Killeedy

Killeedy (Cill íde) is a parish located south of Newcastle West in Co. Limerick in Ireland. This parish consists of two villages, Ashford and Raheenagh. The elevation of the parish varies from 1,184 ft. OS at Mauricetown and 1,082 ft. at Dromdeeveen to 200 ft. OS at Ballintubber. The parish is overlooked by the Mullaghareirk Mountains. The patron saint of Killeedy is Saint Ita. Killeedy was originally known as Cluain Chreadhail but in later ages it had taken the name of Cill íde, the Church of Saint Ita, from a nunnery which was founded there in the sixth century. On 15 January of each year, the feast of St. Ita's Day is celebrated in Killeedy.

The Villages

Located in Ashford is St. Ita's Church, a primary school and a pub. The soccer pitch for St. Itas AFC is also in Ashford. The Ashford Queen of the West Festival was held during the summers from 1989 and throughout the 1990s as part of the local GAA club's fund raising activities.

In Raheenagh, there is St Ita's Church, Páirc íde Naofa (the GAA pitch), a primary school, the community centre, a sports complex, a shop, and a pub.

Sports

The sports played competitively in Killeedy are hurling, camogie, Gaelic Football and soccer. Killeedy won the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship in 1980. Sports teams from Killeedy traditionally play in the blue and white colours.

Landmarks and History

Field Marshal Count Peter Lacy was born in Killeedy in 1678. After fighting at the Siege of Limerick in 1691, he emigrated first to France with the Wild Geese, then Austria and finally Russia where he became a Field Marshal and served as governor of Livonia. His son Franz Moritz (Francis Maurice) von Lacy was a Field Marshal in Austrian Service.

Notable landmarks in Killeedy include St. Ita's Monastery and Cemetery, Killeedy Castle, the Mass Rock, Glenduff Castle, Glenquin Castle, Lough O'Ge and Ballagh Post Office.

Kantoher

Kantoher creamery was a major source of income for the parish. It was an outlet for the primary produce of the parish - milk. It was also a major asset to other farming families in particular porkers and those involved in the poultry business. A poultry plant operated from Kantoher for a significant period of time, The creamery and poultry plant no longer operate there but located at Kantoher now is an industrial park. At the moment Kantoher currently only has the Vet's and Biomass Heating Solutions in its industrial park.