Clarecastle

Coordinates: 52°49′00″N 8°58′00″W / 52.816667°N 8.966667°W / 52.816667; -8.966667
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For the castle in England, see Clare Castle.

Clarecastle
Clár Átha an da Choradh /
Droichead an Clár
Village
Main Street
Main Street
Clarecastle is located in Ireland
Clarecastle
Clarecastle
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°49′00″N 8°58′00″W / 52.816667°N 8.966667°W / 52.816667; -8.966667
CountryIreland
ProvinceMunster
CountyCounty Clare
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid ReferenceR346742

Clarecastle (An Clár or Irish: Droichead an Chláir, meaning "Bridge of the Plateau") is a village just south of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland. From 2008 to 2016 the village saw a significant population increase due to its proximity to Ennis, Shannon, and Limerick.

Name[edit]

The town is named after the Clare Castle,[1] which stands on an island in the narrowest navigable part of the River Fergus. The Irish Clár, meaning a wooden board, is often used for a bridge. The name probably originated as Clár adar da choradh, which means "the bridge between two weirs". Another explanation of the name is that the de Clare family gave the castle its name, since they had acquired land in Kilkenny and Thomond that included the castle. In 1590 County Clare was named after the castle, which is in a strategic location.[1][2]

Clarecastle (Clare Abbey) is a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe.[3] It is also known as Ballyea/Clarecastle. Clare Abbey and Killone Abbey are linked by a footpath, the Pilgrim's Road.[4]

History[edit]

Clarecastle was once home to a port servicing a variety of cargo, used for exports and the delivery of items into the nearby town of Ennis, which could not be reached by navigation of the River Fergus. [5]

The Port of Clare[edit]

The Port of Clare consisted of the main quay of Clarecastle and an additional berthing frontage downstream towards the estuary. Clare was a busy port during its time, allowing safe navigation and berthing for vessels close to the town of Ennis.[6] The quay structure is approximately 155 metres in length and was completed in 1845 under the supervision of civil engineer Thomas Rhodes, Principal Engineer to the Shannon Commissioners.[7]

The quay is no longer used for cargo or large vessels, but is suitable for berthing of small craft and recreational use, with an annual community regatta being held in June.[8][9][10] Navigation within the quay area for larger vessels is not available at all states of the tide, with the macro-tidal range resulting in almost dry conditions at low water springs.[11]

During the historical peak of commercial activity at the port, the complicated approaches to Clarecastle from the estuaries of the Shannon and Fergus, arising from issues such as limited depth for navigation exacerbated by the presence of estuarine intertidal mudflats and rhythmites, necessitated the use of maritime pilots and precluded very large vessels from accessing the quay. The sediment transport mechanisms in the estuary and lower Fergus are also influenced by historical land reclamation works. [12][13][14] Navigation beyond Clarecastle towards Ennis is precluded by the presence of a barrage (dam) north of the quay, which serves to limit tidal influence upstream as part of a flood control strategy.[15]

Sports[edit]

The local GAA team is Clarecastle GAA.[16][17] The club's colours are black and white and they are known as the Magpies.

Notable people[edit]

The composer Gerald Barry was born in Clarecastle in 1952.[18]

Gallery[edit]

  • The quay was once a busy port, acting as port of Ennis
    The quay was once a busy port, acting as port of Ennis
  • On the left the ruins of the castle itself, name-giver of the village. In the middle the former military barracks.
    On the left the ruins of the castle itself, name-giver of the village. In the middle the former military barracks.
  • Built in the 1970s it replaced a five arch bridge to cope with the increasing traffic
    Built in the 1970s it replaced a five arch bridge to cope with the increasing traffic
  • The factory of Roche used to be the main employer in Clarecastle
    The factory of Roche used to be the main employer in Clarecastle
  • Housing estate off Hill View
    Housing estate off Hill View
  • The quay wall at Clarecastle at low water in 2019.
    The quay wall at Clarecastle at low water in 2019.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Clarecastle Historical Background". clarelibrary.ie. Clare County Library. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Fortifications in the Shannon Estuary and Galway Bay: Fortifications in the Shannon Estuary: Clare Castle". www.clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Clarecastle (Clare Abbey)". Diocese of Killaloe. Retrieved 30 March 2004.
  4. ^ "Mass at St John's Well – a very special occasion". Clarecastle Community Development. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  5. ^ "The SS Brierthorn at the Port of Clare". Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage. Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage Team. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Port of Clare - Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage". Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage Website. Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage and Wildlife Team. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Obituary. Thomas Rhodes, 1789 - 1868". Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 28 (1869): 615–618. 1869. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  8. ^ McMahon, P. (24 June 2022). "Regatta return expected to bring crowds of 2000-3000 to Clarecastle". Clare Echo. Co. Clare, Ireland. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Clarecastle Regatta returns this weekend after two-year hiatus". The Clare Champion. Co. Clare, Ireland. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  10. ^ Parish, Clarecastle Ballyea (15 June 2022). "Clarecastle Regatta". Clarecastle & Ballyea Parish. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Navionics sonar chart". Navionics. Navionics. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022. Navionics sonar chart showing bathymetry at the head of the Shannon Estuary
  12. ^ Hickey, K.; Healey, M. (2005). "The reclamation of the Shannon Estuary inter‐tidal flats: A case study of the Clare Slobland Reclamation Company. Irish Geography, 38(1), pp.84-95". Irish Geography. 38 (1): 84–95.
  13. ^ "Palaeo-environmental Study Area P19: Shannon Estuary, west coast, Republic of Ireland" (PDF). risknat.org. The Discovery Programme, Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  14. ^ Goggins, Brian J. (2019). "Irish Waterways History - The Fergus". Irish Waterways History. Brian J. Goggins. Retrieved 19 November 2022. Historical details of the River Fergus from the Irish Waterways History website
  15. ^ "Station: Clarecastle Barrage (27065)". Irish Hydro-Data. Office of Public Works. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022. OPW website showing details of Clarecastle Barrage
  16. ^ "CLG Clár Átha an Dá Choradh – A Brief History". clarecastlegaa.ie. Clarecastle GAA. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Clarecastle". Clare GAA. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  18. ^ "The Importance of Being Barry". roh.org.uk.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clarecastle.
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