View source for Firies

{{hatnote|"Firies" is also Australian slang for [[firefighter]]s}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2021}}
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{{Infobox settlement
|name                   = Firies
|native_name            = {{native name|ga|Na Foidhrí}}
|native_name_lang       = ga
|settlement_type        = Village
|image_skyline          = Firies, Church of St Gertrude - geograph.org.uk - 266994.jpg
|imagesize              =
|image_caption          = Church of St Gertrude
|mapsize                =
|map_caption            =
|pushpin_map            = Ireland
|pushpin_label_position = top
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Ireland
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Munster]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[County Kerry]]
|subdivision_type3      =
|subdivision_name3      =
|area_magnitude         =
|unit_pref              =Metric
|area_footnotes         =
|area_total_km2         =
|area_land_km2          =
|population_as_of       = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
|population_footnotes   = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=de63acbe-81d7-4a1c-a781-c444cfbc3411 | title = Sapmap Area: Settlements Firies | work = Census 2022 | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] | access-date = 16 June 2024}}</ref>
|population             = 573
|population_density_km2 =
|coordinates            = {{coord|52|10|14|N|09|35|52|W|region:IE|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes    =
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|blank_info             =
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|footnotes              =
}}
'''Firies''' ({{IPAc-en|'|f|aɪ|.|ɚ|i:|z}} officially '''Fieries'''; {{langx|ga|Na Foidhrí}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://logainm.ie/1412433.aspx|title=Fieries|work=[[Placenames Database of Ireland]]|access-date=30 April 2012}}</ref> is a village in [[County Kerry]], Ireland in the [[barony (Ireland)|historical barony]] of Magunihy. It is situated midway between the hub towns of Killarney (14.5&nbsp;km), Tralee (16&nbsp;km), Castleisland (16&nbsp;km) and Killorglin (13&nbsp;km).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrycoco.ie/en/allservices/planning/planspolicies/localareaplans/traleekillarneyhubsettlementslocalareaplan/thefile,670,en.pdf|title=Fieries|publisher=Kerry County Council|access-date=30 April 2012}}</ref> It is on the [[R561 road (Ireland)|R561]] road between [[Farranfore]] and [[Castlemaine, County Kerry|Castlemaine.]] The population at the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]] was 573.<ref name=cso2022/> There are two principal rivers, namely the Maine and its chief tributary, the Brown Flesk.
==History==
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of [[ring fort]], [[Enclosure (archaeology)|enclosure]] and [[holy well]] sites in the [[townland]]s of Firies and Killahane.<ref>{{cite book| title = Record of Monuments and Places - County Kerry | date = 1998 | publisher = National Monuments and Historic Properties Service | place = Dublin }}</ref>
In Firies townland, on a rock outcrop approximately 850 meters south of the village, are the remains of a rectangular tower known as Firies (or Fieries) Castle. The ground-floor appears to be occupied by a single chamber which was covered by a rounded vault which is almost entirely fallen. Only part of the walling above ground-floor level survives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archaeology.ie/|title=Archaeological Survey Database|publisher=National Monuments Service|access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> This [[tower house]] was built by the O'Connors. It is in the townland of Firies, in the parish of Firies, in the barony of Magunihy. It was built in the thirteenth century and it was knocked in the sixteenth century. The small castle has been in ruin for over two hundred years. A number of woods flourished for miles around it. It is from these woods that Firies got its name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4742069/4732477/4818100|title = Fieries Castle | work = Dúchas.ie - The Schools' Collection }}</ref>
Saint Gertrude's Catholic Church, in Killahane townland, was built {{circa|1860}}.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21304801/saint-gertrudes-catholic-church-killahane-fieries-kerry | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title= Saint Gertrude's Catholic Church, Killahane, Fieries, Kerry | accessdate = 4 April 2024 }}</ref>
==Education==
In 1991, Firies National School moved to a new location beside the church. It is a rural school with, as of 2024, 19 teachers and 8 special needs assistants.<ref name="aboutS"/> As of January 2024, there were over 270 pupils enrolled.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/page/fwl90z-4i53qp-/ | publisher = Department of Education | title = Directory Page - Firies Mxd N S | accessdate = 5 April 2024 | date = 22 January 2024 }}</ref> The school is involved in the Green Schools Initiative, Discovery Science and the Aistear Programmes.<ref name="aboutS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firiesnationalschool.ie/index.php/about-us|title=About us | website = firiesnationalschool.ie | accessdate = 5 April 2024 }}</ref>
==Notable people==
{{see also|:Category:People from Firies}}
* [[Eamonn Casey]] (1927–2017), Catholic prelate who was bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh from 1976 to 1992, was born in Firies.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/obituary-eamonn-casey-1.3008779| work = Irish Times | title = Obituary: Eamonn Casey | date = 13 March 2017 | accessdate = 4 April 2024 }}</ref>
* [[Donal Daly]], former Gaelic footballer.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerry/news/building-begins-on-kerry-food-hub/30610962.html | work = The Kerryman | title = Building begins on Kerry Food Hub | date = 27 September 2014 | accessdate = 5 April 2024 | quote = Firies native and former Kerry footballer Donal Daly }}</ref>
* [[Jack Sherwood]], former Gaelic footballer.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerry/sport/gaa/firies-star-jack-sherwood-on-the-best-year-ever-with-the-club/42145036.html | work = The Kerryman | title = Firies star Jack Sherwood on 'the best year ever with the club' | date = 15 November 2022 | accessdate = 5 April 2024 }}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Ballyhar]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
[[Category:Towns and villages in County Kerry]]