ByRoute 5.3 Co. Limerick // Co. Kerry

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These pages describe ByRoute 5 from Bansha (Co. Tipperary / Southwest) to Kilgarvan (Co. Kerry /Southwest).

The Glen of Aherlow

The Glen of Aherlow extends scenically for about 15 miles between the Galty Mountains and the Slieve na Muck Hills.

The Glen has always been an important pass between Co. Tipperary and Co. Limerick, and for centuries was the haunt of bandits. After the Cromwellian war, it became a hideout for Raparees, Roman Catholics dispossessed of their lands who became outlaws.

The old Coach Road was the route used by Bianconi’s Coaches for much of the C19^th.

The Glen features spectacular vistas and several popular and enjoyable walks and drives. There is a particularly beautiful view of the area from the statue of Christ the King, which was erected by the local community.

Clonbeg church (CoI) stands on the site of an ancient church founded by Saint Sedna, of which only an ivy-covered wall remains. Gravestones in the churchyard, both Protestant and Catholic, date as far back as 1700.

Kilpeacan and St. Berrihert’s Kyle at Ardane are early monastic sites featuring numerous grave slabs, of little artistic merit but of great interest for the variety of the cross types.

Each year, the Glen of Aherlow Society organises a Walking Festival during the month of April.

Behold Aherlow is an interesting book about the Glen by Michael Lynch.

Slievenamuck (1215ft) is the location of a roofless chamber tomb. This is one of several megalithic burial sites in the area popularly identified as “Diarmuid & Grainne’s Bed“; the overnight refuge used by the legendary lovers on their flight from the angry Fionn MacCumhaill.

Galbally (Co. Limerick / East)

Galbally (An Gallbhaile – “Townland of the Foreigners”) (pop. 5000), scenically located on the River Aherlow, claims to be one of Ireland’s most picturesque towns, and has several good pubs and eateries. The English name carries the stress on the first syllable.

The statue in the town square commemorateds the 1918 – 1921 War of Independence.

The graveyard contains the ruin of a C13^th church. Many of the oldest graves bear names of obvious English origin that still thrive in the parish: Sampson, Blackburn, Richardson, Dawson.

Glencliff Gorge, just north of the village, was created by a glacial overspill and melt water torrent from a pre-glacial lake.

Darby`s Bed at Corberry is a very ancient wedge-shaped gallery grave, quite rare so far south.

It is believed that there was a Viking settlement nearby called Cu, linked to the surname Cussen.

Moor Abbey was a Franciscan monastery built c.1205 by Donach Cairbreach O’Brien, and inhabited until 1748, but only the church (1471) survives, despite being damaged by troops in 1569 and 1920.

The district offers a wide range of accommodation from hotels to B&Bs to self-catering thatched houses.

The Galbally Farmer is a well known folk song telling of the trials of a labourer hired by the miserly farmer of the title, Darby O’Leary (with a tune also known as “Thank God we’re surrounded by water”).

Galbally is not far from Emly (Co. Tipperary) and Hospital on ByRoute 6.

hyDuntryleague Passage Tomb, located on Duntryleague Hill (922ft), a western spur of Slievenamuck, is believed to be the butrial place of the great Olill Ollum. (Photo by saintinexile)

Duntryleague derives its name from Dún Trí Liag – “the fort of the three pillarstones”. This land was acquired by John Massey for his role in suppressing the 1641 Rebellion; his descendants held high ranks in the British army and navy, and as Barons of Duntyleague and Clarina (Elm Park) played prominent roles in Irish affairs, but are locally remembered as the landlords (mostly absentee) who dominated the district for over 250 years.

Ballylanders (Co. Limerick / Southeast)

Ballylanders (Baile an Londraigh) (pop. 800) is a small village situated between the Galty Mountains and the Ballyhoura Mountains, best known for its GAA football team.

The translation of the name in Irish is either “Settlement of the Londoner” or ”Town of Londra”, the latter being a surname which may be related to the Norman de Loundres, meaning “of London”.

The main street is dominated by a roofless C19^th Church of Ireland edifice.

The church of the Assumption (RC) was one of the first modern round churches in Ireland.

Griston Bog on the west side of the village is home to a wide range of flora and fauna (especially dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies), some now in danger of extinction in many parts of the world. Ornithologists appreciate the variety of local birdlife, and the peatland streams have been stocked with brown trout for anglers. Ballylanders Wildlife Bog is a section with raised wooden walkways and information boards to assist exploration.

Ballyfroota is the location of a megalithic tomb. The local Holy Well has long been the focus for a traditional Pattern gathering on 15^th August.

Anglesborough is said to have been so named as a perverse form of acknowledgement that it had held out as one of the last outposts of spoken Irish!

Massy Lodge, now partially demolished, was the summer residence of the Barons Massy of Duntrileague and Clarina.