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Currow () is a rural village in
County Kerry County Kerry ( gle, Contae Chiarraí) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and forms part of the province of Munster. It is named after the Ciarraige who lived in part of the present county. The population of the co ...
in south west
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, located approximately 12 km from
Killarney Killarney ( ; ga, Cill Airne , meaning 'church of sloes') is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, part of Killarney National Park, and is home to St Mary's Cathedral, Ross Castl ...
and 18 km from
Tralee Tralee ( ; ga, Trá Lí, ; formerly , meaning 'strand of the Lee River') is the county town of County Kerry in the south-west of Ireland. The town is on the northern side of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula, and is the largest town in County ...
. Currow is situated on the Brown Flesk River, a tributary of the River Maine.


Geography

Currow lies in the
Electoral Division An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other poli ...
of Killeentierna. Killeentierna Electoral Division covers 3,375 hectares, much of which is arable land, mainly used as pasture for dairy stock. There are also areas of peat land, particularly to the south, where a
blanket bog Blanket bog or blanket mire, also known as featherbed bog, is an area of peatland, forming where there is a climate of high rainfall and a low level of evapotranspiration, allowing peat to develop not only in wet hollows but over large expanses o ...
is located on the border with Kilcummin. Currow is mainly a residential area with close links to
Castleisland Castleisland () is a town and commercial centre in County Kerry in south west Ireland. The town is known for the width of its main street. As of the 2016 Census, Castleisland had a population of 2,486. Castleisland was described by one of its ...
. The main industry is agriculture. Currow is bordered to the west by
Farranfore Farranfore () is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. It lies on the N22 road approximately midway between Tralee (10 miles or 17 km) and Killarney (9 miles or 15 km) and on the railway line connecting the two towns. Farranfor ...
, to the south by
Kilcummin Kilcummin () is a beachhead and civil parish on the northern coast of County Mayo in Ireland. Traditionally a fishing community, the Kilcummin area is sparsely populated. The "Tír Sáile - North Mayo Sculpture Trail" and "Tour d'Humbert" tour ...
, to the east by Scartaglin and to the north by Castleisland.
Currans Currans () is a small village in County Kerry, Ireland. It is 8.5 km southwest of Castleisland and 4.7 km west of the neighbouring village of Currow. History The old parish church was abandoned after the Reformation, and fell into rui ...
lies north west of Currow, which forms the Killeentierna Parish.


History

The original village grew up on both sides of the roadway to the north of Flesk Bridge, between two old estates, Dicksgrove and Parkmore, which have influenced the architectural character. The Meredith Family were the landlords of the area, residing in the old Parkmore estate. The first influence of the British came from the Herbert Family during the plantations. The village escaped much of the major development experienced by many nearby villages and towns during the
Celtic Tiger The "Celtic Tiger" ( ga, An Tíogar Ceilteach) is a term referring to the economy of the Republic of Ireland, economy of Ireland from the mid-1990s to the late 2000s, a period of rapid real economic growth fuelled by foreign direct investment. ...
. Any development is mainly one-off housing.
Con Houlihan Con Houlihan (6 December 1925 – 4 August 2012) was an Irish sportswriter. Despite only progressing to national journalism at the age of 46, he became "the greatest and the best-loved Irish sports journalist of all". Journalism career Over a le ...
, a columnist with the Sunday World, once wrote how he considered Currow as his 'own favourite' village in Ireland. Although he is undecided whether Currow is a village or a hamlet. He also declared he would someday 'apply to be made a Freeman of Currow'.


Demographics

Currow is in the Electoral District of Killeentierna. Historically a Gaeltacht area, it is within the Rural District of Killarney and is included in the Kerry constituency for national elections. Killeentierna is also the Roman Catholic Parish under the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kerry The Diocese of Kerry ( ga, Deoise Chiarraí) is a Roman Catholic diocese in south-western Ireland, one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and Emly. The cathedral church of the diocese is St Mary's Cathedral in ...
which is made up of Currow, Kilsarcon and Currans. Before 1898, Currow was included under the barony of
Trughanacmy Trughanacmy ( gle, Triúcha an Aicme) is a barony in County Kerry, Ireland. The barony is an obsolete administrative area, having ceased to have any government function since the enactment of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. In 1881 the ...
. However this form of administrative area has been obsolete since the Local Government Act 1898. As of the 2006 Census, Killeentierna Electoral Division had a population of 892 persons (465 males and 427 females). This was a slight increase on 2002 Census figures of 856. The Census 1996 recorded 878 inhabitants. Catholicism was recorded as the largest religion in the area covering 95% of the population. Although the Irish language is not commonly spoken in the area, 395 people said in the Census 2006 that they had the ability to speak it. The
Census of Ireland 2011 The 2011 census of Ireland was held on Sunday, 10 April 2011. It was administered by the Central Statistics Office of Ireland and found the population to be 4,588,252 people.
, which took place on 10 April, showed an increase in population in the Killeentierna Electoral District on Census 2006 figures, a 2.4% increase. The 2011 population was recorded as 913 persons, 461 males and 452 females.


Facilities

Currow is typical of other Irish villages, consisting of basic facilities. The inhabitants travel to the primary district town of Castleisland for other services or to Tralee or Killarney for more specific services and facilities. Currow has one public house, a Roman Catholic church, community centre (consisting of large hall area, stage, meeting rooms, changing facilities), primary school, one convenience shop, graveyard, an electronic services workshop, beautician, small public park and a GAA pitch. There are several other small enterprises and services in the area. There previously was a post office and second public house, however both of these closed down in 2018.


Transport


Road

Currow is located approximately 7 km from Castleisland, south of the N23 national primary road, which runs from Castleisland to Farranfore, connecting traffic from the N21 road to the N22 road. Currow Village is connected to both the N22 at Farranfore and the N23 at Lisheenbaun Cross via the R561 regional road. It is located on the old Killarney road, which is now considered a 'scenic route' to Killarney. Bus services, provided by
Bus Éireann Bus Éireann (; "Irish Bus") is a state-owned bus and coach operator providing services throughout Ireland, with the exception of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area, where bus services are provided by sister company Dublin Bus. It is a subsidia ...
, are limited to the village. Nearby stops are found in Farranfore and Castleisland.


Rail

The closest railway station is found at Farranfore which is 3.5 km east of Currow.
Irish Rail Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
has several inter-city daily services to
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
,
Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
, Tralee and Killarney from
Farranfore railway station Farranfore railway station serves the village of Farranfore in County Kerry, Ireland. It is located a short distance away from Kerry Airport. History The station opened on 18 July 1859 as part of the Tralee & Killarney Railway which opened on ...
. Connecting services to other cities can be accessed along this network.


Air

Kerry Airport Kerry Airport ( gle, Aerfort Chiarraí; ), often called Farranfore Airport, is an international airport in Farranfore, County Kerry, Ireland. It is north of the Ring of Kerry and southeast of the county's capital Tralee. Passenger services ar ...
is also located at Farranfore on the N23. The runway is only 800m from Currow Village. However the terminal is 5 km in distance by road.


Media


Print publications

Local notes are included in the pages of the ''Sliabh Luachra Outlook'' which is published every Saturday. This contains news from all areas of the
Sliabh Luachra Sliabh Luachra (), sometimes anglicised Slieve Logher, is an upland region in Munster, Ireland. It is on the borders of counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick, and bounded to the south by the River Blackwater. It includes the Mullaghareirk Mounta ...
region. Local notes are also included in the weekly '' Kerryman'' newspaper, most often in the South County Edition. It is published on Wednesday. In the 1990s, an annual newsletter ran to print, called ''Currow and Currans Anois is Aris'' which translates as 'now and then'. The editor was Con Dennehy, who later became the editor for the Sliabh Luachra Outlook. It included the news and reports from the particular year. It has ceased press for several years.


Radio and television

Currow falls within the broadcast area of
Radio Kerry Radio Kerry is a full-service, licensed radio station that operates from the franchise area of County Kerry in Southwest Ireland. Radio Kerry was established in 1989 and began broadcasting on 14 July 1990. The station headquarters are in Tral ...
. There is no regional television broadcaster specific to Currow or Kerry however a documentary was made on Currow in 2000. This documentary focused on Currow's sporting heritage and the four international rugby players who hail from the area. As well as interviews with local residents, the documentary shows footage from around the village.


Townlands

The names of Currow's
townland A townland ( ga, baile fearainn; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a small geographical division of land, historically and currently used in Ireland and in the Western Isles in Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of Gaelic origi ...
s reflect the local history and landscape. Although originally mainly of
Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...
origin, many place names Anglicised over time. Local townlands include: A - B Annagh: Watery place // Boherbee: The yellow road // Beenateevane: The top of a sloping hill // Balygree: A town in the east of Dysert // Ballybeg: A small town // Bawnaglanna: Head land near a glen // Ballahantourigh: Assembly hill // Blackbriar: Conspicuous and elevated place // Barnfield: The field of the white marsh or hill // Ballymacdonnel: Town of MacDonnell // Ballindrohid: Townland at the bridge C - D Clashganniv: Hollow of the sand // Currow Ross: The little wood at the rounded hill // Currow City: // Clounclough: The meadow of the limestone // Clouncurrig: Pasture land, between two woods // Cloonacrrrig: The marshy place // Corraknockaun: Generally a marsh // Dysert: A desert or hermitage // Dicksgrove: Dick Meredith's grove // Tír na gCuas : Country of the caves // Dromulton: The ridge of the weathers // Droumrue: Red ridge E - H Farran: Land, field, territory country // Farrandoctor: A dear profitless spot of land Áitin daor docht // Farranmanach: The strangers plot // Farrankeal: A narrow stream // Glounlea: The grey glen // Gortalea: The field at the side of the hill // Glounbawn: The white glen // Gortacnach: The field of the hill // Garraundarragh: The grove of the oak trees // Gloundaeigh: Ravens glen The glen of the two ravens // Gortshanafa: The field of the old hut I - O Inchabee: Yellow inch // Inchincummer: Ravine valley The inch at the valley // Kilcow: Cuckoo wood // Killeentierna: The church of Tighernagh // Kilfeilim: The church of Feidhlim // Kilfalney: The church of the robe // Knockacorrin: The heap of the stones // Kilsarcon: The church of Arcain // Kileen: The little church // Laharn: Half land Townland near Farran // Lisheenbawn: Little white lios or fort // Lissataggle: The fort of the rye // Loughnagore: Loch na gCór ; Loch : A Lake Corr: Bird of the crane or heron kind // Lyre: Harp // Meanus: Mine P - Z Parknamulloge:The field of the skulls, lumpy Place, small height // Powell's Road: // Parknasmuttane: The field of the block or scraps of wood // Parkmore: The big field // Rossanean: The home by the birds // Ranaleen: Fort by the pool, pond or lake // Ranalough: The fort of the lake // Sandville: // Shanavullen: The old mill // Slieveenagh: // Springmount: Cnocearagh // Threegeeves: The amount of land a man could plough in a day // Urroghal: Cockle weed land


Community and culture

Currow is served by several sporting organisations. The village's most dominant club is
Currow GAA The East Kerry Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association caters for 13 Gaelic football clubs and 1 hurling club in the East Kerry division of the GAA county of Kerry. History Early Years The East Kerry Board was founded in 1925 following a ...
, which has its own grounds to the east of the village. It is also home to St. Bridget's Basketball Club, Community Games, Currow Cycling Club and Currow Gun Club. Many of these are based in the community centre. Most clubs support the colours set by the GAA of black and amber. Currow has a Tidy Towns Organisation as well as a Rural Development group, focused on enhancing the local environment and developing amenities. Currow also has groups attached to the Roman Catholic Church which is in the Killeentierna Parish under the Diocese of Kerry. There is also a parish youth organisation; Killeentierna Youth Club. The village is located in a cultural area known as
Sliabh Luachra Sliabh Luachra (), sometimes anglicised Slieve Logher, is an upland region in Munster, Ireland. It is on the borders of counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick, and bounded to the south by the River Blackwater. It includes the Mullaghareirk Mounta ...
. This area is known for its style of
traditional Irish music Irish traditional music (also known as Irish trad, Irish folk music, and other variants) is a genre of folk music that developed in Ireland. In ''A History of Irish Music'' (1905), W. H. Grattan Flood wrote that, in Gaelic Ireland, there w ...
.


Places of interest


Currow Wildlife Park

A pond and wildlife sanctuary has been created to the east of the village. Much work was carried out here by local development groups and work included the raising of water levels and landscaping. The area is now home to several species such as the moorhen, mute swan and mallard. A walk and seating area is also provided.


Church of the Immaculate Conception

The Church of the Immaculate Conception is located at the centre of the village on a site donated by Mr. Richard Meredith, who had connections to the estate house in Dickgrove. This Roman Catholic church was built in 1957 to designs by Patrick J. Sheahan. The church was blessed and dedicated by Rev. Denis Moynihan, Bishop of Kerry, on 2 June 1954.The Taxpayers News. (1992). Tales of Currow. In: Dennehy, C Currow and Currans Anois is Aris. Shanagolden Limerick: Fitzsimons Printers. pp 46.


Scoil Mhuire Agus Naomh Threasa

Scoil Mhuire Agus Naomh Threasa (English: St Mary's and Teresa School) is the primary school serving the parish of Currow. Originally Scoil Mhuire, the Department of Education amalgamated Scoil Mhuire with Kilsarcon School which centralized resources to the more modern facility in Currow Village.


Brown Flesk River

Currow is situated on the Brown Flesk River (''An Fhleisc Rua''), a tributary of the River Maine. This river is designated a salmonid river under the EU Freshwater Fish Directive and is a productive angling river with high quality spawning and nursery grounds. This designation aims to protect and improve the quality of fresh waters that support certain species of fish.


Meredith Estate

The Herberts were the first British family to settle in Currow during the plantations. The Merediths came to Currow in 1635 and bought some of the Herbert Estate. They were originally silversmiths. They built a stately home close to the village, now named after Richard Meredith, Dicksgrove, much of which still remains today, particularly the main house, gate lodges, and the estate walls which now run along a section of the R561. The Meredith mansion was burned out in 1932. In 1935 the Land Commission took over the estate lands. Currow GAA grounds are now located on the estate grounds.


Metal Bridge

Built in the early 1930s by Con Singleton from Gneeveguilla in the townland of Ballybeg, located east towards Kilsarcon. The Metal Bridge is a crossing point along the Brown Flesk River. All work was done by pick and shovel and the bridge was made from concrete on dry land. A new channel was then dug out which diverted the waters. The name 'The Metal Bridge' is a slight digression, which actually comes from the previous footbridge that existed. That was built by metal and iron during the famine years. Any bigger traffic had to cross the water near the ford where it was shallow. The road on which it exists is also called Bóthar na Míne or Road of Meal. This is because the men who built it were paid in meal rather than money. There was a great flood in 1941, which swept one of the arches away. It has since been restored.Kearney, G. (1995). The Reidy Bridge and Metal Bridge. In: Dennehy, C Currow and Currans Anois is Aris. Shanagolden Limerick: Fitzsimons Printers. pp 95.


Reidy Bridge

Reidy Bridge is located in the village, beside Dicksgrove Gate Lodge. It was named after the parish priest who served in Currow at the time of construction in 1941. It was a replacement for the bridge that swept away in the 1941 flood. It has three arches, replicating the old bridge. The river only flows through two of the arches. The third is for times of flood.


People

*
Moss Keane Maurice Ignatius "Moss" Keane (27 July 1948 – 5 October 2010) was a Gaelic footballer and a rugby union footballer who played for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. Life and career Born at Currow in County Kerry, Keane started out as a ...
– International rugby player *
Mick Galwey Michael Joseph Galwey (born 8 October 1966) won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with the Kerry Gaelic football team in 1986, as a 19-year-old, before turning to rugby union. He is thus the only winner of an "All-Ireland" in both rug ...
- International rugby player * Mick Doyle – International rugby player *
Séamus Scanlon Séamus 'Moosey' Scanlon (''Irish - Séamas Ó Scanláin'', born 1981) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for the Currow club, the St Kieran's divisional team and the Kerry county team. He first came on the Kerry senior scene in 2002 un ...
– Inter-county footballer *
JJ Hanrahan John Joseph Hanrahan (born 27 July 1992) is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Welsh club Dragons in the United Rugby Championship. He plays primarily as a fly-half, but can also play as a centre or fullback. Early years Hanrahan began ...
– International rugby player


References


External links


Currow G.A.A. Club
(archived)
Currow Youth Club

Currow Cycling Club
{{County Kerry Towns and villages in County Kerry