Mooncoin
Mooncoin () is a census town in County Kilkenny, in Ireland. The population was 1,175 in 2016. Historically part of the Gaelic kingdom of Osraige, today it is in the far south of the county of Kilkenny, located in the valley of the River Suir ...
in
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny ( gle, Contae Chill Chainnigh) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the South-East Region. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. Kilkenny County Council is the local authority for the cou ...
,
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 ...
. Carrigeen is situated on a hillock within the
Suir
The River Suir ( ; ga, an tSiúr or ''Abhainn na Siúire'' ) is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean through Waterford after a distance of .
The catchment area of the Suir is 3,610 km2.
Valley, contains St. Kevin's Church and belongs to the
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or m ...
of
Mooncoin
Mooncoin () is a census town in County Kilkenny, in Ireland. The population was 1,175 in 2016. Historically part of the Gaelic kingdom of Osraige, today it is in the far south of the county of Kilkenny, located in the valley of the River Suir ...
. There is a primary school and a GAA club in Carrigeen.
St. Kevin's Church is one of the three churches of the
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or m ...
of Mooncoin, together with a church in
Killinaspick
Killinaspick () is a small village in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland. Its name is also sometimes spelt Killinaspic, Killnaspic or Kilnaspic.
Killinaspick is situated in the north of Mooncoin parish. It borders the parishes of Mullinavat, ...
and Mooncoin.
History
Carrigeen is located close to two of Ireland's most ancient villages, Licketstown and Glengrant, which date to Norman times.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...
recognised the value of the land as he passed under the shadow of the Walsh Hills on his approach to
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir () is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It lies on both banks of the River Suir. The part on the north bank of the Suir lies in the civil parish of "Carrick", in the historical barony of Iffa and Offa East. The part on the so ...
from
New Ross
New Ross (, formerly ) is a town in southwest County Wexford, Ireland. It is located on the River Barrow, near the border with County Kilkenny, and is around northeast of Waterford. In 2016 it had a population of 8,040 people, making it the ...
. He is reported to have said, "It is a land worth fighting for".
Geography
Carrigeen is situated on a hillock within the Suir Valley, it has a panoramic view of the south of County Kilkenny including '' Slieve na mBan'', Tory Hill and the
Comeragh Mountains
The Comeragh Mountains () are a glaciated mountain range situated in southeast Ireland in County Waterford. They are located between the town of Dungarvan and stretch inland to the town of Clonmel on the County Tipperary border and the villages ...
.
Education
Carrigeen National School celebrated its centenary in September 2000. Carrigeen is the third school in this area of south Kilkenny. Clashroe and the present community hall adjoining the churchyard were former schools. Carrigeen originally had a hedge school at Portnascully or "Field of the School" where a travelling master would have taught. President
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese ( ; ga, Máire Pádraigín Mhic Ghiolla Íosa; ; born 27 June 1951) is an Irish activist lawyer and former politician who served as the eighth president of Ireland from November 1997 to November 2011. She is an academic ...
visited Carrigeen National School on 15 April 2003.
Landmarks
Historic landmarks surrounding Carrigeen include Grannagh and Corluddy Castle. Corluddy, or the round hill of the mine, is situated on a hill overlooking the
River Suir
The River Suir ( ; ga, an tSiúr or ''Abhainn na Siúire'' ) is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean through Waterford after a distance of .
The catchment area of the Suir is 3,610 km2.
. This castle was built during the Norman period. Grant, the landlord of Glengrant, lived there.
St. Kevin's Church, Carrigeen, is one of the three churches of the
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or m ...
of Mooncoin, together with a church in
Killinaspick
Killinaspick () is a small village in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland. Its name is also sometimes spelt Killinaspic, Killnaspic or Kilnaspic.
Killinaspick is situated in the north of Mooncoin parish. It borders the parishes of Mullinavat, ...
and Mooncoin.
People
Bob O'Keeffe
Robert O'Keeffe (16 August 1880 – 1949) was an Irish hurler who played for the Laois senior team.
O'Keeffe was a regular member of the starting fifteen during the 1914 and 1915 championship campaigns. During that time he won one All-Irela ...
, after whom the trophy awarded for the
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship, known simply as the Leinster Championship, is an annual inter-county hurling competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the highest inter-county hurl ...
is named, was a native of Glengrant, Mooncoin. O'Keeffe became a prominent figure in the
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA; ga, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael ; CLG) is an Irish international amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional ...
(GAA) councils and was president of the association from 1935 to 1938. After his death, the GAA decided to donate a trophy in his memory—the Bob O'Keeffe Memorial Cup. The hurler depicted on the top of the cup is barefooted, which is significant in view of the fact that Bob O'Keeffe originally played in that manner.
Sport
Carrigeen GAA club was formed in 1954. Asper Park, the club grounds, was officially opened in 1991 by Paddy Buggy of Slieverue, former President of the GAA. Carrigeen play in black and amber stripes.Kilkenny Cats As of 2008, the club was reportedly spending €500,000 developing its grounds, with the National Lottery putting up €200,000, Kilkenny County Council €100,000, and the club raising the remaining €200,000.