BRUREE

In 1868, the parish of Bruree contained the following places:

"BRUREE, a parish in the baronies of Upper Connello and Cosham, in the county of Limerick, province of Munster, Ireland, 8 miles to the S.E. of Ballingarry. It is a station on the Cork and Limerick direct line, and about 4 miles from the Kilmallock station of the Great Southern and Western railway. The parish is situated in a fertile and beautiful country on the river Maigue, a branch of the Shannon, and contains the villages of Brurce and Rockhill. Limestone is abundant, and is quarried in large quantities. The meetings of the Irish bards were anciently held at this place. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Limerick, Ardfert, and Aghadoe, value £226, in the gift of the Dean of Limerick. The church, erected in 1812, is in the early English style, with a tower and spire. It stands near the site of an old church. In the village are a Roman Catholic chapel, a dispensary, a post-office, two flour-mills, and a police station. Here are considerable remains of two fortresses, one founded by the De Laceys, and the other by the Knights Templars. In the parish are two National schools. The river Maigue is famous for trout and salmon. Among the seats in the vicinity are Bruree House, Globe House, Bruree Lodge, Steyle Park, Cooleen, Rockhill, and Ballyteague. Fairs are held on the 6th February, 11th April, 9th May, the 25th June, the 14th September, and the 25th November."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018