Shanahoe () is a small village in
County Laois
County Laois ( ; gle, Contae Laoise) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 to 1922. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medie ...
,
Ireland, situated in the centre of the county, 8 km west of
Abbeyleix and 7 km south of
Mountrath.
History and development
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a
Bronze Age urn which was discovered nearby in the 1930s.
The remains of a
ringfort
Ringforts, ring forts or ring fortresses are circular fortified settlements that were mostly built during the Bronze Age up to about the year 1000. They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland. There are also many in South Wales ...
are also recorded in Shanahoe
townland.
Built mainly along the two main approach roads, the village developed as a predominantly
linear settlement. Buildings at the village centre include the village church, community hall and
national (primary) school. The
M7/
M8 Motorway Scheme lies to the west of the village.
Education
''Scoil Fionntáin Naofa'', the local
national (primary) school, was built in 1948.
As of 2010, there were 74 pupils enrolled in the school.
Sport
The local
Gaelic Athletic Association club is Shanahoe GAA, whose pitches are located about 2 km outside the village.
Notable people
* John Keegan (writer), John Keegan (1816–1849), writer, poet and storyteller, was born in Killeaney near the village of Shanahoe.
See also
* List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland, List of towns and villages in Ireland
References
{{Authority control
Towns and villages in County Laois