Abbeyfeale

Infobox Irish Place
name = Abbeyfeale
gaeilge = Mainistir na Féile
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 19px; top: 82px
north coord = 52.225842
west coord = 9.175906
irish grid = R111268
area =
elevation = 127 m
province = Munster
county = County Limerick
town pop = 1,683
rural pop = 2,263
census yr = 2002
web =
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Abbeyfeale (Irish place name|Mainistir na Féile|Abbey on the Feale) is a historical market town in County Limerick, Ireland near the boundary with County Kerry. The town is in the midwest of Ireland, some 21 km (13 miles) from Newcastle West on the N21 - the main road from Limerick to Tralee.

Geography

The town is situated on the banks of the River Feale in the foothills of the Mullaghareirk Mountains.

The Town

The main feature in Abbeyfeale's Square is a statue of Father William Casey. Fr. Casey was the parish priest from 1883 to 1907 and helped the tenant farmers fight against their landlords. The local Gaelic football team is named in his honour. Recently the town celebrated the centenary of Fr. Casey's influence by having a Fr. Casey themed St. Patricks Day Parade.

The May Bank Holiday weekend sees the town host the "Fleadh by the Feale" traditional music festival. The 2007 festival was the thirteenth of these annual events. The International Bone Playing Competition is the highlight of the festival and is held on the Bank Holiday Monday evening on the open air stage in the town square.

There was a cinema in the town, but this closed in the early 1990s. The remains can be still seen today.

The town previously had an abbey, but this has since all but disappeared, and the only identifiable remnants are those which were used in the construction of the Roman Catholic church. The Geraldine Portrinard Castle is situated about 2.5 km northwest of the town, on the northbank of the Feale.

Cork City and Republic of Ireland U23 striker Denis Behan was raised in Abbeyfeale.

Transport

Abbeyfeale railway station opened on December 20 1880, but was finally closed on 3 November 1975. [cite web | title=Abbeyfeale station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-09-08] The tracks were taken up and the ground beneath them was paved over recently to create a walkway for people along the route of the old railway line.

ee also

*List of towns in Ireland

External links

* [http://www.frcaseysgaa.ie/ Fr. Caseys GAA Club]
* [http://www.abbeyfealeonline.com Abbeyfeale Online - Official site]
* [http://www.limerickdioceseheritage.org/Abbeyfeale.htm Abbeyfeale Diocese]
* [http://www.abbeyfealerfc.com Abbeyfeale Rugby Club Website]
* [http://www.fleadhbythefeale.com/ Fleadh by the Feale Website]

References