Lusmagh, Civil parish in The Municipal District of Birr, Ireland
Lusmagh is a civil parish in the Municipal District of Birr, positioned within a landscape shaped by river systems. The Shannon river marks its western boundary, while the River Lusmagh flows along its eastern edge and the Little Brosna defines its southern limit.
This territory was part of County Galway until 1628, when administrative boundaries shifted. It remained the only parish of the Diocese of Clonfert positioned east of the Shannon, marking a distinctive feature in ecclesiastical geography.
The name Lusmagh comes from 'Lusmhaigh', meaning 'plain of the healing herbs' in Irish, a reference found in historical records of the O'Kellys of Hy-Many. The area maintains a strong rural connection to the river valleys that define its character.
The parish church of St. Crónán sits about three miles southwest of Banagher, near where local agricultural routes meet. Access is easiest by car, as public transport options are limited in this rural farming area.
Edward Dolan, who emigrated to Australia in the early 1900s, composed the song 'Lusmagh Fields So Green' and created a musical memory of the place. The piece was later recorded by Johnny McEvoy, carrying the area's story across the ocean.
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