Dromcolliher

It was first mentioned in the 1160, in "The Book of Leinster". Other historical records include references in "Westropp" (1201), Munster Journal (1751), and the population was recorded as 658 in 1831.

It is classed a medieval town by Limerick County Council (Local Governing Body), and has a list of protected structures under the 'County Development Plan'. These include the facades of Aherne's and O'Kelly's, the local creamery, and courthouse, as well as two churches, Killagholehane and St. Timothys (now known as St. Bartholomews).

The modern church was built in 1824, by Fr. Micheal Fitzgerald, who purchased the land from a local landowner. It was restored several times, including in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Healy and Partners Architects, Limerick.

Dromcollogher was one of the starting points for the Irish Co-Op Movement, with the first Co-Operative creamery being set up here in 1889 on the initiative of Horace Plunkett. The listed building has since been restored, and is now the National Dairy Cooperative Museum. Percy French, the Irish composer, once stayed here and composed the song "There's Only One Street In Dromcollogher".

Dromcollogher fire

Aftermath of the fire

On 5 September 1926, a timber barn being used as a temporary cinema in Dromcollogher caught fire when a candle ignited a reel of nitrate film. Forty-eight people died in this tragedy, always known locally as the Dromcollogher Burning; forty-six of them are buried in a large grave in the grounds of the local church. It remained the worst known fire disaster in Irish history until the Betelgeuse incident in 1979 and the Stardust disaster in 1981, which claimed fifty and forty-eight lives respectively.

Dromcollogher-Broadford won the 2015 Limerick Junior Hurling Championship, beating Na Pairsaigh in the final. This was the club's second such championship win since Dromcollogher/Broadford joined forces, with the first being in 1993. In 2008, Dromcollogher/Broadford GAA club won their first and only Munster Senior Club Football Championship competition, defeating Kilmurry-Ibrackane from Clare at the Gaelic Grounds. The only other team from Limerick to win the championship had been Thomond College in 1977.

Dromcollogher-Broadford Ladies football club was founded in 1999, and won 2 All Ireland National Division 2 Titles in the Peil na nÓg under 14 competition - in 2003 (Carlow) and in 2004 (Galway). The club have also competed in Munster Junior club semi-finals on 3 occasions, and in 2016, competed in their first Munster club Junior Final, losing to Kinsale by 4 points.

The Dromcollogher Carnival is held each year in early July. This street festival, includes a number of activities and attractions for different age-groups, including a 4 km run, a Harley Davidson parade, and live street bands.

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dromcolliher.

• Information on Dromcollogher Community Projects