Newcastle — Castle Demesne,churchtown,cullenagh (glenquin By.),gortboy (glenquin By.),knockane,rathnaneane

The Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 199) recorded the following about the historic town of Newcastle; 'Newcastlewest is located on the Limerick to Tralee road beside the Arra river in the south west of the county. There is a tradition that it was the site of a house built by the Knights Templars in 1184 (Lewis 1837, ii, 425; Westropp 1906-7, 232) but since the Normans had not even succeeded in penetrating into Limerick at this stage it can be dismissed as unfounded (see Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 330). The founders of Newcastlewest appear to have been the Geraldines who were already established in this area by 1215 (Westropp 1909, 43) and who held the castle as one of their principal strongholds until the fall of the Desmonds in 1584. The extent of the settlement in the vicinity of the castle is unknown but a rental of 1297-8 indicates that there was a hundred court here, from which it has been inferred that it was the site of a medieval borough (38 RDKPRI, 40; Graham 1977). The evidence is not altogether clear, however, but the settlement has been included here for the sake of consistency with the borough lists prepared by Graham and Martin. The south quay is mentioned in the sixteenth century when it was known as 'Shradegower' while another street was known as 'Shradenetona' (Westropp 1909, 57-8). Despite these references, however, the medieval street pattern is unknown. The present town plan with its centrally placed Square is evidentially of post-medieval origin. In 1586 the manor of Newcastle was described as ; ‘The site of the manor and castle [LI036-067002-] of Castelno alias Newcastle, which is built near the river Ewgarro [Arra] which runs into the river Deele and so on to the Shannon, with divers yards gardens and orchards, situate in the vill and parish of Castellno and containing 7 acres. Of these one parcel called Owlorde or the great orchard contains 4 acres, another called Gardenmoore or the great garden contains 1 rood, and other waste buildings and land contain 2 acres 3 roods: in all 7 acres. Divers parcels of land &c. belonging to said manor and castle parcels of the demesne lands of'said manor called the Earl's free land situate in the vill and parish of Castellno or the vill and parish of Monaghe Adare, and nor or late in the tenure or occupation of David oge Hubbart late constable of the castle of Castellno, viz:— Dowaley to En Parrick - Dowalley ½ quarter, Srade y Gurran being a street or waste parcel with tenements and gardens, Farren Merlen 20 acres, Clashymarla, Clashnaglogh, Ballyn Robert Roo 20 acres, LLohaduff 20 acres, Gorty Glegan, Tullagh Alym, Fearentynna, the vill and land of En Parrick or the park 20 acres, all which premises are in the vill and parish of Castellno. A street in Newcastell called Shradegower [Goat Street] with a tenement yard, orchard, and 8 gardens and with certain lands adjacent to the tenement. Said premises belong to said manor and castle, are parcel of the demesne lands called the Earl's free land as aforesaid, are situate in the parish of Monaghe Adare, now or late in the tenure of Edmund mcEgowre and contain 10 acres. A water mill [LI036-067003-] called Molten mcEgower built on a part or parcel of said street belonging, situate and in the tenure of said Edmund as aforesaid. Another street called Shrade netona with a tenement and two gardens and certain lands to the tenement belonging and adjacent. Said premises belong to the manor and castle aforesaid are parcel of the demesne lands as aforesaid, are situate in the parish of Castellno: now or late in the tenure or occupation of Edmund oge Gygheheyne and contain 10 acres. A parcel of land called Eanagh belonging to the manor and castle aforesaid, parcel of the demesne lands as aforesaid situate in the parish of Castellno and containing 9 acres. A water mill [LI036-067005-] called Mollyn A Cloghey alias the castle mill belonging to the manor and castle aforesaid, parcel of the demesne lands of the manor as aforesaid, situate in the parish of Castellno and now or late in the tenure or occupation of David oge Hubbert late constable of said Castle. A street called Garden y Lackagh with a tenement and 6 gardens, belonging to said manor and castle, parcel of the demesne lands of the manor as aforesaid, situate in the parish of Castellno and now or late in the tenure or occupation of Adarrey O Dowre. Another street called Garden ne hvnnev with a tenement and 6 gardens, similar in all respects to Garden y Lackagh except that it is in the parish of Monaghe Adare and now or late in the tenure or occupation of Ea mcDonnogho’ (Murphy 2013, 104-5). In 1654-56 the lands of Newcastle which were then in the possession of Colonel Francis Courtney were described in the Civil Survey of Limerick as containing; ‘a Castle a Bawne and other houses and stone worckes, having a markett once a weeke, a fayre once in a yeare an orchard on it, the benefit of a river running by the Castle; & the same with the severall houses tenem[en]ts and gardens thereunto belonging mearing on the South w[i]th Shraide Igower [Goat Street]’ (Simington 1938, 253) Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 20 May 2019