Castlelyons 4.37

Castlelyons is a small village in the east of County Cork, Ireland. It is also a civil parish in the barony of Barrymore. The name is derived from a stronghold of the Uí Liatháin - an early medieval kingdom. It is situated 6km south of Fermoy. In the 2002 census it recorded a population of 211.There are two stone bridges that cross the River Bride into the village - one a small footbridge and the other a bridge which was part of the entrance into Barrymore Castle - the seat of the Earls of Barrymore. The parish has two churches at Bridesbridge and Coolagown, and also boasts a castle, two abbeys, a mausoleum, two holy wells, and many other historical sights.HistoryThe Catholic parish of Castlelyons today is made up of three main districts - Coolagown, Britway and Castlelyons/Bridesbridge. Three quarters of the parish extend along the banks of the River Bride.Castlelyons Friary existed between the 14th and 18th centuries.During the English Civil War, the Battle of Castlelyons in 1645 was fought near the village.