Croagh

Croagh (Irish: Cróch)^[2] is a small village and civil parish in County Limerick, Ireland. It is located in mid-Limerick between Rathkeale and Adare just off the N21 national primary road,^[3] approximately 22 kilometres (14 miles) south west of Limerick City. The village was originally part of this route before construction of the Croagh by-pass in 1986.^[4] The village is in the agricultural area known as the Golden Vale.

Croagh Cróch
Village
Main Street in Croagh village
Croagh Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°32′03″N 08°52′14″W
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	County Limerick
Population  (2016)[1]	216
Irish grid reference	R408428

History

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ringfort and fulacht fiadh sites in the townlands of Croagh, Adamstown and Ballycannon.^[5][6] The ruins of a medieval church and enclosure lie in the village.^[7] The current Catholic church, which is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and was built c. 1830,^[8] is one of several protected structures within the village.^[9]

Amenities and sport

Croagh, which had a population of 261 as of the 2016 census,^[1] has a national (primary) school with an enrollment of approximately 70 children.^[10] Other amenities include a Catholic church, garden centre, childcare facility, medical centre, music school, pubs, nursing home, community centre, a village park and sports ground.^[3]

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, Croagh-Kilfinny, won the Limerick Junior Hurling Championship in 2021.^[11]

Shountrade AFC, an association football club, was founded in 1987 in Croagh.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of towns and villages in County Limerick

Further reading

• Lewis, Samuel (1837). "Croagh, a parish". A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Dublin: Lewis.

References

1. "Sapmap Area: Settlements Croagh". Census 2016. Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Archived from the original on 13 March 2022.
2. "Cróch/Croagh". Placenames Database of Ireland. Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
3. Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Volume 2b (PDF) (Report). Limerick City and County Council. p. 106. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
4. "Then & Now: Taking the road less travelled". limericklive.
5. Record of Monuments and Places - County Limerick (PDF). National Monuments and Historic Properties Service. 1997.
6. "2002:1071 - Adamswood/Croagh/Ballycannon, Limerick". excavations.ie. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
7. Begley, J. (1906). The Diocese of Limerick ancient and medieval. Dublin: Browne & Nolan. p. 164.
8. "Catholic Church of Saint John the Baptist, Ballycannon, Croagh, Limerick". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
9. Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 - Volume 3c - Record of Protected Structures (Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District) (PDF) (Report). Limerick City and County Council. June 2022. pp. 48–49. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
10. "Croagh National School". gov.ie. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
11. Redington, John. "Croagh-Kilfinny end 118 year wait for county honour". www.limerickleader.ie.

External links

• Croagh National School
• Diocesan Heritage Project for Croagh-Kilfinny
• Croagh-Kilfinny GAA