This is a lovely building, seperated from the village of Araglen by a few miles, in the direction of Mitchelstown. Built in 1858, it celebrates 150 years this year.

This building and the grounds, are kept very well, situated high up and affords really good views over the countryside.

Constructed during the Marian year, as were numerous others.

On the side of the road at Michelstown / Kilworth Cross roads. Decorated by nature with flowers and ferns, it has seats to allow the visitor a quite moment in comfort and enjoy the gloroius surroundings.

Follow the signs from the Church, up a winding narrow road for maybe a mile. As you come over the crest of the hill on a right hand bend you will be faced with the School on the right hand side.

Araglen is the furthest North West part of the Ancient Parish of Lismore. Cross, Kingston Bridge And Elizabeth Bridge on the Araglen River. The Parish boundary runs due South down Tubbernahulla until it enters that grey area at the County gate where the Counties of Cork and Waterford overlap sort of. On your way you will pass Saint Michaels Holy Well [See Mocollop], not a great road, navigate with caution.

How to get to Araglen, from Lismore, please see the map on our Home Page, follow the R666 signposted for Ballyduff and the Golf Club. A mile or so on that road you cannot miss the signs warning Golfers Crossing, turn right, signposted Ballysaggart, follow this road through Ballysaggart, the road rises gently until you come to the top of Coolishal a very wide V to your left, from here you will be dropping down quickly into the Araglen Valley. On your right the valley and Knockmealdown, eventually you will come to Kingston Bridge, a sharp right turn onto this bridge. The "Swallow Inn" or "Mahony's" pub is a good place to stop and chat to locals or have a meal and suss out the sights of Araglen, the Waterfall at the Hares Cross for instance, or find out what is happening during your stay in the area.  From here a maze of roads spread out north into County Tipperary, you can go to Clogheen or Ballyporeen, some roads lead up to Doon, so called because it had a Gaelic Fort, Liss, named for a fairyfort in the area, or Barnahown, meaning simply "top of the river". This area, along the Araglen Valley is perhaps the most unspoiled countryside with ancient connections within easy reach of Fermoy, Mitchelstown, Cahir and Lismore. Hill walkers regulary walk the route from the Vee on the R668 on a signed  route to the Hares Cross and beyond to the hill known as "Fearbreaga" (Lit: False man) or Scarecrow hill, along the way the views over the Counties of Waterford and Tipperary are spectacular. Knockshanahullion is close to the Hares Cross, known to shepards locally as "The heap of stones" is well worth a visit even though it is slightly off the signed track.

Araglen was one of the sites where Iron working and smelting took place in the last Century. Placenames include Barnahown, Doon, Liss. Araglen has a very active group who organise events, their Carnival and Grass Track Racing events draw very big crowds each year. Araglen has a vibrant community spirit, a search on "Google" will turn up numerous BeBo and Youtube entries from or about Araglen. Araglen Festival has achieved the status of being the longest running community Festival in Ireland. It would be fair to go so far as to say that Araglen Festival has become an event not to missed.

Araglen has no centre as such, it just sprawls along the roadside for several miles. Views along the Araglen river valley are really very nice, the Knockmealdown mountain is the backdrop to the Eastern end of the view, seen from Araglen the distant peaks poke upwards, extending the horizon, adding greatly to the visual enjoyment of the valley.

Araglen's history of Iron Mines and Smelters goes back almost 400 years. In 1625 there were two furnaces here producing 800 tons of Iron per year. By the 1740's Araglen was the only Iron producing region in the district of any importance. Amongst the items produced here were, Bar Iron, Pot's,Dishes, Fish kettles, Griddles, Back's for gates, Stoves for Sugar boilers, Smoothing Irons, Pans for soap boilers, bleachers and dyers, Boxes for coaches and cars. By the end of the 1800's nobody could remember exactly where the mines or the furnace really were. The smoothing Irons were pre-electric for sure - the body of the Iron was hollow, the "Heater" was a solid lump of Iron the shape of the body, this was put into the fire until it was red hot, then put back into the body and "Voila" you could Iron your shirt. Most people had more than one "Heater" one in the Iron the spare in the fire ready to go again. A lot of work just to put a crease in your trouser. Because it was so difficult, people used Starch in their clothes so that the crease would stay in longer. But, on a wet day the starch got soggy - some mess !!. Araglen has a great industrial history.

Anyone from Araglen have more information on the Mines / Smelting?.

Araglen sits astride three Counties - Waterford Cork and Tipperary. "Local" Towns would be Kilworth and Mitchelstown in County Cork, Ballyduff Lismore and Ballysaggart in County Waterford and Ballyporeen in County Tipperary.