Country Ireland Time zone WET (UTC+0) Website www.skeheenarinky.com | County County Tipperary Irish Grid Reference R89132 Province Munster | |
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Skeheenarinky (Irish: SceichÃn na Rince, meaning "The Dancing Bush") is a townland in south-west County Tipperary, Ireland. It is a dispersed settlement with a focal point at Skeheenarinky Cross where a school, shop and pub are located.
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Map of Skeheenarinky, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
Location
Situated between the foothills of the Galtee Mountains and the low-lying farmland at the north end of Ballyporeen civil parish. It lies on a stretch of the former main Cork-Dublin road that was superseded by the M8 Motorway in 2008. This road is now designated as the R639 regional road. Mitchelstown and Cahir are approximately 10 km. and 20 km. respectively.
School
Skeheenarinky National School was built in 1858 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in November 2008, a book chronicling its history was produced to mark the occasion. It is perhaps the oldest still operating national school building in the country. The building itself is considered notable for its cut limestone construction. Nearby Galty Cottage (c.1858) was built as a home for the teacher.It is known as 'Morrisseys' in recognition of a Mrs. Morrissey who taught at the school and lived there for fifty years.
The school's primary catchment area comprises the Coolagaranroe Electoral District, this recorded a population of 501 at the most recent 2006 census.
History
The Mitchelstown Caves are suituated approximately 3 km. from Skeheenarinky Cross and were discovered in 1833 by a labourer quarrying on a small farm. Today the caves are a popular tourist attraction.
Skeheenarinky was once the location of an extravagant mansion called Galtee Castle, the original structure built for the 2nd Earl of Kingston dated from the late 18th Century, it was later remodelled and expanded but was completely demolished c.1941.
People
Former Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald and British model/singer Samantha Fox can trace ancestry to the area.