Ballysteen

{{short description|Village in County Limerick, Ireland}}

File:Beagh castle - geograph.org.uk - 134431.jpg

Ballysteen ({{irish place name|Baile Stiabhna}}) is a small village and townland in County Limerick, Ireland.{{cite web|url = https://www.logainm.ie/1414029.aspx | publisher = Placenames Database of Ireland | website = logainm.ie | title = Baile Stiabhna / Ballysteen | access-date = 19 April 2024 }} It is located in the civil parish of Iveruss and the historical barony of Kenry.

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ringfort, enclosure and tower house sites in the townlands of Ballysteen, Beagh, Ballinvoher and Issane.{{cite book | title = Record of Monuments and Places as Established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994 - County Limerick | publisher = National Monuments and Historic Properties Service | date = 1997 | place = Dublin }} Beagh Castle, an outpost fortification built in the 13th century by the FitzGerald family,{{cite web|url = https://shannonestuaryway.ie/things-to-do/heritage/ | publisher = The Shannon Estuary Way | website = shannonestuaryway.ie | title = Heritage - Places of Historical Interest on the Shannon Estuary Way | access-date = 19 April 2024 }} is located close to Ballysteen village.{{cite web|url = https://www.limerick.ie/discover/visiting/accommodation/self-catering/beagh-castle-holiday-cottages-iverus-cafe | publisher = Limerick City and County Council | website = limerick.ie | title = Beagh Castle Holiday Cottages & Iverus Café | access-date = 19 April 2024 }} Ballysteen House, an 18th-century country house,{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21901101/ballysteen-house-keenoge-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Ballysteen House, Keenoge, Limerick | access-date = 19 April 2024 }} is reputedly built on the site of the former Ballysteen Castle.{{cite journal | title = The Ancient Castles of the County of Limerick (Central and South-Eastern Baronies) | first = Thomas Johnson |last = Westropp | authorlink = Thomas Johnson Westropp | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature | volume = 26 | date = 1906 | page = 156 | jstor = 25502742 }} The Catholic church in Ballysteen, which dates to 1861,{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21900303/saint-patricks-catholic-church-ballinvoher-ballysteen-co-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, Calliaghstown, Ballysteen, Limerick | access-date = 19 April 2024 }} is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Limerick.{{cite web|url = https://www.askeatonballysteen.ie/newpagec04bbe76 | publisher = Askeaton Ballysteen Parish | website = askeatonballysteen.ie | title = St. Patrick's Church Ballysteen | access-date = 19 April 2024 }} The ruins of a 15th or 16th-century chapel and churchyard are nearby in Beagh townland.{{cite book | chapter = Iverus | chapter-url = https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/I/Iverus-Kenry-Limerick.php | title = A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland | date = 1837 | editor-first = Samuel | editor-last = Lewis | place = Dublin | publisher = Lewis }}{{cite journal | title = A Survey of the Ancient Churches in the County of Limerick | first = Thomas Johnson | last = Westropp | authorlink = Thomas Johnson Westropp | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature | volume = 25 | date = 1904 | pages = 388, 389| jstor = 25502727 }} Ballysteen's Carnegie library (constructed {{circa|1905}}) was restored in the early 21st century and is now a community and heritage centre.{{cite web|url = https://www.ilovelimerick.ie/ballysteen-carnegie-library/ | publisher = | website = ilovelimerick.ie | title = Ballysteen Carnegie Library re-opens on proud day for local community | access-date = 19 April 2024 }}

Local sports clubs include Ballysteen GAA (a Gaelic Athletic Association club which fields teams in competitions organised by Limerick GAA),{{cite web|url = https://ballysteengaa.ie/history/ | website = ballysteengaa.ie | title = Ballysteen GAA - History | access-date = 19 April 2024 }} and Ballysteen AFC (an association football (soccer) club which participates in the Limerick Desmond League).{{cite web|url = https://limerickdesmondfootballleague.com/clubs/ballysteen-afc/ | website = limerickdesmondfootballleague.com | title = Limerick Desmond Football League - Ballysteen AFC | access-date = 19 April 2024 }} The local primary school, Ballysteen National School, had an enrollment of 26 pupils as of 2024.{{cite web|url = https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/page/0zfkh7-y7el3z-/ | publisher = Department of Education | website = gov.ie | title = Directory Page - Ballysteen N S | access-date = 19 April 2024 }}