Meelick

From Free net encyclopedia

Meelick (Irish: Mileac) is a small village in County Clare, Republic of Ireland, situated a few kilometres north of Limerick City in the Midwest of Ireland.

From 1956, the area was home to 161 Hungarian refugees fleeing the Soviet repression in that country (see 1956 Hungarian Revolution). They were housed in Knockalisheen Camp, a disused army barracks dating from the Emergency. In 1957, complaints and disputes between the refugees and the authorities over living conditions and enforced idleness led to a mass hunger strike. After three days, the Dáil and the Irish Red Cross negotiated an end to the strike. By the summer of 1958, most of the refugees were allowed to move to Germany and the US while a few chose to remain in Ireland. During their stay at the camp, the 51 children attended the local St Munchin's Girls' School where they were taught both the English and Irish languages. Since the 1990s the camp has again been used to house refugees, now mostly from African countries. However today the housing in the area has expanded greatly and can be considered a dormer town of Limerick city. The majority of the residents work in the city or it's environs, though at persent public transport to the city can be described only as patchy. A good community spirit has developed with a thriving GAA club and the development of local amenities such as a community centre, tavern, shop etc. In April 2006 Limerick City Council failed (at least temporarily) in extending the boundry of the city to include Meelick due to a concerted campagin by Clare natives to frustrate this. Further movement on the issue is expected in the near future.