Ballydesmond is a small rural parish with a population of around 900 people.  It is in the diocese of Kerry but more than half the parish is in Co. Cork because the river Blackwater, which seperates the two counties, rises in the parish and flows by the village.  The parish is situated in Sliabh Luachra, a district situated between Killarney and the Cork border, and famous for its unique culture.  The music song, poetry and story telling of the Ballydesmond area is known far and wide. Until 1888 the parish was part of Kilmeen/Boherbue but on Rosary Sunday Oct. '88 Fr. Denis J. O'Riordan took up residence in Gloureigh as first Parish Priest of Ballydesmond.  Until then 1930's the parish and village were known as Kingwilliamstown the name the place received when built as a model village in 1832 but at that time the locals decided the drop the old name and re-name the place Ballydesmond.  The new name was chosen because of the association with the Earl of Desmond, Gerald who is reputed to have had a hut in Meenganine where he hid after the ill-fated Geraldine rebellion of the mid 16th century.
Today Ballydesmond is a thriving attractive village - a place well worth a visit