Golden Vale facts for kids
The Golden Vale is a special area in southwestern Ireland. It's known for its beautiful, rolling green fields, perfect for animals to graze. This region covers parts of three counties: Limerick, Tipperary, and Cork. It's considered the very best land in Ireland for dairy farming, which means raising cows to produce milk. In the Irish language, it's called Irish: Machaire méith na Mumhan, which means "the fertile plain of Munster."
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What Makes the Golden Vale Special?
The Golden Vale is famous for its rich, fertile soil. This soil is great for growing grass, which is why it's so good for dairy farms. Farmers here can raise healthy cows that produce a lot of milk. This makes the Golden Vale a very important area for Ireland's food production.
Where is the Golden Vale Located?
This green area is found in the province of Munster. To the east, you can see the Galtee Mountains. A beautiful valley called the Glen of Aherlow is right next to these mountains. The southern part of the Golden Vale follows the Munster Blackwater river valley.
Towns in the Golden Vale
Several towns are located within or near the Golden Vale. These include:
- Charleville
- Mitchelstown
- Kilmallock
- Tipperary (the town)
If you imagine a 'square' connecting Tipperary town, Aherlow, Bansha, Cahir, and then south to Mitchelstown, Kildorrery, Mallow, and Charleville, you'd be looking at some of the best farmland in all of Ireland!
Why is it Called "Golden"?
For a long time, people have called this area the "Golden Vale." Sometimes, it was even called the "Golden Vein."
Early Mentions of the Name
In 1837, a British government official named Jonathan Binns wrote about this area. He called it "the golden vale" and said it was "more correctly the 'golden vein'." He explained that the land was excellent and stretched from Tipperary towards Limerick. He thought this "golden vein" was about 23 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide.
Another Idea for the Name
In 1739, a historian named Walter Harris had a different idea. He thought the name "Golden" might have come from an older village name. This village, now called Golden, used to be called Gowlin. This Irish name, Irish: An Gabhailín, means "little fork" and refers to where the River Suir splits. So, the name "Golden" might have come from this old village name, rather than just meaning the land was rich like gold.
