to be very solemn and sincere in their religion. [1]

”

The grave-yard in the village marks the site of the old thatched chapel.

Education

There is one primary school, Tobar an Léinn, located in the area.

Sport

Colt GAA club and Raheen F.C are the local gaelic football, hurling and soccer clubs.

Gallery

St Fintan's Church (built 1857)

External links

Local parish history

References

[1] Chetwood's Tour through Ireland, p. 163.

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