Mountcollins
Encyclopedia
Mountcollins is a village in the extreme south west of County Limerick
, Ireland
, barely 100 metres from the border with County Kerry
and just a mile from County Cork. The River Feale
runs parallel to the village and is fed by the Caher River that divides the village.
Mountcollins is in the Parish of Mountcollins-Tournafulla.
The local post office closed a few years ago. The last grocery shop closed in 2008. The village skyline is dominated by a large Roman Catholic church with an 80 foot steeple which can be plainly seen from both bordering County Cork
and County Kerry
When entering the village from either end there are very narrow bridges which only one car can cross over at a time.
. Until 1586, Mountcollins had been part of the parish of Monagea. The present day population of the parish is about 1,500 people.
Mountcollins was formerly called Knockroedermot. The area used to be called the "Munster Coalfield". A large tract of land was reclaimed here in the middle of the nineteenth century. There are hills to the north and south-east and the land is mainly boggy. In the past, there was little more than a road in Mountcollins and people used to say, "I'm going to the road" in reference to it. During the famine in Mountcollins, a number of new roads were laid as part of the relief works that began nationwide in an effort to alleviate the immense poverty that existed at the time.
Mountcollins got its present name from Fr Luke Collins. Fr Collins served as priest to both Abbeyfeale and Mountcollins from the 1730s until his death in 1775. Fr Collins first said mass in a building on a hill called 'the Mount', which is the site of the present day church. Hence the name Mountcollins.
The Ó Coileáin
ruled Southwest Limerick from the fourth to the thirteenth century. The area was called the Tuath of Corca Oíche, after the clan. The Gaelic lords of the Corca Oíche took the name Ó Macasa that became anglicised as Mackessy. To the east of Corca Oíche lay the lands of the Ó Coileáin called Claonghlais. The name Ó Coileáin was anglicised as Collins.
and Limerick
for more commercial and industrial employment. The local national school has turned out a huge number of university graduates who invariably migrate to urban centres and so the demographic of the area is aged. However with economic boom throughout Ireland in recent years this is slowly changing due to immigration and a local building boom.
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, barely 100 metres from the border with County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
and just a mile from County Cork. The River Feale
River Feale
The River Feale rises near Rockchapel in the Mullaghareirk Mountains of County Cork in the southwest of Ireland and flows northwestwards through Abbeyfeale and Listowel in County Kerry before finally emptying into the Mouth of the Shannon by Ballyduff.-External links:*...
runs parallel to the village and is fed by the Caher River that divides the village.
Mountcollins is in the Parish of Mountcollins-Tournafulla.
The local post office closed a few years ago. The last grocery shop closed in 2008. The village skyline is dominated by a large Roman Catholic church with an 80 foot steeple which can be plainly seen from both bordering County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
and County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
When entering the village from either end there are very narrow bridges which only one car can cross over at a time.
History
Tournafulla-Mountcollins parish was formed in 1838 from part of the parish of KilleedyKilleedy
Killeedy is a parish located south of Newcastle West in Co. Limerick in Ireland. This parish consists of two villages, Ashford and Raheenagh. The elevation of the parish varies from 1,184 ft. OS at Mauricetown and 1,082 ft. at Dromdeeveen to 200 ft. OS at Ballintubber. The parish...
. Until 1586, Mountcollins had been part of the parish of Monagea. The present day population of the parish is about 1,500 people.
Mountcollins was formerly called Knockroedermot. The area used to be called the "Munster Coalfield". A large tract of land was reclaimed here in the middle of the nineteenth century. There are hills to the north and south-east and the land is mainly boggy. In the past, there was little more than a road in Mountcollins and people used to say, "I'm going to the road" in reference to it. During the famine in Mountcollins, a number of new roads were laid as part of the relief works that began nationwide in an effort to alleviate the immense poverty that existed at the time.
Mountcollins got its present name from Fr Luke Collins. Fr Collins served as priest to both Abbeyfeale and Mountcollins from the 1730s until his death in 1775. Fr Collins first said mass in a building on a hill called 'the Mount', which is the site of the present day church. Hence the name Mountcollins.
The Ó Coileáin
Ó Coileáin
Ó Coileáin is a Modern Irish surname generally belonging to the descendants of the last leading family of the Uí Chonaill Gabra, a sept and small but notable overkingdom of medieval and ancient Ireland, based in western County Limerick...
ruled Southwest Limerick from the fourth to the thirteenth century. The area was called the Tuath of Corca Oíche, after the clan. The Gaelic lords of the Corca Oíche took the name Ó Macasa that became anglicised as Mackessy. To the east of Corca Oíche lay the lands of the Ó Coileáin called Claonghlais. The name Ó Coileáin was anglicised as Collins.
Employment
Agriculture is the main source of income for most locals with the majority of the remainder commuting to neighbouring AbbeyfealeAbbeyfeale
Abbeyfeale is a historical market town in County Limerick, Ireland near the boundary with County Kerry. The town is in the midwest of Ireland, some from Newcastle West on the N21 – the main road from Limerick to Tralee.-Geography:...
and Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
for more commercial and industrial employment. The local national school has turned out a huge number of university graduates who invariably migrate to urban centres and so the demographic of the area is aged. However with economic boom throughout Ireland in recent years this is slowly changing due to immigration and a local building boom.
Local townlands
- Acres
- Caherlevoy
- Garravane
- Knockawarraige, Knockulcare
- Secondglas, Stumble
- The Gate
- West End
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland