Charleville Heritage

Charleville Heritage
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The Charleville Historical Society connects people to the past by collecting, preserving, and sharing stories. They believe that increasing the public's knowledge of local heritage will give the community a sense of pride of all that people of Charleville have accomplished both here in Charleville and their ancestors who have emigrated around the world.

CHARLEVILLE is a busy market town in North Cork, located close to the border with Limerick. It is in the townland of Ráth Luirc or An Ráth, indicating
that there was a settlement here in Early Medieval times, over a thousand years ago. The lands were purchased by Richard Boyle, one of the most successful Elizabethan adventure colonists in Ireland. Roger, his son and First Earl of Orrery and Lord - President of Munster, founded the town of Charleville in 1661 and named it in honour of King Charles II.

Charleville, like most Irish towns, underwent a period of rebuilding in the late 18th/early 19th century and most of its elegant streetscape dates to this period. One feature of the streetscape, now almost entirely disappeared, were the many side lanes that gave access to the areas behind the main streets. Charleville was an important market town with a weekly market on Saturdays and six fairs during the
year selling cattle, pigs, hardware and other merchandise.

In the 19th century, it had a number of industries including three tan yards, a blanket manufactory, and two large flour mills. The close relationship of the town with its rich agricultural hinterland continues to this day and is reflected in the success of the Golden Vale cheese plant (part of the Kerry Group), the biggest employer in the town.

Download Charleville Historic Map Brochure

Suitable for:

History Lovers
Location Enquire

The Charleville Historical Society connects people to the past by collecting, preserving, and sharing stories. They believe that increasing the public's knowledge of local heritage will give the community a sense of pride of all that people of Charleville have accomplished both here in Charleville and their ancestors who have emigrated around the world.

CHARLEVILLE is a busy market town in North Cork, located close to the border with Limerick. It is in the townland of Ráth Luirc or An Ráth, indicating
that there was a settlement here in Early Medieval times, over a thousand years ago. The lands were purchased by Richard Boyle, one of the most successful Elizabethan adventure colonists in Ireland. Roger, his son and First Earl of Orrery and Lord - President of Munster, founded the town of Charleville in 1661 and named it in honour of King Charles II.

Charleville, like most Irish towns, underwent a period of rebuilding in the late 18th/early 19th century and most of its elegant streetscape dates to this period. One feature of the streetscape, now almost entirely disappeared, were the many side lanes that gave access to the areas behind the main streets. Charleville was an important market town with a weekly market on Saturdays and six fairs during the
year selling cattle, pigs, hardware and other merchandise.

In the 19th century, it had a number of industries including three tan yards, a blanket manufactory, and two large flour mills. The close relationship of the town with its rich agricultural hinterland continues to this day and is reflected in the success of the Golden Vale cheese plant (part of the Kerry Group), the biggest employer in the town.

Download Charleville Historic Map Brochure

Suitable for:

History Lovers