Conna (Conaithe in Irish) is a picturesque village of some 300 inhabitants in East Cork in Ireland. It is situated on the river Bride, not far from the town of Fermoy. The village contains several pubs, shops, a Post office and a Roman Catholic Church. The village is dominated by Conna castle, a five-story tower house situated on a limestone outcrop near the river

History

In 1554 the Fitzgeralds began building Conna Castle and completed the building ten years later. The castle and its estate was seized by the English and passed into the hands of Walter Raleigh, the English settler. The rightful heir to the castle, James FitzThomas (The Sugán Earl) staged a rebellion the capture the castle. He failed, was captured and imprisoned in London Tower. The castle then went through a series of different owners before ending up in the hands of the Earl of Cork. It is believed that Oliver Cromwell passed by the castle fired cannons at it before moving on. The castle continued to move from owner to owner until Hilary L’Estrange purchased the castle in 1851. He passed it on to his son, on whose death in 1915, the castle was willed into the care of the state, the first such property to be willed.

Horse Racing

The area is well known for its racehorses and trainers, best known among them is Jimmy Mangan, who trained Stroll Home, winner of the 1998 Galway plate, and Montys Pass, who won the 2003 Aintree English Grand National.