Doon, County Limerick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Doon Dún Bleisce
Village
Aerial view of Doon
Doon Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	County Limerick
Dáil Éireann	Limerick County
EU Parliament	South
Elevation	150 m (490 ft)
Population  (2016)	516

Doon (in Irish: Dún Bleisce) is a small village in the eastern part of County Limerick, Ireland. It is very close to the border of County Tipperary. Doon is also a civil parish and an ecclesiastical parish within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.

The name Doon comes from the Irish word Dún, which means "fort". You can find this name in many other places across Ireland.

What's in a Name? The Story of Doon

The Irish name for Doon is Dún Bleisce. The word Dún means a strong fort or fortification. Maps of the area show that there were at least eight old ring forts here. The most important one is located behind the Church of Ireland Church, just outside the village.

The "Bleisce" part of the name is a bit of a mystery. There are a few ideas about where it came from. One idea is that it comes from an Irish word, fleisc, which means a stream. There is a stream that flows right through the village. Another idea is that Bleisc was the name of a person, maybe a swine herder for a local leader.

The name Dún Bleisce was first written down in the Annals of Inisfallen way back in the year 774. For many hundreds of years, the village was known by this full name. In 2003, a group called the Placename Commission suggested changing the official Irish name to An Dún. They thought this was the right Irish name for the village.

However, the people living in Doon really wanted the old name back. They started a big campaign, and in 2006, the local council supported their request. Finally, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon O'Cuiv, agreed to change the name back to Dún Bleisce. He said that the old name had a "proven historical basis."

Learning in Doon: Schools and Education

Doon has a strong focus on education, with two primary schools and one secondary school.

Doon Convent Primary School

Doon Convent Primary School was opened in 1868 by the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters of Mercy first came to Doon in 1865. They were invited by Rev. Patrick Hickey, who believed that good education was essential for the people in the area.

At first, the Sisters taught groups of children in the garden because they didn't have a school building. In 1867, they got permission to build a school, which opened the following year in 1868. Later, in 1878, an extra floor was added to the school because it became very crowded.

The children learned many subjects, including religion, English reading and writing, music, singing, and crafts like embroidery and painting. A small boarding school was also started for children who lived too far away to come to school every day.

After 1924, when the new Irish government took over education, the Irish language became a very important subject. The Sisters of Mercy learned Irish and prepared students for higher exams. They even started a secondary school section in 1924. Today, the Convent of Mercy National School is for both boys and girls from Junior Infants to 1st Class. From 2nd Class to 6th Class, it is an all-girls school.

CBS Primary School

In 1864, Rev. Patrick Hickey left some property in his will to help buy a house and school for the Christian Brothers in Doon. In 1870, a site was chosen, and the school officially opened in 1874. A new building for the primary school was opened in September 1967.

Secondary Schools in Doon

• St Joseph's Secondary School for girls was built in 1930. The first group of students took their Leaving Certificate exams in 1936. They studied subjects like Irish, English, Maths, French, History, Geography, and Drawing. The school grew over the years, especially after free education was introduced in 1966. New buildings were added to fit more students. The school closed in June 2013 as part of a merger with other schools.

• St. Fintan's CBS for boys started as a "classical school" around 1908. It was called "St. Fintan's Collegiate School" and slowly became a secondary school. It moved to its current location around 1984. St. Fintan's CBS also closed its doors in June 2013 due to the same school merger.

• Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa is the new secondary school in Doon. It was created by combining St. Fintan's CBS, St. Joseph's Convent of Mercy, and St. Michael's College from Cappamore. Building work for the new school started in December 2012 on a 15-acre site. Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa officially opened to students in February 2014.

Doon's Mudslide Event

In July 2014, Doon experienced a big mudslide. This happened because of a very heavy rainfall. A river of mud, along with tree trunks, large rocks, and even old railway sleepers, flowed down a hill. Some people reported being stuck in their cars or sheds because of the heavy rain. Rivers overflowed their banks, and some bridges were destroyed. Many roads in the area had to be closed.

Sport in Doon: Hurling Heroes

Doon GAA club was started in 1888. This club has produced many talented players who have played for the Limerick county team and the Munster provincial team in hurling. The club's current sports ground opened in 1994, and new dressing rooms were built in 2002.

The senior hurling team has reached the final of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship five times. They lost in 1989, 2000, 2018, and 2020. However, in their fifth final in 2024, the team finally won the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship for the very first time!

In 1973, a Doon player named Willie Moore played a key role in the Limerick team that won the All-Ireland hurling final against Kilkenny. Another Doon player, Jim O'Donnell, was also on the substitutes bench for that historic win.

More recently, between 2018 and 2023, five players from Doon won All-Ireland medals with the Limerick team. These players are Darragh O'Donovan (who won 5 medals), Ritchie English (4 medals), Pat Ryan (4 medals), Barry Murphy (1 medal), and Adam English (1 medal).

Interesting Places to Visit

• Castle Garde was originally built by the O'Briens family. It was rebuilt in the early 1800s by Waller O'Grady, with designs by famous architects James and George Richard Pain. The castle has many cool features, like a round tower, a square tower, and walls with battlements. Inside the gatehouse, you can see amazing carved statues of Bacchus, Venus, and Athene. The stone head above the main door is said to represent Brian Boru, a famous Irish king.
• Coonagh Castle, which is nearby, dates back to the 13th century.

Famous People from Doon

• Saint Fintan founded a monastery in Doon. He is remembered on January 3rd each year.

See also

• In Spanish: Doon para niños