Upperchurch-Drombane is a rural area location fifteen kilometres from Thurles on the old Limerick road. The population is about 1,200 and the area covers about 200 sq. km. The settlement pattern is quite dispersed, with many isolated households and even the two main villages, Upperchurch and Drombane, having only about a dozen houses in each. The countryside is mostly hilly with an elevation varying between 300 ft. and 1,400 ft. above sea level and the area is rich in historical sites.

The emergence of Upperchurch-Drombane as a self-reliant community did not happen overnight. The community in the 40s and 50s was as challenged as many others. A series of small, successful actions gave rise to an increasing level of confidence to the extent that today the community seems capable of engaging in any project. Download Full Case Study Here