Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 23, 2026

Croagh

Croagh is a small village and civil parish in County Limerick, Ireland. It is located in mid-Limerick between Rathkeale and Adare just off the N21 national primary road, approximately 22 kilometres southwest of Limerick City. The village was originally part of this route before construction of the Croagh by-pass in 1986. The village is in the agricultural area known as the Golden Vale.

Last revised
Jun 23, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
535 w
Citations
16
Source
Croagh
Cróch
Village
Main Street in Croagh village
Main Street in Croagh village
Croagh
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°32′03″N 08°52′14″W / 52.53417°N 8.87056°W / 52.53417; -8.87056
CountryIreland
ProvinceMunster
CountyCounty Limerick
Population
 (2016)1
 • Total
216
Irish grid referenceR408428

Croagh (Irish: Cróch)2 is a small village and civil parish in County Limerick, Ireland. It is located in mid-Limerick between Rathkeale and Adare just off the N21 national primary road,3 approximately 22 kilometres (14 miles) southwest of Limerick City. The village was originally part of this route before construction of the Croagh by-pass in 1986.4 The village is in the agricultural area known as the Golden Vale.

Name

According to the Placenames Database of Ireland, the meaning and derivation of Croagh (Cróch) is unclear.2 Over the centuries, Croagh has been known by a number of names, including Moycro (1239), Croch (1416), Croth (1452), Croghe (1586), Croaghstowne (1669) and Cruach (1840).5

History

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ringfort and fulacht fiadh sites in the townlands of Croagh, Adamswood and Ballycannon.67 The ruins of a medieval church and enclosure lie in the village.8 The current Catholic church, which is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and was built c. 1830,9 is one of several protected structures within the village.10

Amenities and sport

Croagh, which had a population of 216 as of the 2016 census,1 has a national (primary) school with an enrollment of approximately 70 children.11 Other amenities include a Catholic church, garden centre, childcare facility, medical centre, music school, pubs, nursing home, community centre, a village park and sports ground.3

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, Croagh-Kilfinny, won the 2020 Limerick Junior Hurling Championship (played in 2021 due to Covid restrictions), as well as the Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2024.1213

Shountrade AFC, an association football club, was founded in 1987 in Croagh.

See also

See also

Further reading

Further reading

References

References

  1. "Sapmap Area: Settlements Croagh". Census 2016. Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Archived from the original on 13 March 2022.
  2. "Cróch/Croagh". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  3. Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, Volume 2b (PDF) (Report). Limerick City and County Council. p. 106. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  4. "Then & Now: Taking the road less travelled". limericklive. 16 June 2022.
  5. "Croagh History". ballycannon lodge.com. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  6. Record of Monuments and Places - County Limerick (PDF). National Monuments and Historic Properties Service. 1997.
  7. "2002:1071 - Adamswood/Croagh/Ballycannon, Limerick". excavations.ie. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  8. Begley, J. (1906). The Diocese of Limerick ancient and medieval. Dublin: Browne & Nolan. p. 164.
  9. "Catholic Church of Saint John the Baptist, Ballycannon, Croagh, Limerick". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  10. Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 - Volume 3c - Record of Protected Structures (Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District) (PDF) (Report). Limerick City and County Council. June 2022. pp. 48–49. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  11. "Croagh National School". gov.ie. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  12. Redington, John (13 June 2021). "Croagh-Kilfinny end 118 year wait for county honour". www.limerickleader.ie.
  13. Keogh, John (26 October 2024). "Persistence pays as Croagh-Kilfinny end run of final defeats". www.irishexaminer.com.
External links