Ardagh  originally got its name from "Ard-ach", meaning 'the high field'. In 1837 there were approximately 65 houses.  Some of them were derelict, and the old parish church was ruined  in the year 1641.The name Ardagh is known to people widely across the world. It's national fame came from the discovery of the beautiful Ardagh chalice.  It's situated no more than three miles north of Newcastle West, with Athea to the west and Rathkeale to the east.  The parish of Ardagh had a population of 1600 people. It has two population centres, each having their own church and school; Carrickerry to the west and Ardagh to the east.

In the fifteenth century the old church in Ardagh cemetery, according to Lewis' "Topography and the History of County Limerick". The church was destroyed in the 1641 Insurection. Fr.James Corbett said a mass in a house near the village where Ahern's petrol pumps stood. It served as a place of worship until the present church was built in 1615. Fr. Corbett was one of many priests that were ordained there in the early years of a newly founded St. Molua college. In 1813 Studdert of Elm Hill gave a free site for the present church and a subscription of £10.00 towards the building fund. The Protestant families also subscribed towards this building fund. In 1814 the building was completed. In the 20th century the church was renovated.

St. Molua is a patron saint of Ardagh, he was born in Leinster and people say that his mother adopted him as her child. His mother loved him so much that she changed his name from Lua to Molua which means my Lua. The parish church is dedicated to St. Molua who died in 623, and beyond the cemetary a couple of hundred yards there was a blessed well dedicated to him.

St.Patrick may have visited Ardagh when he toured from the Southern half of Ireland. Tradition say's that the Saint may have visited Ardagh where he decided not to cross the Sliabh Luachra mountains, and turned back eastwards instead.

During the 18th century a school called "The Hut" provided the only schooling available in the parish. When the parish church was finished in 1815 it was used week- days as a school. Fr. Liston bought stables at Glenville, two of these were converted and used as a school. These premises were used until Fr. Walsh bought a new school on the Farran Road which was opened in 1895.

 

This served the parish until the late 1970's, when the new school was then provided in the village of Ardagh. Today Ardagh school is modernised, with it's new technology and computer access for pupils. They have a wide range of facilities including up- to- date library facilties, art classes, music and drama , and P.E. Their out- door activities inlcude football, hurling and basketball and these hobbies give them a great choice in the future, what ever road they would like to follow on.