Editing Cratloe (section)

==History==
The area of Cratloe is first mentioned in the [[Annals of the Four Masters]], where it is recorded that in 376 AD, [[Crimthann mac Fidaig]], King of Munster and High King of Ireland died in the Cratloe area from poison administered by his sister, [[Mongfind]], who wished for her son [[Brión mac Echach Muigmedóin]] to be High King. Mongfind herself also died later, as she drank the poison to convince the king to take some.<ref name="Annals of the Inishfallen">{{cite journal | title=Annals of the Inishfallen |journal = Kerry Archaeological Magazine|volume = 1|issue = 8|pages = 480–488| date=April 1912 |jstor = 30059800}}</ref> In the end, however, Brian had to settle for the Kingdom of Connaught, while the High Kingship went to his half-brother, who was later known as [[Niall of the Nine Hostages]].

In the 9th century, when the [[MacNamara|McNamaras]] territory was invaded by warriors from the [[Kings of Ailech|Kingdom of Aileach]] in [[Ulster]], the invaders chopped down oak trees in [[Cratloe Woods]] and brought them back to Ulster for the roof of the [[Grianan of Aileach|Aileach Royal Palace]]. Cratloe Woods have since been known for their oak trees and their wood used in many important buildings throughout Europe.<ref name="Cratloe Historical Background">{{cite web | url=https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/cratloe_history.htm | title=History Of Cratloe | publisher=clarelibrary.ie | access-date=24 August 2012}}</ref>

It was recorded in 940 that [[Muirchertach mac Néill|King Muirchertach of the Leather Cloaks]] and his forces, found that Cretshalach, as it was then known, was the worst passageway during their Circuit of Ireland. In ancient times the passageway through Cratloe ran over a steep hill, and was the main route from [[Munster]] into [[Connacht]]. The army stayed the night on top of the mountain where High King Crimthann was murdered, Sliabh-Suidhe-an-riogh, or in English, The Mountain Of The Death Of The King.<ref name="Muircheartach's Circuit of Ireland - Cormacans Poem">{{cite web | url=http://clanmaclochlainn.com/circuit.htm | title=Muircheartach's Circuit of Ireland | publisher=clanmaclochlainn.com | access-date=24 August 2012}}</ref>
{{Quote box|title=''Cormacan the Poet, the Chief Bard''|fontsize = 100%|align=right| quote=
<br>"We were a night at Ath-Caille,<br />
On the very brink of the Shannon:<br />
I did not meet, since I left my home,<br />
A pass like unto Cretshalach."<ref name="Muircheartach's Circuit of Ireland - Cormacans Poem"/>}}

In 1216 it was formally granted to the Corporation of Limerick by King John, as part of the [[North Liberties]]. In [[1510 in Ireland|1510]], an Anglo-Irish army led by [[Gerald Mór FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare|Gerald Mór FitzGerald]], the 8th earl of Kildare, marched on [[Thomond]], and was met and defeated near Cratloe by an army of the O'Brien, McNamara, Sil-Aedha and Clanrickard clans led by Turlough O'Brien, son of [[Teige Mac Murrough O'Brien]], the Lord of Thomond. The invading army were defeated with ease as the entire force had taken the short cut through Cratloe into Limerick, and as a result were ambushed by the Gaelic army.<ref name="Annals of the Four Masters">{{cite web | url=http://publish.ucc.ie/celt/docs/T100005E?fragment=div1:%40:10 | title=Annals of the Four Masters - entry 1510.8 | publisher=ucc.ie | access-date=24 August 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It was annexed to the County of Clare following the 1840 Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act.