One of Feakle's claims to fame is that the important Irish-language poet Brian Merriman is buried there. Merriman was an 18^th century schoolmaster at nearby Kilclarin. His magnum opus is The Midnight Court, a zestful and irreverent satire on church and state; the best translation is by Frank O'Connor (Mercier Press). It is regarded as one of the great works of Irish Literature but was strongly disapproved of in the past because of its uninhibited sexual content. Feakle was also the home town of a famous 19^th century wise woman or witch known as Biddy Early. She was both revered and feared. Numerous stories and legends have circulated about her and her 'blue bottle' , which she used in a similar fashion to a 'crystal ball'. The ruins of her little thatched cottage can still be seen close to the village.

Two festivals (q.v.), the Merriman Summer School and the Merriman Winter school, have lectures and readings fitted in around the drinking sessions. Feakle is situated in a region known as the 'Clare Lakelands', with some good coarse fishing in the many small local lakes.

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