Croom () is a village in

County Limerick "Remember Limerick" , image_map = Island_of_Ireland_location_map_Limerick.svg , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Ireland , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Munster , subdivision ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. It is located just off the N20 (which has bypassed the town since 2001) on the

River Maigue A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wat ...

. It is 8 km southeast of Adare on the N20.

History

Cromadh (now Croom) was a village in the territory of the

Uí Fidgenti The Uí Fidgenti, Fidgeinti, Fidgheinte, Fidugeinte, Fidgente, or Fidgeinte ( or ;In the pronunciation, the -d- is silent, and the -g- becomes a glide, producing what might be anglicized ''Feeyenti'' or ''Feeyenta''. "descendants of, or of the ...

, and one of the seats of the O’Donovans of the Ui Fidgheinte, which flourished from the late 4th century to the mid 12th century. A hermitage, Dísert Óengusa, was founded nearby by

Óengus of Tallaght Óengus mac Óengobann, better known as Saint Óengus of Tallaght or Óengus the Culdee, was an Irish bishop, reformer and writer, who flourished in the first quarter of the 9th century and is held to be the author of the ''Félire Óengusso'' ...

around the year AD 780. The townland is located on the River Maigue, which although now having a tidal flow only to Adare, in ancient years the river had a tidal flow past Croom, making it a transit route for the Viking ships traversing inland from the Shannon during the 9th and 10th centuries. Contacts arising along the Maigue River between Danish Vikings and the Ui Donnabhains provide an insight into the alliance between the two groups in the late 10th century. John O’Donovan claimed in an appendix to the

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Deluge, dated as 2,24 ...

that Croom derived its name from Ancrom O'Donovan

Crom Ua Donnabáin Crom or CROM may refer to: Places * Crom, a townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland * Crom Estate, a Northern Irish National Trust Property ** Crom Castle * Ben Crom, a mountain in the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland * Cro ...

, who was slain in Innis Beale Antha Dos (now Broadford) in 1254, based on the similarity of Ancrom with Crom. However, that claim has been thoroughly discredited. The earliest mention of Cromadh in the historical annals was in 1151, when "A great predatory excursion was made by Ruaidhrí, son of Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair, into Thomond; and he carried away many cows, and burned Cromadh". This event took place only three years after Turlogh O’Brien, King of Munster in 1148, and whom alternatively allied with and opposed Ruaidhrí Ua Conchobhair, defeated the Danes at the nearby fort of Rathmore. The burning of Croom in 1151 should be viewed in the larger context of leading powers continuing to punish and push the O’Donovans with their Danish alliances from their historical territory, which continued for another century as new Anglo Saxon powers arose from the Fitzgeralds, Butlers, Roches and whom competed with the O’Briens, O’Connors and MacCarthys for the Ui Fidgheinte (Ui Chairpre and Ui Chonaill) territories. Ultimately, in the early 13th century, the lands surrounding Croom were given to the Fitzgeralds of Kildare. The Earls of Kildare continued to administer and build in the area of Croom through the end of the 16th century, and the competition for control of the Croom area was reduced to regional contests between the Earls of Desmond and the Earls of Kildare. Both houses associated their war cries with their territory: the war cry of the Geraldines of Kildare was Cromadh-abú ( Victory to Croom ), with various spellings Croom Abú. For comparison, the war-cry of the Desmond Geraldines was Seanaid-abú, associated with Shannid Castle, or Shannid Forever.

Places of interest

Croom is home to

Croom Castle Croom or Crom Castle, also called the Castle of Crom, is a historic castle in the town of Croom, County Limerick, that is notable for its occupation as one of the principal residences of the Kildare branch of the FitzGerald dynasty. Their ancie ...

, rebuilt by the FitzGeralds and Fitzmaurices from an earlier O'Donovan fortress, which may or may not have first been destroyed. In any case, it was restored in the 19th century. In the 18th century, it was the meeting-place of the "Maigue poets." West of Croom are the ruins of a 15th-century church (

National Monument A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a spec ...

) and a

round tower A fortified tower (also defensive tower or castle tower or, in context, just tower) is one of the defensive structures used in fortifications, such as castles, along with curtain walls. Castle towers can have a variety of different shapes and ful ...

(12th century), the top part of which is missing. To the east is

Croom Hospital Croom Hospital ( ga, Ospidéal Croom) is an orthopaedic hospital in Croom, County Limerick, Ireland. It is managed by UL Hospitals Group. History The hospital has its origins in the Croom Workhouse and Infirmary which was designed by George Wi ...

which began life in 1852 as a workhouse, and became a hospital in 1924. Along the river Maigue is a ruin mill along with a newer mill, built by Henry Lyons in 1788 and was operational until 1927. In late 2014, a new Civic Centre was opened which includes a restaurant, library, public computers and function hall.

Transport

Croom railway station opened on 1 August 1862, closed for passenger traffic on 31 December 1934 and for goods traffic on 9 September 1963, finally closing altogether on 27 March 1967. The town is bypassed by the N20 ''Croom Bypass'' (2001), and

Bus Éireann Bus Éireann (; "Irish Bus") is a state-owned bus and coach operator providing services throughout Ireland, with the exception of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area, where bus services are provided by sister company Dublin Bus. It is a subsidia ...

and

Citylink CityLink is a network of tollways in Melbourne, Australia, linking the Tullamarine, West Gate and Monash Freeways and incorporating Bolte Bridge, Burnley Tunnel and other works. In 1996, Transurban was awarded the contract to augment two exi ...

buses no longer stop in Croom.

Sport

The thoroughbred horse stud Islanmore Stud is on the south side of the village. The original 18th-century house was built for a younger brother of the

Earl of Dunraven Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl (usually referred to as Earl of Dunraven) was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 5 February 1822 for Valentine Quin, 1st Viscount Mount-Earl. Quin had already been created a Baronet, of Adare ...

. The local GAA club is

Croom GAA Croom GAA club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Croom, County Limerick, Ireland. The club was founded in 1884 and fields teams in both hurling and Gaelic football. Location The club is situated in the parish of Croom in central ...

.Croom GAA Club
/ref> Croom United F.C. is a soccer club in the area.

Education

Croom has two schools, a primary school named "St. Marys" and a secondary school named "Coláiste Chiaráin".

References