- Hospital, County Limerick
Infobox Irish Place
name =Hospital
gaeilge = An tOspidéal Gleann Aine
crest
motto =
map
pin coords = left: 97px; top: 70px
north coord = 52.46667
west coord = 8.4333
irish grid = R703356
area =
county =County Limerick
town pop = 1,206
rural pop = 1,977
census yr = 2006
province =Munster
web =
area code = 061
|Hospital ("An tOspidéal" in Irish) is a town in east
County Limerick , Ireland. The town itself has a population of 1206 people as of the 2006 census but within a 2km radius that number more than doubles.Name
The town acquired its name from the crusading
Knights Hospitaller who built the archaeologically significant cathedral here in 1215. This cathedral has the remains of three interesting tombs, dating from the 13th and 14th centuries.An alternative explanation, from the bio of
Sir Valentine Browne, Knight ,Surveyor general of Ireland (who was awarded lands in the area byQueen Elizabeth I of England ) is that the town anciently formed part of the parish of Aney, and derived its name from a hospital forKnights Templar , founded in 1226 by Geoffry de Marisco, thenLord-Justice of Ireland .Transport
The "Old Cork Road" from
Limerick toMitchelstown and Cork (also known today as the R513) passes through the town. There are plans to upgrade this road, forming an alternative Limerick to Cork road.Fact|date=May 2008Amenities
Hospital is one of the Limerick's larger towns, and hosts a number of retail outlets and businesses. The town's secondary school was completed in 2000 and has over 650 students.Fact|date=May 2008 There is also a new primary school which was completed in the summer of 2004. Hospital is also home to one of Limerick's "youthreach" schools. The town also has its own GAA club where they are joined with the village of Herbertstown. Limerick captain Damien Reale is a member of the club. There is also a soccer club in the town called Hospital Crusaders. Other recreational bodies include the local tennis and handball clubs.
There is a
stone circle nearby at Ballinamona.Development
Hospital has its own local area development plan which lays out plans and proposals for the future expansion of the town. [http://www.lcc.ie/NR/rdonlyres/1FCDD812-42B5-4206-AF2C-438BF5076D23/0/HospitalLAPFinal271106.pdf]
Notable Natives and Residents
*
Jon Kenny
*Liam Reale
*Damien Reale ee also
* List of towns and villages in Ireland
References
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