Ballylanders

Name

Historically the name translates as ‘de Londra's town’ and is most likely of Norman origin and referring to a popular Anglo-Norman derived family surname of "Landers" or alternatively "de Londra" can give its translation as "Town of the Londoner".

Amenities

There is a holy well close to the village which is the focal point of the "Pattern day", held annually on 15 August, this is one of the major such fair days in the locality. In 2011 The Wolfe Tones performed in the marquee during the pattern festival.

The present day Catholic parish church is of a modern circular design, the first in the country. Although the very first church in the village which was a Church of Ireland, thought to be built in the 19th century is still in existence today as a private dwelling house two houses up from Buckley's shop on Main Street, the arches of the church are still visible from the inside and are preserved for aesthetic value.

Griston Bog, on the west side of the village, is a noted nature reserve and bird sanctuary which is home to numerous birds, insects and plants.

Sports

Ballylanders has a popular and successful G.A.A. club which has won the Limerick county Senior Football championship in 1917, 1999, 2007 and 2015.

Ballylanders Soccer Club which was first established in 1987 continues to be one of the most active and vibrant clubs in the community. The club caters for boys and girls of all age groups and has over 200 registered members; the club purchased its own grounds in 1992 and the 7.5-acre (30,000 m²) facility comprises a clubhouse, two full-size playing pitches and a full-size floodlit training pitch. Recently the club has developed an amenity walk around the perimeter of its ground and has completed the planting of 250 native hardwood trees in part of their facility which was unsuitable for development as a playing area. Development work on their facility is funded through a weekly lottery, with tickets available from local pubs and shops.

Notable people

Frank Dineen (1862–1916) was one of Munster's most promising athletes of the early 1880s. Later he became the only person to ever hold both posts of president (1885–1898) and Secretary (1898–1901) of the G.A.A., as Secretary he tried to restore financial stability when the Association was threatened with bankruptcy. In 1907 he fronted the purchase of the Croke Park site out of his own personal finances for £3,250. He was the writer of the Gaelic column in influential weekly 'Sport' for many years. Prominent in Land League and Fenian movements, he became a supporter of John Redmond after the turn of century. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. The house in Ballylanders where he was born is now owned by the MacDermott family.

Services

There is a local transport service in the locality known as Ballyhoura Travel.