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Overview

Ballyorgan is situated in the south-east of Co. Limerick and is a small rural community with a population of 704. It was once the trade village of the Oliver Estate. The forge, a cut stone building, is now an attractive dwelling. Many Palatines (Germas from the Lower German Palatinate who emmigrating to Ireland in the early 18th century) lived in the village.

Situated in Ballyorgan, on a narrow road, opposite Molanna View Farm, is the Kilflyn Angelican Church built in 1812 which was used by the Palatines with numerous headstones of their families in the adjoining graveyard.

The Ballyhoura Mountain Park with 10,000 hectares of mountain, woodlands and peat bog (bird-watching, walking routes, forest trails and orienteering) is also adjacent to Ballyorgan.

Things to do

In the area surrounding Ballyorgan it is possible to see ravens, peregrine falcons, as well as the more usual birds, e.g. robins, blackbirds, long-tailed tits, wrens. In the woods adjacent to Castlegale, there are grey squirrels, as well as foxes, badgers, hares, rabbits. At the Ballintubber Ringfort continue on to the wood and it is possible to see hen harriers, kestrels, sparrowhawks, as well as the usual birds. On the river walk from Darragh to Ballyorgan, there is a wooded area, which contains oaks, ash, and ferns. In the wintertime, big flocks of lapwings, fieldfares and redwings are to be seen in the fields.