Borrisoleigh's sporting history runs through successive generations of the Kenny family, while a live cockerel became an unlikely emblem of the local club.
Illustration, Borrisoleigh Castle remains
⊕Recorded locationBorrisoleigh52.75178° N · 7.96059° WInteractive map supplied by OpenStreetMap.
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
Buiríos Ó Luigheach· Irish · main form · validated name
Borrisoleigh· English · main form
Place & story
The Sacred Heart church
The Sacred Heart church was built in 1892 at Main Street and Palace Street. Its cross-shaped plan includes transepts, projecting porches and a many-sided apse. Patterned roof slates and ridge decoration contribute to an ornate exterior, crowned at the entrance by a carved limestone bellcote with sandstone details. The architectural survey records later additions around the sacristy and south-west side. Together, the roof pattern, contrasting stone and elaborate entrance make the church a distinctive late nineteenth-century landmark in the town centre.[2]
People & connections
The Kennys and the county jersey
Phil Kenny, known as Phibby, and his brothers Seán and Paddy helped Borris-Ileigh win county titles in 1949, 1950 and 1953. All three also belonged to the Tipperary panels that won successive All-Ireland titles from 1949 to 1951; Seán captained the 1950 team. A later generation continued the connection. Philip Kenny won three club county medals in the 1980s and an All-Ireland club medal in 1987. His sons Conor and Niall, raised in Celbridge, subsequently returned to play for Borris-Ileigh. Their family story connects local success with migration, return and the transmission of sporting skills.[3]
Paddy the cockerel
A cockerel called Paddy became a familiar Borris-Ileigh mascot at championship finals, and the bird also appears on the club crest. The custom was still prominent during the team's county and Munster successes in 2019. In an interview before the following January's All-Ireland semi-final, Paddy Stapleton described the club's earlier achievements as an inspiration. The 1987 All-Ireland victory, associated with players including Bobby Ryan, Noel O'Dwyer and Richie Stakelum, remained a powerful local memory. The live mascot gave that sporting identity an immediately recognisable, and distinctly unusual, public expression.[4]
Both counts use the 2016 settlement boundary, allowing like-for-like comparison. CSO supplies the 2022 count on this older boundary for comparison only. The official 2022 Built Up Area has different boundaries.
View population figures
Borrisoleigh — Census 2016 settlement footprint — census population
Borrisoleigh, North Tipperary — Census town, CSO 2006 report
2002–2006: census town
626people · 2006
These are the historical areas published in the 2006 census report. Boundaries may differ between censuses and from modern settlements. Legal towns, environs and suburbs are shown separately; none has been combined into a modern settlement total.
View population figures
Borrisoleigh, North Tipperary — Census town, CSO 2006 report — census population
Borrisoleigh, North Tipperary — Census town, CSO 1996 report
1991–1996: census town
564people · 1996
These are the historical areas published in the 1996 census report. Boundaries may differ between censuses and from modern settlements. Legal towns, environs and suburbs are shown separately; none has been combined into a modern settlement total.
View population figures
Borrisoleigh, North Tipperary — Census town, CSO 1996 report — census population
Borrisoleigh, Tipperary — Census town, CSO 1986 report
1981–1986: census town
624people · 1986
Figures cover the historical town area printed in the 1986 report. Boundaries may have changed between censuses. Legal town, environs and suburb totals remain separate and differ from modern settlement boundaries.
View population figures
Borrisoleigh, Tipperary — Census town, CSO 1986 report — census population
These figures use different area definitions. Read the boundary note before comparing them.
Borrisoleigh, North Tipperary
Published census settlement populations
679people · 2016
Settlement boundaries changed during this period. Differences may reflect boundary changes as well as population change. Where a 2011 legal-town-and-environs count is shown, it has not been recalculated onto the 2016 settlement boundary.
placenames