Pubblebrien
Pubblebrien is a historical barony in northern County Limerick, Ireland.
Baronies were mainly cadastral rather than administrative units. They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.
History
Carrigogunnell was the ancient centre of the area. It was ruled by the Ó Ciarmhaic, a cantred of the Eóganachta, until it fell to the Mac Uí Bhrian, a branch of the O'Brien dynasty, hence the name Pubblebrien. The MacSheehy and O'Hallinans had a seat at Ballyallinan Castle; the MacSheehys were gallowglasses who arrived in the Ireland in the 14th century and were in Connacht from the 15th century as bodyguards to the Fitzgerald Earls of Desmond. The MacArthur and O'Scanlan clans also held land in Pubblebrien.The Cromwellian adventurer William Peacock received in Pubblebrien after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
Máirtín Ó Murchú noted the rapid decline in Irish speakers in Pubblebrien, from 100% in those born 1791–1801 to 3% in those born 1851–61.
In 2002 a local history, Pubblebrien Journal, was published by the Pubblebrien Historical Society.