Ballyhea

Ballyhea covers a wide area and has five graveyards. These relate to the five parishes of Aglishdrinagh, Ardskeagh, Ballyhea (Ballyhay), Cooline, and Imprick which make up the broad area. It borders Newtownshandrum, Charleville, Ardpatrick, Effin, Churchtown, Liscarroll and Buttevant. Previously named as Ballyhaura in early 19th century publications such as the Union Gazetteer for Gt. Br. & Ireland. [3]

Ballyhea means "place of Aodb or Aedh". Aodb had his residence in the 900's in the townland known as Lisballyhea. His clan was said to be one of the earliest to settle in the area.

A Ballyhea man, called William Burke (brother of one of the accused) from Ballyhea, played a role in the Doneraile Conspiracy of 1829, by riding from Doneraile to Derrynane in County Kerry, to retain Daniel O’Connell as legal counsel. Willian Burke died on 7 April 1876, and was buried in Shandrum Cemetery, near Charleville.

Con O'Brien (1883-1946), known as Bard of Ballyhea, wrote numerous poems about Ballyhea, and the surrounding area. These were published in a 1981 book called The Poems of Con O'Brien the Bard of Ballyhea, published by Charleville (County Cork) Oriel Press.

There is one Roman Catholic church, St. Mary's, and a relatively modern cemetery, linked to an older cemetery off the Limerick Road. There is an older Catholic church in the graveyard in Ballyhea (Ballyhay), built circa 1200 by the Norman family, the De Cogans. It ceased religious service circa 1800 and has fallen into ruin since then. In 1831, the population was judged to be 7,400 Catholics and 340 Protestants. [4] , with only 15 members belonging to the Church of England [5]

The main estate in the area was one of a group owned by the Geraldines. Known as Castle Dod(d), even today some people refer to the area as Castle Dodd, there is a ruined Norman castle in the area of Castleharrison, the family home of the Harrisons related to the O'Grady Family of Killballowen, Bruff. The old name for this estate was Castle Dodd it was leased to the Harrisons in 1750. The Castle was added to make up Castle Harrison Mansion. By the 1950s it was in disuse, the land having been acquired by the Land Commission. The "Great House" burnt down in 1957.

Ballyhea GAA club was formed in 1884. During its history, the club has won County Championships in Senior, Intermediate, Junior and Juvenile Hurling. In later years a Camogie Club was set up and three County Titles have been won by this club. All-Ireland Hurling medals have come to the parish at most grades with the two Senior medals, in 1986 Johnny O Callaghan and 1999 Neil Ronan. The hurling team regraded to intermediate at the end of 2003. It took them until the 2015 season to return to senior.[6]

Ballyhea is on the main Limerick–Cork bus route with a stop near the parish church.

The nearby town of Charleville has a station on Cork-Dublin railway line (formerly the Great Southern Line).

Ballyhea has a series of marked mountain walk ways at Ballinboola and is part of the Ballyhoura Trail. There is a large artificial lake (40 acres), created by the extraction of gravel, with a range of wildlife; it is privately owned.

There has been a pilot cycle/walk route created from Ballyhea National School to Charleville and if successful it is anticipated that this will lead to the establishment of a number of routes in the Ballyhea/Charleville area.

The greater Ballyhea area has a number of businesses, including a Lidl warehouse on the N20 at Pike Cross, and Charleville Foods (aka Galtee Meats and Horgans). There are a number of small and medium enterprises in the area involved mostly in construction or related industries.

Ballyhea Community Council evolved in the 1970s from a Munitir Na Tíre group. The council's activities include organising a Christmas meal for the elderly of the parish every year.

A group of parents came together in 2000 to form the Ballyhea Pre-school Group. A Parent & Toddler Group was started within the first month of the group's existence, with a babysitters network being created in 2002.

The Ballyhea National School Parent Association was setup in 2004 to fundraise for the national school. In more recent years it has expanded to incorporate information evenings for parents and to encourage healthier lifestyles by supporting the school's healthy eating policy and organizing events to encouraging children to exercise more.

Ballyhea residents are noted for their weekly marches through the village, beginning in February 2011 to protest against the taxpayer-funded bailout of banks in Ireland. A prominent spokesperson for the residents is Diarmuid O'Flynn, creator of the Bondwatch blog in which he documents bank bailout payments as they happen.[7][8][9]

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

• Ballyhea GAA Site