Quay

Beagh Castle (LI003-002----) stands directly atop short cliff which forms part of S shore of Shannon estuary, a short distance W of Beagh Quay. The S shoreline of Rineanna South in Co. Clare lies 2.9km to the N across the River Shannon. The precise location of a pier/jetty associated with a 17th century ferry crossing on the River Shannon which was located in Beagh has not been identified. The 19th century stone quay may have replaced or have been built on the site of an earlier quay associated with the 17th century ferry crossing. In 1605 a ferry crossing over the River Shannon was established between Beagh and Rineanna in Co. Clare. In this year King James I granted James Sculles of Lislaughtie, Co. Kerry, 'full power and authority to appoint, settle and establish two ferries on the banks of the said river, between the city of Limerick and the sea, viz. one between a place called Begh in Limerick co. on the S. of the river, and a place called Ringannon in Clare and Thomond co. on the N' (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., 3 Jas I, 83-4). The conditions of the 21 year lease stated that James was 'to take from every passenger, ferried over in the former 2d., every horse, cow or Garran 4d., every 2 hogs 1d., 2 sheep or goats the same' (ibid.). In 1619 the lease of the 'chief Ferry from Beagh to Ringannon [Rineanna] in Clare, [was] granted to James Ware and William Plunkett' (Westropp 1906-7, 155).