Mahoonagh

Mahoonagh Maigh Thamhnach
—  Town  —
Mahoonagh Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°25′51″N 9°00′36″W / 52.430736°N 9.010093°W / 52.430736; -9.010093Coordinates: 52°25′51″N 9°00′36″W / 52.430736°N 9.010093°W / 52.430736; -9.010093
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	County Limerick
Population (2006)
- Urban	517
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
- Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Irish Grid Reference	R310300

Mahoonagh village is two miles (3 km) south east of the town of Newcastle West, County Limerick. Ireland. There are two villages within the parish of Mahoonagh.

The parish has two main centres, Mahoonagh and Feohanagh (Feothanach) villages.

Mahoonagh village is the official name and it is known locally as Castlemahon (Caisleán Uí Mhathúna) village.

There is one Main Street in Castlemahon and one Main Housing estate known as Churchview. There is a Parish Hall, a primary National School, RC Church, Post office, two shops and two Pubs, one Car Garage and A Plant Hire within the Village.

Location

From Newcastle West proceed out the ‘Bruff line’ road (Towards Kilmallock) and after 1.5 miles (2.4 km) take the first Right at the cross roads towards Kilmeedy. Castlemahon Village is sided on east bank of the River Deel.

You can also get to Castlemahon Village by taking the Cork Road (From Newcastle West towards Dromcollogher and take the First Left at the first crossroads coming into the village from the townland of Ballinvullen.

Feohanagh village is situated approximately five miles further away, on the R522 on the road between Newcastle West and Dromcollogher.

Transportation

Taxi

Mahoonagh Parish is serviced by a numerous Taxi/ hackneys from Newcastle West.

Bus

The Killarney/Tralee Bus Route passes through Newcastle West The county's regional/national bus hub is located in Limerick City Colbert Station train station. The Bus Hub has connection to various cities and towns throughout Ireland.

Rail

The nearest passenger rail is Charleville, County Cork. The Cork-Dublin line and Limerick Colbert Station Limerick-Dublin via Limerick Junction County Tipperary.

One Private Run bus company within the Parish.

Air

No commercial airports are situated in County Limerick and the Parish's needs are serviced from Shannon Airport N19 in County Clare, Kerry Airport Farranfore N23 County Kerry and Cork Airport Kinsale Road N27 County Cork, all are within 1 hour's drive.

Bordering parishes

• Newcastle West to the northwest,
• Knockaderry / Cloncagh to the northeast & east,
• Feenagh / Kilmeedy to the southeast,
• Dromcollogher / Broadford to the south,
• Killeedy / Ashford / Raheenagh to the southwest,
• Monagea to the west.

Townlands

English Name	Irish Name	Meaning
Ahawik	Áth an Mhoilc	The ford of the throng
Appletown	Drom Cromáin	Ridge of the bending feature
Balliniska	Baile an Uisce	The town of the water
Ballinvullen	Baile an Mhuilaigh	The town of the summit
Ballydonnell	Baile Uí Dhónhaill	The town of Ó Dónaill
Ballydoorty	Baile Uí Dhúrtaigh	The town of Ó Dúrtaigh
Ballinakillbeg	Baile na Coille Beag	The town of the wood
Ballinakillmore	Baile na Coille Mór	as above
Ballygullen	Baile Uí Ghoillín	The town of Ó Goillín
Ballynoe	An Baile Nua	The new town
Ballyregan	Baile Uí Riagáin	The town of Ó Riagáin
Cloonmore	An Chluain Mhór	The big meadow
Clooncooravane North	Cluain Cúrabháin	Meaning uncertain
Clooncooravane South	as above	as above
Clounsherrick	Cluain Séaraic	The meadow of Séaraic
Cooliska	An Chúil Loiscthe	The burnt corner
Coolygorman	Cúil Uí Ghormain	O’Gorman’s corner
Coolyroe	Cúil an Rua	The corner of the red feature
Curragh	An Currach	The wet land
Danganbeg	An Daingean Beag	The small fort
Fawnlehane	Fán Liatháin	The slope of Liathán
Farran	Fearann	Land
Feohanagh	An Fheothanach	The place of thistles
Garbally East	An Gearrbhaile	The short town
Garrane	An Garrán	The grove
Garryduff	An Garraí Dubh	The black garden
Gortmore	An Gort Mór	The big field
Gortskagh	Gort Scátha	The field of briars
Iniskeen	Inis Caoin	Pleasant island
Kilready	Cill an Riadaigh	The church of An Riadach
Mahoonagh Beg	Maigh Thamhnach	Plain of clearings
Mahoonagh More	as above	as above
Mayne	Méin	Meaning uncertain
Moanroe Beg	An Mhóin Rua	The red bogland
Moanlena	Móin Léana	Bogland of wet meadows
Rathpalatine	Ráth na bPalaitíneach	The rath of the Palatines
Shanrath	An tSeanráth	The old rath
Walshestown	Baile na Bhreatnaigh	The town of An Breatnach

Education

There is one Primary school within the village known as Mahoonagh National School and it is situated on the site of the Old St Nichols Church.

email: [e-mail]

Tel: [phone]

History

The present day name of Mahoonagh comes from the Irish 'Maigh Tamhnach', which means 'the plain of the tree stumps' or 'the plain of the clearings'. The village of Mahoonagh is more commonly known as Castlemahon village, although Mainchín Seoighe tells us that the origin of this place name is unclear, there being neither parish nor townland of that name.

In the Civil Survey of 1654–56 the spelling is Mahownagh, Mahoonagh (or Castlemahon as it is locally known), at that time, the parish was in the Glenquin Division of the barony of Upper Connello. There is no exact known date for the founding of the parish. In the sixteenth century, Mahoonagh was divided up into three parts called Trean Tawnaghe, Treanmeane and Treanfaltaghe.

The ruins of a massive square tower about 30 feet (9.1 m) high, exist near Castlemahon and gives the name to the village. Near it is a curious circular building, with a high conical roof of stone. It was a strong fortress erected about 1490 by the Fitzgeralds.

Cormac MacCarthaigh became the King of Munster in 1123 when his brother Tadhg died. According to Mainchín Seoighe, Cormac was known as Cormac Muighe Thamhnach because he had his residence in Mahoonagh. Cormac was a violent leader and led an expedition against the O'Connor's of Connacht. However, he was displaced as King in 1127 and was killed in 1138 in his house in Maigh Thamhnach by the O'Briens. Previously, it was recorded that Cellachan, the King of Cashel was killed at Mahoonagh in 954.

Emigrants to North America from Mahoonagh include Michael Scanlon, the "Fenian Poet," Thomas Scanlan, Mayor of Houston, Texas in the 1800s, William Fleming, Grandfather of Harry Raymond Fleming, Canadian Member of Parliament and Great Great Grandfather of Michael P. Fleming, Elected Harris County Attorney (Houston, Texas).

Castles

Mahoonagh Castle was built by the Fitzgeralds at the end of the 12 or the beginning of the 13th century. In later years the Castle was owned by the Fitzgibbons. The English occupied it but in 1598 another Fitzgibbon descendant of those who once owned the castle – attacked it and gained possession of it. There is an interesting story of how this Thomas

Fitzgibbon-Macgibbon succeeded in taking over the Castle. He had a servant named Casey. Nobody Knows how Casey came to be in the Castle with the English, but on Shrove Tuesday morning he rose early, he Climbed to the top of the tower unobserved by the inmates and whistled. This was a signal to Fitzgibbon and the Irish to get ready. He came down, roused up the porter, Thomas Everard and conned him into letting him out. Escott, who held the castle, Vosias Walker, Daniel Jennings the Local minister, and others to the number of forty, were it is alleged, stripped naked by MacGibbon. Four of them were hanged at the Windmill of Meane near Kilbolane Castle while the rest were allowed to retire in safety. The other prisoners were ordered to march to North Cork. As there were more captives than the Irish, Fitzgibbon decided to leave some of them to be hanged along the way. The English got angry at this and Fitzgibbon was forced to set all the prisoners free.

At Ballynoe are the remains of an old Castle was built by the Knights Templer. The ivy clad ruins of Clonelty Church can still be traced beside the old castle. The Principal seats were Mayne the residence of Bryan Sheehy, and Ballinakill more of Godfrey Massey. The Living was a rectory and vicarage of the Diocese of Limerick and in the patronage of the Earl of Devon. Tithes amounted to £500 and there was a Glebe of 13 acres (53,000 m²).

Local Mills

There were several water mills on the River Deel, from flax to wheat, none survive today. It was suspected that they were built similar to local houses at that time and floods from the river & Normal weather destroyed the buildings after they were not maintained.

History of the Creamery

The old Creamery of Castlemahon Castlemahon Co-operative Dairy Society was formed in 1890. The Castlemahon area was campaigned for share capital and the erection of the creamery commenced in 1891. The contractors were the Naughton's. The building was completed and in order for the start of 1892 milk season. The committee and the officers that were elected include, chairman George L Sheehy, and manager Tom Beary, of Mitchelstown. Mr. Beary resigned in 1893 and was replaced by two local men of Castlemahon. Joseph Liston and James Phelan, were temporary managers until Denis Hegarty, of Roscarberry took over the creamery.

Castlemahon Co- operative

In 1920 poultry processing commenced in the creamery and consisted of the gathering of live fowl for both the home market and for export. The business became the leading poultry provider in Ireland in 1960, after the amalgamation of the milk business, of the co – operative with Golden Vale in the early 1970s. Golden Vale in the mid 1980’s wound up their business on the site and diverted the Farmers to deliver their Milk to nearby Newcastle West. The Castlemahon site was a great social meeting place for the local gossip in the parish for the local farmers as they were always plenty of parking for the long gossip without affecting the delivery of milk. An old shop (Now demolished) across the road, severed Newspapers and other needs for the farmers. The poultry business continued as a separate co – operative and embarked on an ambitious growth programme through business acquisitions. The workforce at Castlemahon has proved to be highly flexible as is required in the fresh food business. They supply quality poultry to Ireland's leading retailers and caterers.

A new company was formed in October 1984 when O’ Kane Poultry of Ballymena purchased the processing plant from the Liquidator of the Co-operative. Employment increased in excess of 280. This compares more than favourably with the employment level of 144 in October 1984. The workforce at Castlemahon has proved to be highly flexible as is required in the fresh food business. Castlemahon Foods brought the Golden Vale site and built a cooking plant on its location. As the range of product produced grows, the skill base of the company will be expanded to cater for market requirements. The market for chicken has changed considerably over the past few years. The present day house-wife tends to purchase a variety of products, thus making meal preparations less of a chore. Over the years Castlemahon Foods continued to expand the overall chicken market by providing an alternative chicken meal from chicken portions to the roast chicken, turkey portions etc. 40% of the annual sales are made over the Christmas period mainly from the Turkey Market. The significant change in the market is the greater demand for fresh & frozen turkeys. In order to satisfy this demand a new processing line has been installed in Castlemahon and the first turkey in four years will be processed at the plant this Christmas (1989 parish annual), over the years the plant continued it expansion of poultry products with variety chicken portions and custom orders from and to an every demanding consumer. In the late 1990 Castlemahon Foods built a Mill for processing of meal for the poultry trade.

Castlemahon foods continued to upgrade it equipment and Improved their process over the years until it went into receivership in October 2006 and wound up in November 2006 losing up to 300 jobs.

Sports

GAA

Main centre for Sports within the parish is the GAA (Feohanagh-Castlemahon Club) with their playing Field in Coolyroe. For Hurling the parish is represented by Feohanagh and in Gaelic Football is Castlemahon who represents the parish. There are also handball courts available in Coolyroe. Hurling is the main sport in Castlemahon.

Famous Hurling members from this club are from the Quaid Family.

• Tommy Quaid
• Joe Quaid

Feohanagh-Castlemahon Ladies Gaelic Football

http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=4939951551

Other Sports

More Sporting centres are available in nearby Newcastle West, with Soccer and other indoor sports in the Demesne, Newcastle West, Rugby on the Killarney road N21 Newcastle West. http://www.lcc.ie/Office_Locations/Newcastlewest/NewcastleWest_Demesne/

Golf

There is also a Golf Society with the parish: Castlemahon Golf Society.

Employment

Farming

Mahoonagh is part of the rich Golden Vale landscape which is ideal for Farming. For most of Mahoonagh history, Farming was the main employment. It comprises 12,262 statute acres, which are in part very good, though some are cold, wet, being chiefly pasture and meadow, constituting several large and small dairy farms, around the parish. It has some good land tolerably and it is well cultivated. The marshy land consists chiefly of exhausted bog, all reclaimable by drainage. Until late 2006, with the closure of Castlemahon Foods, Poultry farming was another income for the local farmers in the area.

The Newcastle West Agricultural Show take place within the Parish, at Ballynoe on farm of Terence Leonard Farm, within the last few years. It was originally resides within the Castle Demesne in Newcastle West until recent years.

Ballinvullin Industrial Estate

There is currently an Industrial Estate under construction (2007/2008) in the Townland of Ballinvullen (West of the Village towards the Cork Road R522 ) which already has a Mill nearby built by Castlemahon Foods near Laceys Cross on the Cork Road (R522).

Past Major Employment

The main big Employment for the Parish in the past and West Limerick and its surrounding areas in recent years for many decades was Castlemahon Foods (known locally as the Creamery) which was located across the river on the west bank from the main village on the Road to Lacey cross in the townland of Ballinvullen. The Factory closed down and went into receivership in October 2006. Up to 300 processing jobs were lost when the owners of Castlemahon, the O'Kane Group, applied to the High Court to have company wound up. It was a big blow to the region for many families who depended on Castlemahon, with some had many generations work there. The closure has also left 58 growers and 20 Chicken/Turkey breeders without an outlet for their produce.

The soil rests on a substratum of limestone, excellent quarries of which are worked at Shauragh and near the village.

Religion

There are two Catholic Churches within the parish, St. John the Baptist (Castlemahon) St. Mary (Feohanagh).

More Information is available at the Parish Website. http://www.limerickdioceseheritage.org/Mahoonagh.htm

Siberian Tigers

Several Reports on RTE News and in National and Local Newspapers, that Two Siberian Tigers settle down in Castlemahon in November 1990, Castlemahon hit the news headlines and made History. In the home of Stafford and Kathleen Tailor in Mahoonagh Castlemahon. They bought a Christmas present of two Siberian tigers for their daughter Andrea. The names of the tigers were Nova and Batack. The animals were delivered by Chipperfield Circus to their new home, which was built to the specified standards. The large reinforced double cage where they were kept was in specification beforehand for the safe keeping of these animals.

Only web reference is here. This event was mention in a Debate in the Dáil Éireann on 4 March 1992, but Deputy Noonan misquoted the date of arrival of the tigers. Control of Dogs (Amendment) Bill, 1991: Committee Stage (Resumed)

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

External links

• http://www.limerickdioceseheritage.org/Mahoonagh.htm
• http://www.boydhouse.com/alice/Carey/mahoonagh.html
• http://findaddress.citizensinformation.ie/service_finder/bycounty/Limerick/Castlemahon
• http://homepage.eircom.net/~asduchasdochas/gatewaywest/feohanagh/index.htm
• http://www.askaboutireland.ie/show_narrative_page.do?page_id=2698
• Great Picture of a girl on the East Bank of the Deel facing the Old Creamery (which is now closed)
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/shooot/2064800043