O'Callaghans Mills


O'Callaghan's Mills is a village in County Clare, Ireland, and a Catholic parish by the same name.
It takes its name from the O'Callaghan family who were large landowners in the area and a corn and grist mill built by John Coonan on the lands of Cornelius O'Callaghan in 1772. The community sustains a regular senior Gaelic Athletic Association hurling panel team with county championship achievements at under-age, junior and senior levels.

Geography

The parish of O'Callaghan's Mills, Kilkishen and Oatfield stretches from near Bodyke to near Sixmilebridge. It corresponds roughly to the old parishes of Killuran and Clonlea.
The parish churches are St Patrick's in O'Callaghan's Mills and St Senan's in Kilkishen.
The village of O'Callaghan's Mills is in East County Clare, halfway between the County Town of Ennis and River Shannon's Lough Derg. It is 26 km north of Limerick City.

Nearby Places

The village of O'Callaghan's Mills takes its name from the O'Callaghan family who were large landowners in the area. They were displaced from the Mallow area of Cork in confiscations during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in the 1650s when they lost, 20,000 of which was deemed to have been the property of the ruling chief, Donncha O'Callaghan. He and his extended family were transplanted to east Clare, where they obtained land in the barony of Tulla Lower. The village of O'Callaghan's Mills records their continued presence.

Parish History

There is a tradition that two priests of the Congregation of the Mission, or Vincentians, escaped from the 1651 siege of Limerick by Oliver Cromwell's troops, and for several years ministered to the people of the parish near the present church of St Vincent de Paul in Oatfield.
The foundation stone of the present church of St Patrick at O'Callaghan's Mills was laid in March 1839. It was dedicated in March 1840. Major renovations were undertaken in 1979-80.
The first church in the old Clonlea part of the parish was probably built at Kilkishen very early in the 19th century. It is mentioned in an 1811 report of a dispute that led to violence over who should sit nearest to the altar. Major renovation or reconstruction was completed in 1865.
The St Vincent de Paul church was built around 1830, replacing a thatched chapel.
The roof was blown away in January 1839 on the Night of the Big Wind.
The building was then enlarged, with the addition of two transepts.
In May 1966 Bishop Joseph Rodgers rededicated the church.

GAA History

The parish of O'Callaghans Mills has won the Clare county hurling championship on seven occasions through various teams with the last being in 1937. In 1909 the county final was contested by two teams from the village itself; The Fireballs and St. Patricks with the Fireballs claiming victory. O'Callaghans Mills was due to take part in the 1922 county final but this was not played as a result of the Irish Civil War at the time.
The parish hurling team won the County Clare Senior B Championship in 2017. This was the first county title at senior level that the parish has won since 1937.

Notable People

O'Callaghan's Mills was home to former athlete, politician and GAA administrator Tim Smythe. Smythe achieved many successes in middle to long distance running including 10 All-Ireland titles and a World cross country title on 28 March 1931. He is commemorated by a plaque at the entrance to the Doonaille housing estate beside St Patrick's national school.