Castleconnell Caisleán Uí Chonaill | |
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Village | |
 Town centre | |
  Castleconnell Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates:52°42′51″N8°30′06″W / 52.7143°N 8.5016°W /52.7143; -8.5016 | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Limerick |
| Population | 2,107 |
| Irish Grid Reference | R660627 |
Castleconnell (Irish:Caisleán Uí Chonaill, historicallyCaisleán Uí Chonaing)[2] is a village inCounty Limerick on the banks of theRiver Shannon. It is 11 km (6.8 mi) fromLimerick city and near the boundaries ofCounty Clare andCounty Tipperary.
The ruins of theCastle of Connell (Irish:Caisleán Uí Chonaill or originallyCaisleán Uí Chonaing),[2] from which the name of the town derives, was built on a rock outcrop overlooking the bend of the river. It was destroyed in a siege by the army ofGeneral Ginkel, fighting in support of theWilliamite Army ofWilliam of Orange at the end of the 17th century. A large chunk of the castle wall now lies approximately fifty feet from the castle, thrown clear by siege cannons. A footbridge over the Shannon – built duringThe Emergency (1939–45) by the Irish Army under Captain Carley Owens – connects counties Limerick and Clare.[citation needed]
The nearbyMountshannon House was the home ofJohn FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare, who in the late 18th century was theAttorney-General for Ireland and subsequentlyLord Chancellor of Ireland. FitzGibbon was opposed to relaxation of thepenal laws and helped usher in theActs of Union 1800, which resulted in the Irish parliament's abolition. The house where his descendants lived was burnt to the ground by theIRA in the 1920s.[citation needed]
A number of 18th- and 19th-century buildings overlook the Shannon in Castleconnell.[3] One of these, the former schoolhouse (built in 1867),[3] was previously home to theIrish Harp Centre.[4] Another, the former convent (builtc. 1790),[3] is now the Castleoaks House Hotel.[5]
Castleconnell is known for its fishing – both coarse and game – and has been a fishing destination since at least the 19th century.[citation needed] The main catch was salmon and trout. The Shannon Inn, a local pub, has hosted fishing clientele over the years.[citation needed]
The Shannon Electricity Scheme and itsArdnacrusha dam at Parteen changed the fortunes of the Castleconnell in the 1930s when it reduced the flow of water south of the dam to approximately one sixth, dropping water levels along the Shannon.
The engineers added a fish lift to the dam, allowing fish to be lifted in a water-filled container and thereby pass upstream to their traditional spawning beds. The river at Castleconnell is also known for its bird life, and particularly itsswans, many of which are migratory Icelandicwhooper swans wintering and breeding on the river.[citation needed]
Castleconnell is the home ofAhane GAA club, which has won 19Limerick Senior Hurling Championships between 1931 and 1948 and provided many of the Limerickhurling team that wonAll-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships in 1934, 1936 and 1940. Among its most notable players wereMick Mackey andJackie Power.[citation needed]
BoxerAndy Lee was raised in Castleconnell from the age of 14. He became WorldWBOMiddleweight champion in 2014.[6]
Castleconnell boat club has been in existence since 1983. It is located at World's End (also known as Worral's End).[7][8] Rowers have a smooth, wide water to row on for 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) toO'Brien's Bridge. Just beyond the bridge, rowers have another 1.5 kilometers before they come to a water flow regulator.[citation needed]
Castleconnell railway station opened on 8 August 1858.[9] The station lies on theLimerick–Ballybrophy railway line.
The town was previously under the jurisdiction ofLimerick County Council. Since 2014, it is part of the amalgamated local authority ofLimerick City and County Council, where it is in thelocal electoral area of Limerick City East, which is part of the Metropolitan District of Limerick City.[10]
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