Lusmagh

Lusmagh (Irish: Lusmhaigh) is a civil parish in County Offaly, Ireland, bounded by three rivers: the Shannon, Lusmagh and Little Brosna to the west, east and south respectively. The town of Banagher is northeast across the River Lusmagh. Lusmagh was considered part of County Galway in 1628 and Connacht until 1373; the Lusmagh Roman Catholic parish is the only one in the Diocese of Clonfert east of the Shannon. According to the history of the O'Kellys of Hy-Many, Lusmhaigh means the plain of the healing herbs. In Christian times, the parish was named Cill Mochonna, "the Church of Mo Chua". Saint Mo Chua of Balla, also called Crónán, founded a monastery in 600 on the site of Cloghan Castle. The name Lusmagh was restored to the Catholic parish around 1810. Its parish church, named after St. Crónán, is about three miles southwest of Banagher.