Water pump in Gortmore, County Limerick

What is recorded here

The Water pump in Gortmore puts a cow-tail handle beside Saint Ita’s Church. A useful distinction for the conscience: pulling this tail got you water; pulling the other sort got you something to mention in confession.

Freestanding cast-iron water pump, installed c. 1880, having banded shaft, fluted neck and spout with bucket notch, cow-tail handle and fluted cap and finial. Mounted on recent circular-profile rubble stone pedestal. Situated on foot path adjacent to nearby Saint Ita's Roman Catholic Church.

This attractive item of street furniture is a landmark feature within the charming village of Feenagh. This water pump was an important feature of this small village, providing a communal water source. Water pumps, such as this one, were the first steps towards establishing piped water schemes throughout the country, and were vital in improving standards of living. Simple artistic details of fluting to the shaft, neck and cap greatly enhance the pump's visual and artistic appeal.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 21904511

This does not grant access. Most recorded buildings are privately owned; view them only from public ground unless the owner allows entry.

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Harold Strong, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Mike Searle, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Mike Searle, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
A.-K. D., Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Unknown author Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Created by Kglavin Modified Aug 2007 by Mike Christie, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sitomon, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Speckled Bird, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Jonathan Thacker, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0