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History | Churches | Graveyards | Holy Wells | Mass Rock | Townlands | Priests of the Parish
Brief Parish History & Geographical Location
The village of Templeglantine is located on the N 21 from Limerick to Tralee five miles south-west of the primary town in the area, Newcastlewest. Templeglantine parish was created in 1864 following the transfer of Fr James O'Shea to Rathkeale. Fr O'Shea had been parish priest of Monagea, of which Templeglantine was a part until this change occurred. The number of people in the parish is around 1,000 at present.
The Irish for Templeglantine is "Teampall an Ghleanntáin", which means "the church of the little glen". Templeglantine is locally called "Inchebaun", which, when translated, means 'the White River meadow'.
Templeglantine is a chapel village, having grown up around the church, which was built in 1829. A community centre was officially opened in 1977 by Bishop Jeremiah Newman. In the same year, the village received the Glór na nGael trophy from the then President of Ireland, Patrick Hillary. This is an award for the place in Ireland that does the most to promote the use of the Irish language throughout the previous year.
The O'Macasa family ruled the area until the twelfth century when the Norman invasion brought the Fitzgerald family to rule over the area. The Fitzgeralds held the more auspicious title of 'The Earls of Desmond'.
After the defeat of the Desmonds in 1583, the area came under the control of Sir William Courtenay who planted most of West Limerick. The de Lacy family were also landlords in the area.
In 1985 a cist grave was discovered on the lands of James
Leahy in the townland of Rathcahill West. These graves are box-like slab structures,
which are just below ground level. They are believed to date from between
2,000 BC to 500 BC.
The present day church in Templeglantine was built in 1829, during Fr James Cleary's time as Parish Priest. At the time Templeglantine was part of the parish of Monagea. This is one of the oldest churches in the diocese still in use today. Incidentally, the year 1829 coincides with the granting of Catholic Emancipation to Irish Catholics under the leadership of Daniel O'Connell.
According to the inscription on the church wall, the church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity in 1829. The Baptismal font is presumed to date from 1829 also, as are the holy water fonts in the porch of the church. The porch itself was built in the 1930s following a donation received from parishioners who had emigrated to America.
According to local historian Tadhg O'Maolcatha, by the mid fifties, the church bell, which was mounted on the western gable, was taken down for safety reasons, and housed in a new free-standing belfry in the church grounds. Mrs Bridget Kiely (nee Sexton) of Glenshesk donated the bell to the parish earlier in the century. The old bell, which it replaced, was sent to the missions in Africa.
In front of the church there is a large stone statue of the Virgin Mary that seems to be welcoming the people into the church. This statue was erected in the summer of 1995 and depicts Mary as a loving mother with head bowed and arms slightly outstretched in a welcoming and caring manner. It was sculpted from Limestone and is the work of Newbridge sculptor Annette McCormack.
On the main door of the church there is a plaque to the memory of Ann Connellan who died in 1969. John J., Mrs Joan Leahy and Michael Connellan erected it. On one of the seats of the church there is a small plaque that states that Michael Quirke was the principal donor of seating in the church. The seats were donated to the memory of his wife Julia.
There is a stained glass window of St Patrick at the back of the church. There is a stained glass window of St Brigid near the Confessional box. Near this window there is a statue of the Sacred Heart and a shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
On the stairs of the gallery at the back of the church there is a plaque to Tom Sexton who was parish clerk for more than 50 years who died on December 14 1996. In the gallery there is a stained glass window of Jesus gathering/minding his flock.
On the right of the nave, there is a wooden medallion of the Holy Trinity. There is a statue to St Patrick on the right while on the left there is a statue of St Theresa of Liseux. A glass depiction of the Millennium Logo of the Diocese of Limerick is on a door to the right of the altar. Behind the High Altar there is a stained glass window of the Holy Spirit and the Body & Blood.
To the left of the altar there is a statue of St Joseph to the memory of John Dillane and family. On the right there is a statue of Mary and Child, which is to the memory of Mary (William) Dore and family. Daniel Dillane of New York donated both statues.
Within the church, the Stations of the Cross date from around 1946 when they replaced the original Stations of the Cross. The church also has a silver chalice that dates from 1796. Mr and Mrs Burke donated the chalice to the church. The Burkes may have been from the parish of Monagea, as it was another 70 years before Templeglantine parish came into existence.
There are two doors to enter the church. The door nearest the altar is locally called the "Penny Door". It acquired this name because the seats in the church were from this point forward and only those who could afford the princely sum of one penny in the nineteenth century could sit in the seats. Most of the congregation stood in the back of the church. The porch door was donated in memory of Mrs Anne Connellan.
Buried in the grounds of the church are:
Fr James Galvin
Parish Priest
1985 - 1986
Fr John Fitzgibbon
Parish Priest
1976 - 1978
Fr John Houlihan
Parish Priest
1944
Fr Daniel Daly
Parish Priest
Died 1910
Fr John J. Kelly
Parish Priest
1924 - 1943
Westropp describes an old church ruin in Templeglantine. The site of this
church is now surrounded by Templeglantine graveyard. The east end of the
church was levelled before 1840. The remainder of the church was defaced and
overgrown with ash and thorn. The walls of the church were about 6 or 7 feet
in height, according to Westropp. While the ruins of the church no longer
exist, a small wall has been built to show the site of the west gable of the
church. The church was originally about 70 feet by 30 feet.
According to Tadhg O'Maolcatha, there was a thatched Mass
House at Roche's Cross in Meenoline prior to 1829. Earlier still there was
an Abbey in Templeglantine West.
There are two graveyards in the parish of Templeglantine. A new graveyard was opened behind the church in Templeglantine in September 1983.
Before that, the only graveyard in the parish had been in the grounds of the old church in Templeglantine West. Many Tournafulla families had their burial plots here. Burials still take place in this graveyard. It is believed that the graveyard has been in use for around 800 years. The oldest headstone that we came across dated from 1866 and was in memory of Michael Gallwey RM.
There are a number of interesting headstones here of a Celtic cross design. The four gaps between the circle of the arms of the Celtic cross are filled in with green glass. This form of headstone is the work of Mossy Wrenn who was a local man.
It is thought that there was a tomb to the de Lacy's in the grounds of the church but its exact location is unknown.
The largest headstone in the graveyard commemorates Liam Scully, an IRA captain during the War of Independence. Scully was killed in a raid on the barracks in Kilmallock on the night of May 28th 1920. Due to the wartime situation, he could not be buried in his home of Glencarr of Co. Kerry. Scully was waked locally and then, with only a few local volunteers to assist in the burial, Liam Scully was buried at midnight to avoid the attention of the Black and Tans. The headstone was erected a few years later.
In the far corner of the graveyard lies a small headstone to the memory of Nellie Doody. People in West Limerick to this day regard Nellie, who was born in Tournafulla, as a holy woman. Many come to her grave seeking help or guidance in their lives. It has become a common practice to leave money under the pink flowerpot at her grave as an offering.
Nellie spent her life visiting churches and Holy Wells. She
would often invite friends or the schoolchildren on their way home to come
with her to say the Rosary. In the neighbouring parish of Monagea, we came
across a story about a man who gave Nellie a lift in his car. She told him
that she was going into St Brigid's Well in Shangarry in Newcastlewest, and
asked him to wait for her. After a while the driver became impatient and he
attempted to start the car. However hard he tried, the car would not move.
When Nellie returned to the car, the driver again tried to start the car and
on the first turn of the key, the car roared into life.
Holy Wells
There are two Holy Wells in the parish, the Poorman's Well (Tobairín
an Duine Bhoicht) and the Hapenny Well.
The Poorman's well is situated beside the border of the parishes of Abbeyfeale and Templeglantine in the townland of Tulligoline North. A flowing stream, which is unnamed, divides the parishes. While no public devotions have taken place in the last twenty years or so, Toberreenadinnabocht is still visited by locals privately. Rounds used to be made here in May.
A poor old man dreamed that he would be cured of blindness here. He visited the well, and was cured, thus giving the well its name. It was claimed that the water could cure blindness. Another legend recounted by Danaher claims that two cloaked women could be seen at the well before dawn. People still draw water from the well in times of drought and it is claimed that the well has never run dry.
The Ha'penny Well (Tobereenalaffina) is very small well located
on the Northern bank of the Eaghaun stream on the lands of the O'Donnell family
of Meenyline South. According to Danaher legends surrounding the well claim
that its water can cure blindness, and that a blind man dreamed he would be
cured at the well and soon after he was. Flowers and coins used to be left
here as offerings in the past. Devotions are no longer held here.
According to Tadhg O'Maolcatha, there is a mass rock dating from penal times situated on the bank of a little stream that divides the townlands of Meenoline North and Doonakenna. The last mass to be said at the Mass Rock in Carraig an Easpaig was in 1989.
According to local folklore Dr Lacy, Bishop of Limerick from
1737 until 1759 celebrated mass in this secluded glen during Penal days. It
is believed that his predecessor Bishop Cornelius O'Keeffe (1720-1737), whose
family lived in Doonakenna, also celebrated mass at Carraig an Easpaig. In
1950 Bishop O'Neill unveiled a plaque at the rock in commemoration of the
Holy Year. In the same year, a cross was placed on Cnoc an Bhothaigh near
the site of the Mass Rock. From the cross you can see the counties of Cork,
Clare, Kerry and Limerick on a clear day.
| English Name | Irish Name | Meaning |
| Ballymurraugh East | Baile Uí Mhurchú | The town of Ó Murchú |
| Ballymurraugh West | as above | |
| Doonakeena | Dún Mhic Cionaoith | The fort of Mac Cionaoith |
| Glendarragh | Gleann Darach | Glen of oaktrees |
| Inchabaun | An Inse Bhán | The white wet meadow |
| Meenyline North | Mín Uí Laighin | The smooth grassy patch of Ó Laighin |
| Meenyline South | as above | |
| Rathcahill West | Ráth Chathail Thiar | The rath of Cathal |
| Sugarhill | Cnoc an Chaca | The hill of the excrement |
| Templeglantine East | Teampall an Ghleanntáin | The church of the small glen |
| Templeglantine West | as above | |
| Tulligoline North | Tulaigh Ó Laighin | The hillock of Uí Laighin |
| Tulligoline South | as above |
| Year | Parish Priest | Curate(s) |
| 1865 | John Walsh | . |
| 1866 | John Walsh | |
| 1867 | John Walsh | |
| 1868 | John Walsh | |
| 1869 | John Walsh | |
| 1870 | John Walsh | |
| 1871 | John Walsh | |
| 1872 | John Walsh | |
| 1873 | John Walsh | |
| 1874 | John Walsh | John Enright |
| 1875 | John Walsh | John Enright |
| 1876 | John Walsh | |
| 1877 | John Walsh | |
| 1878 | John Walsh | John Conway |
| 1879 | John Walsh | |
| 1880 | John Walsh | |
| 1881 | John Walsh | |
| 1882 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1883 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1884 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1885 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1886 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1887 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1888 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1889 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1890 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1891 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1892 | Edmond Clifford | |
| 1893 | Daniel Daly | |
| 1894 | Daniel Daly | |
| 1895 | Daniel Daly | |
| 1896 | Daniel Daly | |
| 1897 | Daniel Daly | . |
| 1898 | Daniel Daly | E. Fitzgerald |
| 1899 | Daniel Daly | E. Fitzgerald |
| 1900 | Daniel Daly | E. Fitzgerald |
| 1901 | Daniel Daly | E. Fitzgerald |
| 1902 | Daniel Daly | John Carr |
| 1903 | Daniel Daly | John Carr |
| 1904 | Daniel Daly | John Carr |
| 1905 | Daniel Daly | John Carr |
| 1906 | Daniel Daly | Patrick Higgins |
| 1907 | Daniel Daly | John Kelly |
| 1908 | Daniel Daly | John Kelly |
| 1909 | Daniel Daly | David Barry |
| 1910 | Daniel Daly | David Barry |
| 1911 | John Breen | David Barry |
| 1912 | John Breen | David Riordan |
| 1913 | John Breen | David Hanly |
| 1914 | John Breen | David Hanly |
| 1915 | John Breen | David Hanly |
| 1916 | John Breen | David Hanly |
| 1917 | John Breen | David Hanly |
| 1918 | John Breen | David Hanly |
| 1919 | John Breen | David Hanly |
| 1920 | John Breen | Thomas Mortell |
| 1921 | John Breen | Hugh O’Connor |
| 1922 | William O’Dwyer | Hugh O’Connor |
| 1923 | William O’Dwyer | P. O’Callaghan |
| 1924 | William O’Dwyer | P. O’Callaghan |
| 1925 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1926 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1927 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1928 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1929 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1930 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1931 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | Thomas Kirby |
| 1932 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | John Kennedy |
| 1933 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | John Kennedy |
| 1934 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | David Rea |
| 1935 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | David Rea |
| 1936 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | David Rea |
| 1937 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1938 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1939 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1940 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | Edmund O’Dea |
| 1941 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | Edmund O’Dea |
| 1942 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | |
| 1943 | Eoin O’Ceallaigh | Hubert Fee |
| 1944 | John Houlihan | Hubert Fee |
| 1945 | Michael Quinn | John Burke |
| 1946 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1947 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1948 | Michael Quinn | John Sheehy |
| 1949 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1950 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1951 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1952 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1953 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1954 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1955 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1956 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1957 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1958 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1959 | Michael Quinn | |
| 1960 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1961 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1962 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1963 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1964 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1965 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1966 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1967 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1968 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1969 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1970 | Michael Minahan | |
| 1971 | David Houlihan | |
| 1972 | David Houlihan | |
| 1973 | David Houlihan | |
| 1974 | David Houlihan | |
| 1975 | David Houlihan | |
| 1976 | David Houlihan | |
| 1977 | John Fitzgibbon | |
| 1978 | John Fitzgibbon | |
| 1979 | Michael Neville | |
| 1980 | Michael Neville | |
| 1981 | Michael Neville | |
| 1982 | Michael Neville | |
| 1983 | Michael Neville | |
| 1984 | Michael Neville | |
| 1985 | Michael Neville | |
| 1986 | James Galvin | |
| 1987 | Charles O’Neill | |
| 1988 | Charles O’Neill | |
| 1989 | Charles O’Neill | |
| 1990 | Charles O’Neill | |
| 1991 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 1992 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 1993 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 1994 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 1995 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 1996 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 1997 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 1998 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 1999 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 2000 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 2001 | Thomas Hurley | |
| 2002 | Thomas Hurley | . |
| 2003 | Thomas Hurley | . |
| 2004 | Thomas Hurley | . |
| 2005 | Leo McDonnell, Adm. | Thomas Hurley |
| 2006 | Leo McDonnell, Adm. | Thomas Hurley |
| 2007 | Leo McDonnell, Adm. | Thomas Hurley |
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.
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