The Square, Feb. 2025
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Life Goes On
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In Abbeyfeale
I was in the square in Abbeyfeale last Friday. They have a market there on Fridays and Saturdays.
This graveyard is still in use and it holds a wealth of local history.
1188 Cistercian Abbey founded by Domnall Mór Ua Briain, better known as Donal O’Brien who was the King of Limerick, King of Thomond and King of Munster.
1209 Cistercian Abbey becomes a cell (daughter house) of the much larger Monasteranenagh Abbey near Croom in Co Limerick.
1306 Black Book of Limerick notes that Abbeyfeale was destroyed by War.
1418 Thomas FitzGerald (5th Earl of Desmond) marries Abbeyfeale girl Catherine MacCormac which was against the wishes of his high-powered family, the associated ruling classes and the law of the land. He was forced to forfeit his entire inheritance and shortly thereafter both Thomas and Catherine were exiled to France.
Mid 1400’s Purt Castle was built a short distance outside Abbeyfeale.
1580 – 16th March, Sir William Pelham and his army who were loyal to Queen Elizabeth I plundered and destroyed Purt Castle along with the Abbey in Abbeyfeale. This followed on from Pelham’s earlier slaughter of 400 men, women and children at Cloonlahard Woods between Shanagolden and Athea on 12th March while searching for the then Earl of Desmond (Gerald FitzGerald).
1583 Estimated 30,000 dead throughout Munster due to the effects of War, Famine and Disease which were a consequence of the ongoing conflict between the then Earl of Desmond and Queen Elizabeth I.
If you would like to read more about Abbeyfeale’s history, follow the link below.
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What a great idea!
I read this in The Advertiser. I’m looking forward to it already. Add a bit of music and entertainment and this could be a massive tourist attraction.
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Soldiers
People who were surprised to hear that Irishmen fought on the British side in 2 world wars, need to familiarise themselves with our history. Things are rarely black and white and there were lots of reasons why men enlisted and fought.
Gerry O’Carroll in his memoir writes this.
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A Fact
Mongooses were introduced to Hawaii in 1883. Hawaii was being plagued by rats and rats are the mongooses’ main prey. The plan was a disaster as rats are nocturnal and mongooses are diurnal.
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