Freemount () is a village in

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

in Ireland. It lies on the

River Allow The River Allow (; ) is a river in Ireland, flowing through County Limerick and County Cork. Course The Allow rises in the Mullaghareirk Mountains and forms part of the County Limerick–County Cork border before flowing eastwards, passing und ...

, which is crossed by Allow Bridge (dated 1834) on the R578 regional road. As of the 2022 census, Freemount village had a population of 257.

History and name

The village and surrounding

townland A townland (; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a traditional small land division used in Ireland and in the Western Isles of Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of medieval Gaelic origin, predating the Norman invasion, and mo ...

takes its original Irish name, ''Cillín an Chrónáin'', from an early Christian church which was located on an earlier

ringfort Ringforts or ring forts are small circular fortification, fortified settlements built during the Bronze Age, Iron Age and early Middle Ages up to about the year 1000 AD. They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland. There are ...

site. The village's later English name, Freemount, was first recorded in the mid-18th century, and reputedly associated with the Freeman family of nearby Castlecor House. The Freeman family purchased Castlecor House, in neighbouring Kilbrin, in the early 18th century.

Amenities

The Catholic church in the village is dedicated to Saint Michael and is in the Diocese of Cloyne. A plaque on the facade of the church is dated 1842. The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, Freemount GAA, competes in the Duhallow division. As of 2021, Freemount's national (primary) school had approximately 80 pupils enrolled.

References

Towns and villages in County Cork {{Cork-geo-stub