"Paroiste na fiacaile" means parish of the tooth. A legend says that the tooth of Mochonna, the patron saint, fell out in this place, where he built his church.
Other theories are that the place is named after a church that was roofed with "fiathgail", a rough local grass, or that the name comes from "Fia-Choill", the wood of the deer.[2]
The village is in the Tulla Upper barony, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northwest of Scarriff on the road to Gort.
In 1837 it contained 8,844 inhabitants and covered about 30,000 acres (12,000 ha).[3]
An 1845 description said "the surface consists of the loftiest, wildest, and most northerly of the western uplands of the county; and includes the southern declivities of the Slieve-Baghta mountains, and those offshoot ranges and masses which embosom Lough Graney, and stretch toward Lough O’Grady. The highest ground is on the west, and has an altitude of 1,312 feet."[4]
The parish of Feakle is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. Parish churches are St Joseph's in Kilclaren and St Mary's in Feakle.[5]
The village population in 2006 was 122.[6] It neighbours Lough Derg and the towns of Tulla and Scarriff. Feakle is famous for its traditional music festival.
History
St. Mochonna is venerated as the patron saint of Feakle. The ancient ruins of his church were destroyed in the early 19th century.[7]
Biddy Early (1798–1874), a herbalist and healer who was accused, under an antiquated law, of witchcraft in 1865. Local folklore says that if you leave a coin at her house you will have good health, but take a coin and you will have bad luck.
Martin Hayes (b. 1962), fiddler, was born in Feakle.
Brian Merriman (c.1747–1805), a local bard, fiddler, and hedge schoolmaster, is associated with the area. Although neither born, nor did he die, in Feakle, he chose to be buried here where he had spent most of his life. Feakle is also where he composed the lengthy comic poemCúirt an Mheán Oíche (The Midnight Court).[9] A monument to Merriman's memory was erected by An Cumman Merriman (the Merriman Society) in the local graveyard.
Dan Minogue (1893–1983), Australian federal politician
Johnny Patterson (1840-1889), singer and composer who was born in Kilbarron near Feakle