Cappamore

Cappamore (An Cheapach Mhór in Irish) is a small town on the R505 regional road near the Slieve Felim Mountains in northeast County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland. It has a rich agricultural hinterland in which the dairy industry is prominent.

Situation & amenities

Cappamore is approximately 20 minutes driving time from Limerick city, to where many local people commute to their employment on a daily basis. The town has several pubs and grocery shops and other services include a dry cleaners, bookmakers shop and a veterinary clinic.

The town hosts an annual Agricultural Show that attracts a large number of visitors in August each year. Tourist accommodation is available at Dairy Guesthouse and Activity Centre on the Dromkeen side of Cappamore.

History

The famine years hit the area particularly badly, with the parish of Cappamore losing half of its population.

Sport

The sport of hurling is probably the most popular in Cappamore but Gaelic football, athletics (Bilboa AC) and soccer (Cappamore Celtic FC) have grown in popularity in recent years.

Cappamore is also home to Rosemary Ryan, Olympic distance runner and competitor in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and to John Hayes, Irish and Munster rugby player, who also plays his club rugby with local club Bruff.

People

Cappamore is hometown to Irish filmmaker David Gleeson, writer and director of the feature films Cowboys and Angels and The front line.

Cappamore was also at one time home to author and playright Tom O' Brien. Tom has published several books including "Confessions of an altar boy" and "Confessions of a corner boy". He has also staged many plays around Ireland and England.