Bodyke

The village of Bodyke lies in the foothills of the Slieve Aughty mountains. Its name may come from "Both-Teig" (Teig's hut).[1]

The Roman Catholic parish of Bodyke is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe.[2] The modern parish incorporates the medieval parish of Kilnoe and the southern part of the medieval parish of Tuamgraney, which may have been combined early in the 18th century.[1] Bodyke is noted for its local church, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, which was originally built in 1844.[1] The church of St Joseph's serves Tuamgraney.[3]

Schools are Bodyke National School, Scariff Community School and Tuamgraney National School.[4] The Raheen Community Hospital in Tuamgraney is a public nursing home and day center.[5]

In the 1880s Colonel O'Callaghan, the principal landowner at Bodyke, had refused to lower the rents he charged his tenants. They were in distress.[6] In June 1887 O'Callaghan called for police assistance in evicting the tenants, who resisted by force, witnessed by large crowds.[7] Thirty-five of his tenants returned to their homes after being evicted.[8] Twenty six people, all but four of them women, were charged with assaulting and obstructing the forces of the law, with sentences ranging from acquittal to three months hard labor.[7] The prolonged affair was widely reported and caused angry debates in Parliament. As one member said, "The name of Bodyke stank in the nostrils of the Government..."[8] The evictions continued into the 1890s, with goods and livestock seized in lieu of rent. Often the livestock died of poisoning soon after.[9]

• 
  The O'Halloran girls, c. 1888-90
• 
  Suppressed meeting, Bodyke, c. 1888-90
• 
  Widow Macnamara in her fortress, c. 1888-90

The novelist Edna O'Brien and family historian Edward MacLysaght came from the parish of Bodyke.[1]

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