Dromineer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dromineer Drom Inbhir
Village
Dromineer Castle
Dromineer Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	County Tipperary
Elevation	43 m (141 ft)
Population  (2006)	118
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	R815858

Dromineer is a small village and townland in County Tipperary, Ireland. It sits on the shores of Lough Derg. This lake is part of the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river. Dromineer is about 8 kilometers north-west of Nenagh. The name Dromineer comes from the Irish "Drom Inbhir". This means "ridge of the river mouth". Old records from 1302 called it "Dromynwyr".

Discover Dromineer's Charm

Dromineer is a popular spot for visitors. It has an old, ruined castle covered in ivy. There is also a public harbour for boats. Many people come here to enjoy the lake. It is especially popular for boating.

What to Do in Dromineer

The village has many things for people to enjoy. You can find a pub with a restaurant. There are places to stay for holidays. A café offers snacks and drinks. Kids can play at the children's playground. There are also public and private marinas for boats. Boating clubs are active here too.

Lough Derg Lifeboat Station

Dromineer is home to the Lough Derg Lifeboat. This is a special rescue service. It is run by the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution). This station was the first inland lifeboat station in Ireland. In 2013, the lifeboat launched 20 times. They helped rescue 33 people from the lake.

Historic Buildings of Dromineer

Besides the old castle, other buildings are important here. They are protected by the Tipperary County Council. This means they are kept safe because of their history.

Dromineer Quay and Canal Store

These two structures are very old. They were built around 1845. They are important parts of the village's history. They show how people used the lake for trade.

Old Summer Houses

Two unique summer houses also overlook the lake. They have corrugated iron roofs. These houses were built in the 1920s. They add to the special look of the area.

Dromineer Castle: A Look Back in Time

This castle is actually a tower house. It started as a two-story building in the 13th century. Later, in the 15th or 16th century, it was made taller. It became the tower house we see today.

Building the Castle

Followers of Thomas Butler Esq. first built the castle. It was originally a "hall house". This means it was a large, main building. Two more floors were added later. The ground floor was also strengthened with vaults. The castle is now a rectangular shape. It measures about 11 by 15 meters.

Who Lived in the Castle?

By 1299, the Cantwell family lived there. They paid taxes on the castle. Later, the O’Kennedy family took over. They were responsible for changing it into a tower house. Many windows were changed during this time.

Castle Ownership Changes

In 1582, the Butler Earls of Ormond took the castle back. The Cantwells returned as tenants until about 1640. In 1650, soldiers from Oliver Cromwell's army seized the castle. They used it as a base. After Cromwell's time, it was given back to the Earl of Ormond. People lived in the castle until 1688. It became a ruin in the late 1600s. The Earl of Ormond sold it in the late 1800s.

Castle Features Today

A bawn wall still surrounds parts of the castle. This was a defensive wall. Many of the large, square windows are from the 17th century.

Dromineer Church: Ancient History

This church might have been built as early as the 10th century. People believe monks from Holy Island built it.

Church Location and Parish

The church is in the parish of Puckane & Carrig. This area covers many townlands. It has several old Christian sites. Dromineer is one of them. During the Penal Days, Mass was secretly held in four places in the parish.

Parish Names and Styles

The parish was known by different names over time. These names show its history. It is a mix of five older parishes. The ruined churches in Dromineer were built in the Romanesque style. This style uses round arches and thick walls. Other churches in the area were built in the Gothic style. Graveyards around these churches are still used today.

Church Construction Details

The church was built using very large stone blocks. It was made bigger in the 12th century. This was done in the Celtic Romanesque style. The west doorway was still standing in the 1830s. Carvings of dogs' heads can be seen. The church is located in the graveyard next to the local pub.

Sports and Fun in Dromineer

Dromineer offers many ways to stay active and have fun.

Local Sports Clubs

The local GAA club is Kildangan GAA. They play traditional Irish sports. Fishing is also very popular here. You can fish in Lough Derg or the nearby Nenagh River.

Boating and Sailing

Boating is a big part of life in Dromineer. There are public and private marinas. Several clubs are based here:

• Nenagh Boat Club
• Shannon Sailing Club
• Lough Derg Yacht Club

The Lough Derg Yacht Club is very old. It was founded in 1835. It is the 23rd oldest yacht club in the world. It is also one of only two clubs with Shannon-One-Design sailing dinghies.

Cycling and Walking Trails

Dromineer is on one of the North Tipperary Cycle Routes. This route is 65 kilometers long. It starts in Nenagh and is a half-day cycle.

The Lough Derg Way is a long walking trail. It goes between Limerick City and Dromineer. It is a special "National Waymarked Trail". It was improved in 2011. Many parts of the trail now go off-road. This trail connects with the East Clare Way.

Sli Eala is another public walkway. Its name means "The Way of the Swan" in Irish. This path goes between Nenagh and Dromineer. It follows the Nenagh River for much of its length. You can often see mute swans along the way. The route passes Annaghbeg bridge and Ballyartella Mills. A side path leads to Ballycommon.

Famous People from Dromineer

• Patrick Collison (born 1988) and his brother John Collison (born 1990) grew up here. They are famous for starting Stripe, Inc., a very successful online payment company.