Diocese of Limerick | Heritage Project | Index | Search | Help
History | Churches | Graveyards | Holy Wells | Townlands | Priests of the Parish
Brief Parish History & Geographical Location
Effin is a parish, partly in the barony of Costlea, but chiefly in that of Coshma, in the county of Limerick. It is located 1¾ miles from Kilmallock, on the R515, the road to Charleville.
According to Lewis, in the RC divisions, it was united with Kilbreedy minor, and Kilquane in 1837.
Effin probably derived its name from Cill or Teampaill Effin, meaning the Temple or Church of St Effin.
The current population of the parish is approximately 1,000.
A native of the parish, Bishop Riordan, is currently in Sierra Leone in the diocese of Kenema. His brother is working with the missions in Ecuador. In the past the local seats in the area belonged to J. Balie, and R. Low Holmes. Balie lived in Newpark, and Holmes in Maidenhall.
There is a beautiful silver chalice still in use in Effin
which bears the following inscription: Aegidius Hiffernane et Eleanora
Gibbon et Cornelius Hiffernane Aegidii filius me fieri fecurunt 1633.
Fr David Nagle built the present church of Effin in 1835-6. On his death in 1847, he was buried in the church. The church was renovated thirty years ago.
There is an impressive statue of the crucifixion on the right-hand side, at the entrance to the church. Michael Rea donated this statue.
On the opposite side, there is a shrine to Our Lady.
A plaque within the church states that Denis McNamara donated the altar.
Buried in the grounds of the church are:
Canon Michael J. Quinlan
Died Sept. 28th 1966
Age 68
Canon Patrick J. Bluett
Died March 21st 1991
Patrick C. Riordan (native of the parish)
P.P. Mexborough, Yorkshire
Patrick S. Carroll
C.C. in Dublin
Died 23rd September 1943
Age 28
Canon Robert Fitzgerald
P.P. for 13 years
Died 26th March 1930
Age 67
James O'Carroll
Adm., St John
Died 25th December 1932
Age 5
William J. Higgins
P.P. for 25 years
Died February 2nd 1917
Aged 88
Edmond Clifford
P.P. Monagea
Died 21st June 1924
James Moloney
P.P. 1948-57
Died 25th October 1957
Aged 74
Garrienderk church was built in the 19th century. The church is dedicated
to St Patrick.
A headstone in the grounds of the church is in memory of Thomas O'Carroll who died 2nd January 1903, aged 57. It was erected by his niece Bridget O'Carroll.
A plaque in the porch of the church is in memory of Michael McCarthy. The Stations of the Cross were donated by the O'Farrell family in memory of their parents John and Mary O'Farrell.
A plaque on the right of the altar states that it was donated
by James and Nora McCarthy, Garrienderk. On the left-hand side, there is a
plaque to the O'Riordan and Finn Families. There is also a plaque to Margaret
Kelly, who donated the altar crucifix, candlesticks, sedilia and lectern.
According to Lewis, when Effin was united with Kilquane and
Kilbreedy minor, there were two small chapels in the parish, one at Effin,
the other at Kilbreedy. Kilbreedy Minor church was badly ruined by the late
1830s. Only the middle and side walls of the choir remained.
.
Kilquane church was a brown sandstone church erected at the foot of Cahir
Hill. By 1840 little remained of this ancient structure. Another church, Kilbigly
church had disappeared by 1840.
Kilquane graveyard is located on the site of the ruin of Kilquane church. This graveyard is well kept. Fr Coughlan informed us that the parishioners hold a collection for the upkeep of the graveyard. The oldest headstone that we found was erected by James Fitzgibbon, in memory of his father W. Edm. Fitzgibbon, age 29, Feb 26th, 1764.
Effin graveyard is situated a short distance from Effin church. This graveyard is very well maintained. The oldest headstone that we found in the graveyard is in memory of Mairen Fore, March 24th 1747, aged 55. This headstone is located beside the well-preserved ruins in the centre of the graveyard. There was also a tomb in the graveyard to the Sullivan family and the Russell family.
The parish priest of Effin, Edward Lee, native of Rathkeale, who died in 1834, was buried in Glenogra graveyard, to the south-east of the ruin, in a beautiful altar tomb.
According to Maurice Lenihan's History of Limerick, there were several ancient tombstones with inscriptions in the Irish character. However, there are few traces of these tombstones now.
Holy Wells
Lady's well is located in the townland of Effin. It is about 3-4 miles from
the public road and it is accessible through the roads of the forest. The
well is in a circular mound. Danaher wrote that the well is within a ring
fort and that the overflow of water from the well was used as a water trough
for cattle.
At the well there is a statue of Our Lady and there are also medals and rosary beads left at the well. The well is well kept and people still visit the well regularly. The water from the well is believed to cure many ailments. There are no organised devotions there now, although it is still regarded as a Holy Well.
Lady's Well and Toberacran ceased to be pilgrimage sites by 1840. Toberacran, in the townland of Gortnacrank derived its name from Tober a Chrann, the Well of the Tree.
St Bridget's well in Kilbreedy townland was no longer a pattern
site in 1840.
It was a small clear pool, roughly lined with stones. One large stone was
set on edge beside the well. It was formerly very popular especially for the
cure of sore eyes.
Danahar mentions another well in the parish, Toberreendoney. However, the location of this well is no longer known.
Danaher refers to two other wells in the parish namely Tobernea and Toberbansha but did not believe that they were Holy Wells.
| English Name | Irish Name | Meaning |
| Ballincolly | Baile an Chollaigh | The town of the boar |
| Ballyhaght | Baile an Chiochtaigh | The town of An Ciochtach |
| Ballymacshaneboy | Baile Mhic Sheáin Bhuí | The town of the son of Séan Buí |
| Ballynagoul | Baile na nGall | The town of the standing stones |
| Ballyshonikin | Baile Sheoinicín | The town of Seoinicín |
| Brickfield | Baile an Bhaoilligh | The town of An Baoilleach |
| Cloonlogue | Cluain Leog | The meadow of Leog |
| Effin | Eifinn | Meaning uncertain |
| Garranekeagh | An Garrán Caoch | The blind grove |
| Garryncoonagh North | Garraí an Chuanaigh | The garden of An Cuanach |
| Garryncoonagh South | as above | |
| Garrynderk North | Garraí na Deirce | The garden of the cave |
| Garrynderk South | as above | |
| Gortacrank | Gort an Chrainn | The field of the tree |
| Graiganster | Gráig Anstair | The hamlet of Anstar |
| Jamestown | Baile Shéamais | The town of Séamas |
| Kilbreedy West | Cill Bhríde | The church of Brid |
| Leagane | An Liagán | The standing stone |
| Mountblakeney | Cnoc an tSoipéalaigh | The hill of An Soipéalach |
| Newpark | An Pháirc Nua | |
| Thomastown | Baile Thomáis | The town of Tomás |
| Tobernea | Tobar Naí | Well of the infant |
| Tobernea East | as above | |
| Tobernea West | as above |
| Year | Parish Priest | Curate(s) |
| 1649 - ? | Thomas Mede | |
| ? - ? | John Creagh | |
| 1704 - ? | Murtagh Moriarty | |
| ? - 1749 | David Bourke | |
| 1749 - 1758 | Thomas O’Driscoll | |
| 1758 - 1759 | Thomas Sinan | |
| 1759 - 1763 | Paul Slattery | |
| 1763 - 1782 | Denis Cronin | |
| 1782 - 1791 | James Carroll | |
| 1791 - 1807 | David Lee | |
| 1808 - 1823 | John McCarthy | |
| 1823 - 1831 | Mortimer Collins | |
| 1831 - 1834 | Edward Lee | |
| 1834 – 1837 | David Nagle | |
| 1837 | David Nagle | Thomas Shanahan |
| 1838 | Garrett Nagle | Michael Egan |
| 1839 | David Nagle | John Bunton |
| 1840 | David Nagle | John Bunton |
| 1841 | David Nagle | John Bunton |
| 1842 | David Nagle | Thomas Blake |
| 1843 | David Nagle | Thomas Blake |
| 1844 | David Nagle | Thomas Blake |
| James O’Driscoll | ||
| 1845 | David Nagle | Charles O’Donohoe |
| James Moore | ||
| 1846 | David Nagle | Charles O’Donohoe |
| James Moore | ||
| 1847 | David Nagle | James Moore |
| James Clifford | ||
| 1848 | David Nagle | James Moore |
| James Clifford | ||
| 1849 | Edmond Molony | James Moore |
| 1850 | Edmond Molony | Thomas Lynch |
| 1851 | Edmond Molony | James Walsh |
| 1852 | Edmond Molony | Ed. Connery |
| 1853 | Edmond Molony | James Roche |
| 1854 | Edmond Molony | William Connery |
| 1855 | Edmond Molony | William Connery |
| 1856 | Edmond Molony | William Connery |
| 1857 | Edmond Molony | William Connery |
| 1858 | Edmond Molony | William Connery |
| 1859 | Edmond Molony | James Roche |
| 1860 | Edmond Molony | John Walsh |
| 1861 | Edmond Molony | John Walsh |
| 1862 | Edmond Molony | Michael Walsh |
| 1863 | Edmond Molony | Michael Walsh |
| 1864 | Edmond Molony | John Kelly |
| 1865 | Edmond Molony | John Kelly |
| 1866 | Edmond Molony | John Fitzgerald |
| 1867 | Edmond Molony | John Fitzgerald |
| 1868 | Edmond Molony | John Fitzgerald |
| 1869 | Edmond Molony | John Fitzgerald |
| 1870 | Edmond Molony | John Fitzgerald |
| 1871 | Edmond Molony | John Fitzgerald |
| 1872 | Thomas McIneiry | John Fitzgerald |
| 1873 | Thomas McIneiry | William Carroll |
| 1874 | Thomas McIneiry | Michael Irwin |
| 1875 | Thomas McIneiry | Michael Irwin |
| 1876 | Thomas McIneiry | Michael Irwin |
| 1877 | Thomas McIneiry | Michael Irwin |
| 1878 | Thomas McIneiry | Timothy Kelly |
| 1879 | Thomas McIneiry | Timothy Kelly |
| 1880 | William Connery | Timothy Kelly |
| 1881 | William Connery | Timothy Kelly |
| 1882 | William Connery | George Quaid |
| 1883 | William Connery | George Quaid |
| 1884 | William Connery | George Quaid |
| 1885 | William Connery | George Quaid |
| 1886 | William Connery | George Quaid |
| 1887 | William Connery | Patrick Condon |
| Brendan Mahony | ||
| 1888 | William Connery | Patrick Condon |
| Brendan Mahony | ||
| 1889 | William Connery | Edward Russell |
| 1890 | Charles McNamara | Edward Russell |
| 1891 | Charles McNamara | Edward Russell |
| 1892 | Charles McNamara | Edward Russell |
| 1893 | William Higgins | John Conway |
| 1894 | William Higgins | John Conway |
| 1895 | William Higgins | John Conway |
| 1896 | William Higgins | Timothy Curtin |
| 1897 | William Higgins | Timothy Curtin |
| 1898 | William Higgins | Timothy Curtin |
| 1899 | William Higgins | John O’Connor |
| 1900 | William Higgins | John O’Connor |
| 1901 | William Higgins | John O’Connor |
| 1902 | William Higgins | John O’Connor |
| 1903 | William Higgins | John O’Connor |
| 1904 | William Higgins | John O’Connor |
| 1905 | William Higgins | George O’Connor |
| 1906 | William Higgins | George O’Connor |
| 1907 | William Higgins | George O’Connor |
| 1908 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| 1909 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| 1910 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| 1911 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| 1912 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| 1913 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| W. P. Harty | ||
| 1914 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| W. P. Harty | ||
| 1915 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| W. P. Harty | ||
| 1916 | William Higgins | George Culhane |
| W. P. Harty | ||
| 1917 | William Higgins | W. P. Harty |
| Charles McCarthy | ||
| 1918 | R. Fitzgerald | Charles McCarthy |
| 1919 | R. Fitzgerald | Charles McCarthy |
| 1920 | R. Fitzgerald | Charles McCarthy |
| 1921 | R. Fitzgerald | Charles McCarthy |
| 1922 | R. Fitzgerald | Charles McCarthy |
| 1923 | R. Fitzgerald | Charles McCarthy |
| 1924 | R. Fitzgerald | Charles Moriarty |
| 1925 | R. Fitzgerald | Robert Dunworth |
| 1926 | R. Fitzgerald | Robert Dunworth |
| 1927 | R. Fitzgerald | Michael Quinn |
| 1928 | Canon R. Fitzgerald | Michael Quinn |
| 1929 | Canon R. Fitzgerald | Michael Quinn |
| 1930 | Canon R. Fitzgerald | Michael Quinn |
| 1931 | Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael Quinn |
| 1932 | Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael Quinn |
| 1933 | Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael Quinn |
| 1934 | Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael Quinn |
| 1935 | Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1936 | Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1937 | Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1938 | Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1939 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1940 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1941 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1942 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1943 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1944 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1945 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1946 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1947 | Canon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1948 | Archdeacon Denis O’Brien D.D. | Michael McCarthy |
| 1949 | James Moloney | Michael McCarthy |
| 1950 | James Moloney | Michael McCarthy |
| 1951 | James Moloney | Michael McCarthy |
| 1952 | James Moloney | Michael McCarthy |
| 1953 | James Moloney | Michael McCarthy |
| 1954 | James Moloney | Michael McCarthy |
| 1955 | James Moloney | Gerard Wall |
| 1956 | James Moloney | Gerard Wall |
| 1957 | James Moloney | Gerard Wall |
| 1958 | Michael J. Quinlan | Gerard Wall |
| 1959 | Michael J. Quinlan | Gerard Wall |
| 1960 | Michael J. Quinlan | Gerard Wall |
| 1961 | Michael J. Quinlan | Gerard Wall |
| 1962 | Michael J. Quinlan | Gerard Wall |
| 1963 | Michael J. Quinlan | Gerard Wall |
| 1964 | Michael J. Quinlan | Richard Murphy |
| 1965 | Michael J. Quinlan | Richard Murphy |
| 1966 | Canon Michael J. Quinlan | Richard Murphy |
| 1967 | Edmond O’Dea | Richard Murphy |
| 1968 | Edmond O’Dea | Richard Murphy |
| 1969 | Edmond O’Dea | Richard Murphy |
| 1970 | Edmond O’Dea | Richard Murphy |
| 1971 | Edmond O’Dea | |
| 1972 | Edmond O’Dea | |
| 1973 | Edmond O’Dea | |
| 1974 | Edmond O’Dea | |
| 1975 | Edmond O’Dea | |
| 1976 | Edmond O'Dea | Anthony O'Keeffe |
| 1977 | Edmond O’Dea | |
| 1978 | Edmond O’Dea | |
| 1979 | Edmond O’Dea | |
| 1980 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1981 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1982 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1983 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1984 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1985 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1986 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1987 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1988 | Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1989 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1990 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1991 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1992 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1993 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1994 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1995 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1996 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1997 | Canon Edmond Houlihan | |
| 1998 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 1999 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 2000 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 2001 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 2002 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 2003 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 2004 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 2005 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 2006 | Thomas Coughlan | |
| 2007 | Thomas Coughlan |
The list of Priests from 1704 to 1836 is compiled from information gained
in Begley's History of the Diocese of Limerick Vol. III page 598. The remaining
years are compiled from the Catholic Directories. Information contained in
a directory of any given year refers to what happened the previous year. For example
if a priest is recorded in the 1954 directory as being in a particular parish,
this would mean that he was actually there in 1953.
History | Churches | Graveyards | Holy Wells | Townlands | Priests of the Parish
Effin Parish Home | Back to Top
Diocese of Limerick | Heritage Project | Index | Search | Help
Website by Lúnasa Design