Cullohill

Cullahill or Cullohill (Irish: Cúlchoill / an Chúlchoill, meaning "the back of the woods/behind the woods") is a small village situated on the R639 road road in County Laois, Ireland.

Public transport

Route 828 operated by M & A Coaches on behalf of the National Transport Authority provides a daily journey each way to/from Durrow, County Laois, Abbeyleix and Portlaoise. There is no Sunday service.

History

A priory of Augustine canons was founded here in 550 by O'Dempsey, under the invocation of St. Tighernach who is now the patron saint of the area.

The village is home to an impressive early 15th century tower house, once the principal stronghold of the MacGillapatricks (or Fitzpatricks) of Upper Ossory. The castle bears the image of a sheela na gig.

Under their patronage, a medical school flourished at Aghmacart towland, about a mile from the castle from before 1500 to c.1610. It was conducted by the Ó Conchubhair family. Its physicians included Donnchadh Óg Ó Conchubhair (fl. 1581-1611), Risteard Ó Conchubhair (1561–1625), Donnchadh Albanach Ó Conchubhair (1571–1647) and Cathal Ó Duinnshléibhe (fl. 1592-1611).