Raheen, County Laois
| Raheen An Ráithín | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 | |
  Raheen Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 52°57′55″N 7°22′11″W / 52.96527°N 7.36983°WCoordinates: 52°57′55″N 7°22′11″W / 52.96527°N 7.36983°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Laois |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
| Irish Grid Reference | S426904 |
Raheen (Irish: An Ráithín, meaning "little ringfort") is a small village in County Laois south of Portlaoise in Ireland
History
Raheen has an imposing Catholic church, dating from 1857. The first Catholic church, a thatched chapel, was built in 1729; the site was granted by a Protestant family named Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin granted the land after seeing poor Catholics assembled at Mass in a deep pit, which is called The Mass Pit even to the present time.
| “ | The poorer sort of Irish natives," wrote an English tourist in 1746, "are Roman Catholics, who make no scruple to assemble in the open fields. As we passed yesterday in a by-road, we saw a priest under a tree, with a large assembly about him, celebrating Mass in his proper habit; and though at a great distance from him, we heard him distinctly. These sort of people seem to be very solemn and sincere in their religion. [1] | ” |
The grave-yard in the village marks the site of the old thatched chapel.
Sport
- Colt GAA club and Raheen F.C are the local gaelic football, hurling and soccer clubs.
Gallery
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St Fintan's Church (built 1857)
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See also
External links
References
[1] Chetwood's Tour through Ireland, p. 163.
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