The name of the town refers to a holy well which is traditionally associated with Saint Patrick.[2][4] Located on the main street, this well was previously capped by a pump - since removed.[5] In the early 19th century, a rough statue of Saint Patrick was erected at the well.[5]
The former Patrickswell Railway Station, also a protected structure,[7] was built in 1856 on the main Limerick–Tralee railway line.[8] No longer used as a railway station, it is now in private ownership and home to an engineering consulting firm.[3] A contemporary extension to the original station building was designed by Rob Shanahan architects and won an OPUS Building of the year award in 2004.[citation needed]
According to local historian Mainchín Seoighe (1924–2006), the present day ecclesiastical parish of Patrickswell-Ballybrown is made up parts of the pre-Reformation parishes of Kilkeedy, Killonahan, Mungret, Croom, and Adare. Until the middle of the 18th century, the parishes of Kilkeedy and Clounanna were joined with Adare. When the parish of Patrickswell was formed, Kilkeedy and Clounanna became part of the new parish.[citation needed]
The town is located near to the N20/N21 road which, until Patrickswell was bypassed in 2001, ran through the town centre.[3] This road is now the R526 from west of the town to Limerick city. The town can be accessed at either end from the N20 junction for Limerick Racecourse, or the N20/N21 junction further west (where the R526 commences).
A railway line to Adare and Foynes passes alongside the town to the south, although Patrickswell station is long closed. Patrickswell railway station originally opened on 12 July 1856, closed for passenger traffic on 4 February 1963 and finally closed altogether on 2 December 1974.[10] The Ballingrane–Tralee (North Kerry) line closed in November 1975.[citation needed] The station was, at one time, known as Patrickswell Junction and direct Limerick–Cork trains diverged here from the route of trains bound for Foynes, Newcastle West and Tralee. While passenger services ceased in 1963, freight trains between Limerick and Foynes ran until 2000.[citation needed]
Amenities
Patrickswell's main street has several shops, a garage, ATM and a post office. The town is located approximately 10 km from Limerick city, and as a result relies on the city and its suburbs for secondary schools, shops, banks and other facilities.[citation needed]
There are several housing estates in the area,[3] including several off the main street and road to Clarina. The latter road has strip development north from Patrickswell all the way to Clarina and the N69 road.[citation needed]
^ abCaoimhín, Ó Danachair (1955). "The Holy Wells of Co. Limerick". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 85 (2): 213. JSTOR25509218.
^Record of Monuments and Places - County Limerick. Dublin: National Monuments and Historical Properties Service. 1997.
