Doora Barefield


Doora Barefield, or Doora and Kilraghtis, is a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe, in County Clare, Ireland. It lies to the north and east of the town of Ennis and includes the suburb of Roslevan in the eastern part of Ennis.

Location

By 1837 the medieval Roman Catholic parish of Templemaley was part of a union with the parish of Doora.
As the name implies, the modern parish also serves the civil parish of Kilraghtis, including the communities of Barefield in Templemaley and Roslevan in Kilraghtis.
The parish lies to the east and north of the town of Ennis. The M18 motorway runs through the parish from north to south.
A 1942-43 description described it as "a very undulating parish, and its good and bad land is just as much mixed as its contour."
The only village or town at that time was Barefield, a small cluster of houses, and the only industry was agriculture.

Public buildings

The most important public building in 1942 was the County Clare Lunatic Asylum, a large stone building set in of farmland.
There were schools at Doora, Barefield and Knocknane.
Today there are still three national schools, the Knockanean National School, Doora National School and Barefield National School.
Parish churches are St. Brecan’s Church in Doora, the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Barefield and the Church of Our Lady in Roslevan.

Associations

The Doora Barefield CCE is a group of musicians devoted to playing and promoting Irish music.
Tara Breen, an All-Ireland Fleadh champion, was chosen by The Chieftains for their American Tour.
The parish is home to the Doora Barefield Ladies Football Club.
St Josephs Doora-Barefield GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the parish, with a facility at Gurteen that includes three playing pitches.
Club members play hurling, football and camogie. In 1999 St Josephs Doora Barefield were All Ireland Club Champions.