|
Glin derives its name from Gleann Corbraigh, the glen of Corbry. Glin is situated on the N69 route a few miles from the Tarbert - Killimer car ferry route and is a very scenic village overlooking the river Shannon. Some of the surrounding land is very fertile and some of it is mountainous and bog land. Glin castle, the original stronghold, was known as Cloch Ghleanna the rock of Glin and was built around 1260 by the Fitzgerald's. The ruins of this castle still exist. The present Georgian structure bears the same name. It is now home to the 29th Knight of Glin. The title Knight of Glin was first documented in 1425, and this family is a branch of the Fitzgerald's, Earls of Desmond. The castle is open to the public for the summer season Glin Heritage centre is housed in the 19th century stone church near the entrance gates to Glin castle. Fr. William Mac Eniry renovated the Roman Catholic Church in 1814. In the 1900's drift-net fishing gave considerable employment
to the village and surrounding areas. The place had a thriving fishing
market, where salmon taken locally, was bought and sent directly from
there to Billingsgate. Ice was needed to pack the fish and keep them
fresh and this gave way to the construction of a number of icehouses
partly underground. The ice was imported from Norway. |