Borrisoleigh
Encyclopedia
Borrisoleigh is a small town in North Tipperary
in Ireland
. According to the 2006 census, the town has a population of 1,178. The parish, which encompasses 14215 acres (57.5 km²), has a population of just 2,000--down from a high count of 7,000 taken in 1842, before the Potato Famine. It is in the barony of Kilnamanagh Upper
, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
. The parish church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart
, and is paired with an older church some three kilometers away at Ileagh.
Nenagh
-Thurles
road. To the east, the R501
goes to Templemore
with fine views of the Devil's Bit
mountain on the left hand side near Drom and Barnane
.
The first recorded settlement here was an abbey established by St. Cualan at Glean Caoin, anglicized as "Glenkeen Abbey." Kilcuilan (St. Cualan's Church) was dedicated to him at a nearby holy well. A bell attributed to this saint, known as the "Bearnan Culan" or "Glenkeen Bell" is now housed at the British Museum
in London
. A replica may be seen in the sanctuary of the parish church in Borrisoleigh.
After the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th Century, the O'Dwyer and DeBurgo clans established a fortress on the River Camoge as a defense against the native settlement at Ileagh. Its ruins may still be seen as you leave Borrisoleigh on the Templemore
Road.
The parish priest Michael Slattery was selected to head the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
in 1833.
In October 1846, absentee landlord Lord Portarlington threw a banquet at the Temperance Hall in Borrisoleigh while the surrounding parish was suffering through the Potato Famine. He left a meager one hundred pound donation to the local Poor Relief Committee when he returned to England.
Slattery was succeeded by Father William Morris, who led 118 local men in signing the Cormack Petition in 1858. This document provides a vital snapshot of the town's population, including its largest families (in this order): Ryan, Bourke, Kennedy, Dwyer, Maher, Gleeson, and Harrington. It also shows the top 10 male given names were: John, James, Patrick, William, Michael, Daniel, Martin, Philip, Thomas, Edmond (tie), and Jeremiah (tie).
Borrisoleigh has produced two well-known Catholic bishops: Joseph Shanahan (1871-1943) and Thomas Quinlan (1896-1970).
which markets Tipperary Natural Mineral Water
and Devil's Bit Cider.
. The club's name is distinctive and is not to be confused with the place name Borrisoleigh. Famous All-Ireland champion hurlers with the club were Liam Devaney, Paddy Kenny, Seán Kenny and Jimmy Finn whose years of glory were in the period 1949-1965. In 1987, Richard Stakelum captained Tipperary
to their first Munster
championship in 17 years. Also in that era, brothers Bobby and Aidan Ryan were victorious in the 1989 and 1991 All-Ireland Championships, Bobby being the victorious captain in 1989. In 2001, Philip Maher was full back on the Tipperary Team that won the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
North Tipperary
North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. According to the 2006 census, the town has a population of 1,178. The parish, which encompasses 14215 acres (57.5 km²), has a population of just 2,000--down from a high count of 7,000 taken in 1842, before the Potato Famine. It is in the barony of Kilnamanagh Upper
Kilnamanagh Upper
Kilnamanagh Upper is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Borrisoleigh...
, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in mid-western Ireland. The diocese is in the secular province of Munster. The Diocese of Cashel was established in 1111 by the Synod of Rathbreasail and promoted to the status of a Metropolitan Province in 1152 by the...
. The parish church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
, and is paired with an older church some three kilometers away at Ileagh.
Location and access
It is a busy market town on the R498R498 road
The R498 is a regional road in North Tipperary linking Nenagh, via Borrisoleigh and Bouladuff to Thurles. The road is approximately long.-R498-N62 Link Road:A road to link the R498 with the N62 is currently in construction...
Nenagh
Nenagh
Nenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
-Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
road. To the east, the R501
R501 road
The R501 road is a regional road in County Tipperary in Ireland linking the N62 national secondary road in Templemore to the R498 in Borrisoleigh.The road is long.-References:* – Department of Transport...
goes to Templemore
Templemore
Templemore is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty. It is part of the Roman Catholic parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea....
with fine views of the Devil's Bit
Devil's Bit
The Devil's Bit is a mountain in North Tipperary, Ireland which is 478m above sea level at its highest elevation. It lies to the north-west of the town of Templemore. The mountain is usually ascended via the village of Barnane...
mountain on the left hand side near Drom and Barnane
Barnane
Barnane is a townsland in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is in the civil parish of Barnane-Ely in the barony of Ikerrin. It is also part of the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical parish of Drom and Inch. Although Barnane itself has not claimed allegiance, religious or otherwise, to either.-Location:It...
.
History
Borrisoleigh derives its name from the ancient territory of Uí Luighdheach in which it was situated. An annual cattle fair was held here every 27th of November until the 1960s.The first recorded settlement here was an abbey established by St. Cualan at Glean Caoin, anglicized as "Glenkeen Abbey." Kilcuilan (St. Cualan's Church) was dedicated to him at a nearby holy well. A bell attributed to this saint, known as the "Bearnan Culan" or "Glenkeen Bell" is now housed at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. A replica may be seen in the sanctuary of the parish church in Borrisoleigh.
After the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th Century, the O'Dwyer and DeBurgo clans established a fortress on the River Camoge as a defense against the native settlement at Ileagh. Its ruins may still be seen as you leave Borrisoleigh on the Templemore
Templemore
Templemore is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty. It is part of the Roman Catholic parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea....
Road.
The parish priest Michael Slattery was selected to head the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in mid-western Ireland. The diocese is in the secular province of Munster. The Diocese of Cashel was established in 1111 by the Synod of Rathbreasail and promoted to the status of a Metropolitan Province in 1152 by the...
in 1833.
In October 1846, absentee landlord Lord Portarlington threw a banquet at the Temperance Hall in Borrisoleigh while the surrounding parish was suffering through the Potato Famine. He left a meager one hundred pound donation to the local Poor Relief Committee when he returned to England.
Slattery was succeeded by Father William Morris, who led 118 local men in signing the Cormack Petition in 1858. This document provides a vital snapshot of the town's population, including its largest families (in this order): Ryan, Bourke, Kennedy, Dwyer, Maher, Gleeson, and Harrington. It also shows the top 10 male given names were: John, James, Patrick, William, Michael, Daniel, Martin, Philip, Thomas, Edmond (tie), and Jeremiah (tie).
Borrisoleigh has produced two well-known Catholic bishops: Joseph Shanahan (1871-1943) and Thomas Quinlan (1896-1970).
Amenities
Among its attractions are some traditional shop fronts, and a 15th century tower house. An inscribed slab inserted into the gable of one of a pair of red sandstone houses are engraved the names Richard Burke and Ellis Hurley, 1643. Walter Doolin was the architect of the church in the main street. The window and door surrounds were quarried at Drombane, 12 miles (19.3 km) away. It is similar to the stone used in Cormac's Chapel, Cashel.Business
Borrisoleigh is the headquarters of Gleeson GroupGleeson Group
Gleeson Group is a manufacturer and distributor of packaged beverage and confectionery products established in 1974. The organisation is owned by the Cooney family, lead by Managing Director Patrick Cooney. It has approximately 650 employees. The company has full national coverage through its 13...
which markets Tipperary Natural Mineral Water
Tipperary Natural Mineral Water
Tipperary Natural Mineral Water is an Irish brand of mineral water coming from a single source at Borrisoleigh, close to the Devil's Bit mountain in north County Tipperary, Ireland. Tipperary Water is part of Gleeson Group, an Irish-owned multinational company.-History:Tipperary Natural Mineral...
and Devil's Bit Cider.
Sport
The best known sporting club in the area is Borris-Ileigh GAABorris-Ileigh GAA
Borris-Ileigh GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club is located in the town of Borrisoleigh in north County Tipperary, Ireland.- Honours :*All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1987...
. The club's name is distinctive and is not to be confused with the place name Borrisoleigh. Famous All-Ireland champion hurlers with the club were Liam Devaney, Paddy Kenny, Seán Kenny and Jimmy Finn whose years of glory were in the period 1949-1965. In 1987, Richard Stakelum captained Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
to their first Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
championship in 17 years. Also in that era, brothers Bobby and Aidan Ryan were victorious in the 1989 and 1991 All-Ireland Championships, Bobby being the victorious captain in 1989. In 2001, Philip Maher was full back on the Tipperary Team that won the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland