Crinkill Críonchoill
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Village | |
Coordinates: 53°04′51″N 7°54′03″W / 53.08083°N 7.90083°WCoordinates: 53°04′51″N 7°54′03″W / 53.08083°N 7.90083°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Leinster |
County | County Offaly |
Crinkill (Irish: Críonchoill), sometimes spelt Crinkle, is a village in County Offaly, Ireland, close to Birr.
The village originally grew up around a British Army military barracks, Crinkill Barracks, which was constructed around 1805. However, the barracks was abandoned by the British army around the time of Irish independence, and was burnt down in July 1922 as a result of the civil war that followed. Today only the ruins of the outer wall remain. In 2013, the Regimental Association of the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) erected a memorial to commemorate the regiment's strong linkages with the area.
The Thatch is a 200-year-old thatched restaurant and bar with a vaulted ceiling located in the center of Crinkill. The Thatch has the unique distinction of being in the same family ownership for nigh on 200 years, with its current owner being the fifth generation to carry on business there.
Over the years The Thatch has won awards such as the All Ireland Pub Of The Year 1999, the Offaly Pub of the Year on numerous occasions and the All Ireland Pub of the Year 2001.
The village is home to Crinkill GAA and Handball Club. Together with neighbouring clubs Carrig and Riverstown they field teams at all levels in the name of CRC Gaels. Kevin Breen, a member of the East Tennessee State University cross country team known as the Irish Brigade, is a native of Crinkle. Kevin was member of the ETSU team that placed second in the 1972 NCAA Division One cross country championships in Houston, Texas. He competed for Tullamore Harriers and has won Irish National Track championships medals.