Askeaton
Eas Géitine | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 52°36′00″N 8°58′38″W / 52.6001°N 8.9772°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Munster |
County | County Limerick |
Population (2016)[1] | 1,137 |
Irish Grid Reference | R337503 |
Askeaton (Irish: Eas Géitine, Waterfall of Géitine,[2] also historically spelt Askettin) is a town in County Limerick, Ireland. The town is built on the banks of the River Deel which flows into the Shannon Estuary 3 km to the north. Askeaton is on the N69 road between Limerick and Tralee; it is 25 km west of Limerick and 8 km north of Rathkeale. The town is in a townland and civil parish of the same name.[2]
Among the historic structures in the town are a castle dating from 1199 and a Franciscan friary dating from 1389. The castle was abandoned to the English in 1580 – its walls blown up by the fleeing defenders – after the fall of Carrigafoyle Castle during the Desmond Rebellions. Askeaton was a constituency in the Irish House of Commons represented by two members until the dissolution of the parliament in 1801.