Editing Patrickswell

{{short description|Town in County Limerick, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                   = Patrickswell
|native_name            = {{Irish place name|Tobar Phádraig}}
|native_name_lang       = ga
|settlement_type        = Town
|image_skyline          = Patrickswell-west.jpg
|image_caption          = Main Street
|pushpin_map            = Ireland
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Ireland
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Munster]]
|subdivision_type3      = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
|subdivision_name3      = [[County Limerick]]
|established_title      = 
|established_date       = 
|unit_pref              = Metric
|area_footnotes         = 
|area_total_km2         = 
|population_as_of       = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
|population_footnotes   = <ref name=cityPop>{{cite web | url = https://citypopulation.de/en/ireland/towns/limerick/21518__patrickswell/ | title = Patrickswell (Ireland) Census Town| work = citypopulation.de | access-date = 12 December 2023 }}</ref>
|population             = 848
|population_density_km2 = auto
|coordinates            = {{coord|52.5952|-8.7122|dim:100000_region:IE|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes    = 
|elevation_m            = 30
|blank_name             = [[Irish grid reference system|Irish Grid Reference]]
|blank_info             = {{iem4ibx|R518500}}
|website                = 
|footnotes              = 
}}

'''Patrickswell''', historically known as '''Toberpatrick''' ({{Irish place name|Tobar Phádraig}}),<ref name=logainm>{{cite web | url = https://www.logainm.ie/en/123643 | title = Tobar Phádraig/Patrickswell (see archival records) | publisher = [[Placenames Database of Ireland]] | website = logainm.ie | access-date = 7 December 2023 }}</ref> is a small town in [[County Limerick]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is primarily a commuter village for people working in [[Limerick]],<ref name="LAP2015"/> including the nearby [[industrial suburb]] of [[Raheen, County Limerick|Raheen]]. The population was 848 at the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]].<ref name=cityPop/>

==Etymology==
The name of the town refers to a [[holy well]] which is traditionally associated with [[Saint Patrick]].<ref name=logainm/><ref>{{cite book | chapter-url = https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/P/Patricks-Well-St-Pubblebrien-Limerick.php | chapter = Patrick's Well (St.) | title= [[A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland]] | date = 1837 | publisher = Lewis | editor-first = Samuel | editor-last = Lewis }}</ref> Located on the main street, this well was previously capped by a pump - since removed.<ref name="ODanachair">{{cite journal | first = Ó Danachair | last = Caoimhín | title = The Holy Wells of Co. Limerick | journal = The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland | volume = 85 | issue = 2 | date = 1955 | page = 213 | jstor = 25509218  }}</ref> In the early 19th century, a rough statue of Saint Patrick was erected at the well.<ref name="ODanachair"/>

==History==
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of [[ringfort]], [[fulacht fiadh]] and [[lime kiln]] sites in the surrounding [[townland]]s of Attyflin, Ballyanrahan East and Barnakyle.<ref>{{cite book | title = Record of Monuments and Places - County Limerick | publisher = National Monuments and Historical Properties Service | date = 1997 | place = Dublin }}</ref> [[Record of Protected Structures|Protected structures]], within the town, include St. Patrick's holy well, an 18th century milestone, a lime kiln and the 19th century [[Royal Irish Constabulary]] barracks.<ref name="rps">{{cite report | url = https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/media/documents/2022-07/3A-Record-of-Protected-Structures-Metropolitan-District-of-Limerick.pdf | publisher = Limerick City and County Council | title = Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 - Volume 3A - Record Of Protected Structures - Metropolitan District of Limerick | date = June 2022| page = 250 | accessdate = 7 December 2023 }}</ref>

The former Patrickswell Railway Station, also a protected structure,<ref name="rps"/> was built in 1856 on the main [[Limerick–Tralee railway line]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21901242/patrickswell-railway-station-chapelbride-patrickswell-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Patrickswell Railway Station, Chapelbride, Patrickswell, Limerick | accessdate = 7 December 2023 }}</ref> No longer used as a railway station, it is now in private ownership and home to an engineering consulting firm.<ref name="LAP2015"/> A contemporary extension to the original station building was designed by Rob Shanahan architects and won an OPUS Building of the year award in 2004.{{fact|date=December 2023}}

According to local historian [[Mannix Joyce|Mainchín Seoighe]] (1924–2006), the present-day ecclesiastical parish of Patrickswell-Ballybrown is made up of parts of the pre-Reformation parishes of Kilkeedy, Killonahan, Mungret, Croom, and Adare. Until the middle of the 18th century, the parishes of Kilkeedy and Clounanna were joined with Adare. When the parish of Patrickswell was formed, Kilkeedy and Clounanna became part of the new parish.{{fact|date=December 2023}}

During the [[Irish Civil War]], the town played a role in the [[Battle of Kilmallock]] of 1922, when [[Anti-Treaty IRA]] troops dug in at Patrickswell to prevent [[National Army (Ireland)|Pro-Treaty National Army]] forces from reaching Limerick city.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://ifiarchiveplayer.ie/irish-national-army-sweeping-on/ | website = ifiarchiveplayer.ie| publisher = Irish Film Institute | title = Irish National Army Sweeping On | accessdate = 7 December 2023 }}</ref>

==Location and transport==
The town is located near to the [[N20 road|N20]]/[[N21 road (Ireland)|N21 road]] which, until Patrickswell was bypassed in 2001, ran through the town centre.<ref name="LAP2015">{{cite report |url = https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/media/documents/2022-12/Patrickswell-Local-Area-Plan-Extended.pdf | publisher = Limerick City and County Council | title = Patrickswell Local Area Plan 2015-2021 | date = April 2015 | accessdate = 12 December 2023 }}</ref> This road is now the [[R526 road (Ireland)|R526]] from west of the town to Limerick city. The town can be accessed at either end from the N20 junction for [[Limerick Racecourse]] or the N20/N21 junction further west (where the R526 commences).

A [[rail transport in Ireland|railway line]] to [[Adare]] and [[Foynes]] passes alongside the town to the south, although Patrickswell station is long closed. Patrickswell railway station originally opened on 12 July 1856, closed for passenger traffic on 4 February 1963 and finally closed altogether on 2 December 1974.<ref>{{cite web | title=Patrickswell station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2007-11-22}}</ref> The Ballingrane&ndash;Tralee (North Kerry) line closed in November 1975.{{fact|date=December 2023}} The station was, at one time, known as Patrickswell Junction and direct Limerick&ndash;Cork trains diverged here from the route of trains bound for Foynes, [[Newcastle West]] and [[Tralee]]. While passenger services ceased in 1963, freight trains between Limerick and Foynes ran until 2000.{{fact|date=December 2023}}

==Amenities==
Patrickswell's [[main street]] has several shops, a garage, [[Automatic teller machine|ATM]] and a post office. The town is located approximately 10&nbsp;km from [[Limerick]] city, and as a result, relies on the city and its suburbs for secondary schools, shops, banks and other facilities.{{fact|date=December 2023}}

There are several [[housing estate]]s in the area,<ref name="LAP2015"/> including several off the main street and road to [[Clarina]]. The latter road has strip development north from Patrickswell all the way to Clarina and the [[N69 road (Ireland)|N69 road]].{{fact|date=December 2023}}

==Politics==
Patrickswell is located within the Limerick City West local authority area of [[Limerick City and County Council]]<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.boundarycommittee.ie/Maps/Limerick%20City%20LEA%20Report%20Map%202018.pdf | website = boundarycommittee.ie | title = Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee No. 1 Report 2018 - Limerick Metropolitan District | accessdate = 12 December 2023 }}</ref> and within the Limerick City constituency for national politics.{{fact|date=December 2023}}

==See also==
* [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{County Limerick|state=collapsed}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Limerick|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Towns and villages in County Limerick]]