Charleville, in the parish of Rathgogan, is situated 29 miles from Cork, and 114 from Dublin. This town, so named in honour of Charles II, was founded by Roger, first Earl of Orrery and Lord-President of Munster, in the year 1661, when he erected a magnificent mansion here for his own residence.

Among its older features are the original church, situated in Chapel Street, now a community hall, and its first bell, which is housed inside the hall. The parish church is the beautiful Holy Cross Church in the Main Street.

Charleville is a modern and progessive town, being in the heart of the fertile Golden Vale. Many sports thrive here, including hurling, and there is a flourishing theatre where traditional and modern Irish plays are performed.

Charleville also has a connection with the former President of Ireland, Eamon de Valera, the 3rd President of Ireland, who went to school in the old Christian Brothers School.

In the cemetry at Charleville (Rath Luirc) is the grave of the celebrated Gaelic poet, Sean Clarach Mac Domhnaill (1691-1754).

The name Charleville commemorated King Charles II, but the town changed back to its old Irish name in the 1920's.

It is the home of Golden Vale Co-operative Creameries (now Kerry Co-OP), one of the largest milk processing and cheese-making concerns in Ireland.