A chara, - Your correspondent, Flann O'Riain, in concluding his article "Where's That" (May 18th) posed a number of questions, among which was, "where was Le Garth?" The parish of Ballingarry, Co Limerick, was identified by the name Le Garth as early as 1302 (Logainmeacha Na hEireann, Imleabhair I: Contae Luimnigh). De Lacy-Bellingarrie in his book, The Roll of the House of Lacy, published by Waverly Press, in Baltimore, USA, in 1928, contains at least 12 references to Le Garth, all of which refer to Ballingarry.
The presence of a number of monastic sites in the parish suggest a settlement of some importance and would also indicate that such a settlement would have a church of significance, as suggested in the article.
Finally, I do not believe the townland of Gardenfield, which Mr O'Riain suggests as being the possible site of Le Garth, ever contained a church. I trust this provides an answer and many thanks for articles which are always a joy to read. - Yours, etc., Patrick Coleman,
Runai, Rathkeale and District Historical Society, Co Limerick.