#cleeves

i'm only human..❤️

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NOTES 24/3/22 - ‘THE LONG CALL’ - ANN CLEEVES

  Main part of village just off the busy Newcastle West – Foynes Road

Shanagolden Main Street

The village is set in beautiful pastureland

Hay being saved outside the village

The Roman Catholic Church of St Sennans is on high ground on the edge of the village.

The present church

Picture of the older church

List of dignitaries who donated to church fund

The dedication plaque

  Around the church

Some fine views across the countryside

Crucifixion scene on the road frontage

The old Angelus Bell, now rusted and unrung

Graves of clerics

The only burials in church grounds are clerics

The Church interior has lovely plain leaded windows and a beautiful old floor.

View from gallery

Beautiful tiled floor. I could not help but wonder about the tens of thousands who have walked up this aisle in happiness, in hope and in grief down the ages.

Lovely leaded window

Entrance porch

Church dedication

The most surprising thing about the church is the cross –  normally catholic churches are dominated by a crucified Christ or an empty traditional shaped Cross. This church however has a most beautiful Celtic Cross as its focal point, high above the altar. If anyone knows more about it,I would love to know who the artist is.

Dominating the church is this beautiful Celtic Cross

Exquisite Celtic Cross

  On the way back to the main street of the village there are several interesting features.

The Old Dispensary – beautiful stone building

A Victorian water pump

The old bridge

View of Shanid Castle

Shanid Castle was a 13th Century Anglo Norman stronghold, destroyed in the 17th century

The arch of stone bridge crosses a stream

Shanagolden is very proud of Tim Madigan who lost his life as a result of having been shot by the Black and Tans “As Timothy Madigan continued to run, we called on him to halt once again and as he paid no attention one more shot was fired at a distance of about 400 yards which caused him to fall”

The local Gaelic Ground is named after him.

From the car park at the Gaelic grounds there is a wonderful view of the old church tower which is I believe early 19th century, when it was part of the Church of Ireland, although I am not certain about this. 

Shanagolden Creamery was once the nerve centre of this community. Every day local farmers would bring fresh milk from their cows to the Cooperative Society in the village where it would be turned into butter – not just any butter, but award-winning butter than was sought after even in  London’s most prestigious stores. In later years milk collected here was transported to the famous Cleeves Toffee factory in Limerick city.

The old creamery with its brick chimney stack stands testament to more prosperous times in Shanagolden.

Across the road is a very nice old stone building which was once a forge, in the wall of which is an inscribed stone commemorating James Clarence Mangan (1803 – 1849). He was a poet, who penned ‘My Dark Rosaleen’, (Rosaleen being a poetic symbol of an oppressed Ireland ) familiar to thousands of Irish schoolchildren. His  family apparently came from Shanagolden.

Nearby in total contrast is a very beautiful drinking  fountain erected and installed to the memory of the eldest son of the local landlord, Lord Monteagle,who lived at Mount Trenchard in Foynes.

  Press report of the funeral can be seen here 

Shanagolden is a gem set in the Limerick countryside, well worth a visit if you are passing by!