Dromahane


Dromahane is a village located south west of the town of Mallow, County Cork, Ireland on the R619 regional road. Dromahane is within the Cork North-West.
Centred on a main crossroads, the village overlooks the Blackwater Valley. The village is part of the parish of Kilshannig.
Thomas Russell is referred to as “The man from God knows where” and, as it happens, he was born in the village on 21 November, 1767. He was a founding member of the United Irishmen and was hanged in 1803 in Downpatrick gaol for his involvement in uprisings against the British.
An old graveyard is located north of the village and this is where Daniel O’Connell's maternal ancestors are buried. Also, the parents of Thomas Croke, after whom Croke Park is named, are buried here.
There are also ringforts in the area and Dromahane is close to Dromineen Castle.

Transport

By road, the Dromahane Junction is south of Mallow on the N20. Alternate routes from Mallow include taking the "Navigation Road" or the "Old Cork Road".
Although the main rail line between Mallow and Kerry passes just to the north of the village, the nearest railway station is Mallow railway station about 6 km away.

Economy

The village has two pubs, Hickey's Beer Garden and The Russell Inn, which is more commonly referred to as Corkery's Pub. Hickey's also operates an off licence.
The village has just the one shop, 'Kelly's Quick Pick. Dromahane Stores, which was once more commonly referred to as Bridgy's' is no longer in business.
A new addition to the village is a fast food restaurant.
South of Dromahane is the Dromore "Point to Point" race track, which draws crowds from all over Munster to the village for the horse racing event.
Other businesses located in the village include a nursing home, a joinery, printers, electricians, hauliers, plumbers, plant hire, ironmonger and agri-contractor.

Amenities

The village has a large school primary school. The nearest secondary schools are all in Mallow town.
The village also has St Peter's Roman Catholic church.
The local underage GAA club is called Thomas Russell's and they have their grounds in the village of Glantane, located west of Dromahane.
Irish National Lottery money has been invested in facilities at the local tennis club which is located beside the primary school.

People

In his book Mo Sgéal Féin, Canon Peter O'Leary talks about Dromahane in a discussion of his ancestry. He says his mother's father, Conor O'Leary, married Nell Hickey of Dromathane. From the translation by Cyril Ó Céirnín publisted 1987: