Firies
Firies Na Foidhrí (Irish) | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Church of St Gertrude | |
  Firies Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 52°10′14″N 09°35′52″W / 52.17056°N 9.59778°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Kerry |
| Population | 573 |
Firies (/ˈfaɪ.əriːz/ officially Fieries; Irish: Na Foidhrí)[2] is a village in County Kerry, Ireland in the historical barony of Magunihy. It is situated midway between the hub towns of Killarney (14.5 km), Tralee (16 km), Castleisland (16 km) and Killorglin (13 km).[3] It is on the R561 road between Farranfore and Castlemaine. The population at the 2022 census was 573.[1] There are two principal rivers, namely the Maine and its chief tributary, the Brown Flesk.
History
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ring fort, enclosure and holy well sites in the townlands of Firies and Killahane.[4]
In Firies townland, on a rock outcrop approximately 850 meters south of the village, are the remains of a rectangular tower known as Firies (or Fieries) Castle. The ground-floor appears to be occupied by a single chamber which was covered by a rounded vault which is almost entirely fallen. Only part of the walling above ground-floor level survives.[5] This tower house was built by the O'Connors. It is in the townland of Firies, in the parish of Firies, in the barony of Magunihy. It was built in the thirteenth century and it was knocked in the sixteenth century. The small castle has been in ruin for over two hundred years. A number of woods flourished for miles around it. It is from these woods that Firies got its name.[6]
Saint Gertrude's Catholic Church, in Killahane townland, was built c. 1860.[7]
Education
In 1991, Firies National School moved to a new location beside the church. It is a rural school with, as of 2024, 19 teachers and 8 special needs assistants.[8] As of January 2024, there were over 270 pupils enrolled.[9] The school is involved in the Green Schools Initiative, Discovery Science and the Aistear Programmes.[8]
Notable people
- Eamonn Casey (1927–2017), Catholic prelate who was bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh from 1976 to 1992, was born in Firies.[10]
- Donal Daly, former Gaelic footballer.[11]
- Jack Sherwood, former Gaelic footballer.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Sapmap Area: Settlements Firies". Census 2022. Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Fieries". Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ "Fieries" (PDF). Kerry County Council. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ Record of Monuments and Places - County Kerry. Dublin: National Monuments and Historic Properties Service. 1998.
- ^ "Archaeological Survey Database". National Monuments Service. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- ^ "Fieries Castle". Dúchas.ie - The Schools' Collection.
- ^ "Saint Gertrude's Catholic Church, Killahane, Fieries, Kerry". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b "About us". firiesnationalschool.ie. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Directory Page - Firies Mxd N S". Department of Education. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Obituary: Eamonn Casey". Irish Times. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Building begins on Kerry Food Hub". The Kerryman. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Firies native and former Kerry footballer Donal Daly
- ^ "Firies star Jack Sherwood on 'the best year ever with the club'". The Kerryman. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
External links
Media related to Firies at Wikimedia Commons