Borrisoleigh

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 27 November until the 1960s. The first recorded settlement here was an abbey established by St. Cualan at Glean Caoin, anglicised as "Glankeen 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 "Glankeen 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 defence against the native settlement at Ileigh. Its ruins may still be seen as you leave Borrisoleigh on the Templemore Road. In October 1846, absentee landlord Henry Dawson-Damer, 3rd Earl of Portarlington, threw a banquet at the Temperance Hall in Borrisoleigh while the surrounding parish was suffering through the Great Famine. He left a meager one hundred pound donation to the local Poor Relief Committee when he returned to England. The parish priest Michael Slattery was appointed Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in 1833. 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, Harrington, and Patterson. It also shows the top 10 male given names were: John, James, Patrick, William, Michael, Daniel, Martin, Philip, Thomas, Edmond (tie), and Jeremiah (tie). In 1877, Catholics from across the Province of Munster met to sign an appeal to Archbishop…

Most-observed species

• Rook

  Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  164
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  121
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  118
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  114
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  113
• Eurasian Wren

  Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  110
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  103
• Western Jackdaw

  Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  103