01. Newcasle West Local Area Plan ( pdf file - 3593 kb in size)

NEWCASTLE WEST Local Area Plan 20083.1 Historical BackgroundNewcastle West was once known as ‘Castle-Roe’, after acastle built there by the Knights Templars in 1184. Situatedbetween the towns of Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale, NewcastleWest is at the heart of Desmond Country. The town wasfounded in the 13th century on the River Arra, a tributary ofthe Deel, by the Norman Fitzgerald family as part of theterritory of the Earls of Desmond.Desmond Castle remains the most significant historic featurein the town and commands a prominent location at the southof the Square. During the reign of Elizabeth I, three battleswere fought in the locality. The town was sacked in 1302and destroyed in 1315. Two of the Earls of Desmond died inthe town - Garrett (better known as Gearóid Iarla) in 1399,and James (the 8th earl) in 1462.By the 16th and 17th centuries, The Square and MarketPlace had been developed and Newcastle West became anestablished administrative centre for the counties ofLimerick, Clare and Kerry. By 1862 the town had beenconnected with Limerick and Abbeyfeale by railway.In 1980 Newcastle West received a coat of arms, with themotto "As Dúchas Dóchas" - translated as 'Our Hopesprings from our Traditions'.NEWCASTLE WEST“A market and post-town, and a parish, in the GlenquinDivision of the barony of Upper Connello, 20 miles (S.W.)from Limerick, on the mail road to Killarney and Tralee, and114 (S.W.) from Dublin; containing 4436 inhabitants, ofwhich number, 2908 are in the town. This place, ancientlycalled Castle-Roe, derived both its origin and name from theerection of a castle here by the Knights Templars, in 1184,round which, in process of time, a town was formed that wasfortified, and ultimately obtained a charter of incorporation.The town is situated on a small stream called the Arra, whichfalls into the Deel about a mile eastward. It comprises fourprincipal streets and a spacious square, the north side ofwhich is chiefly occupied by an infantry barrack; on the southare the parish church and the castle, and the east and westsides are formed by lines of large and handsome houses.On the south side of the river, which here separates theparish from that of Monegay, are the shambles, a neat andcommodious structure.The land is in a high state of cultivation, producing abundantcrops chiefly of wheat, oats, and potatoes, with some barleyand clover: much of it is occupied in dairy farms and in thepasturing of large numbers of cattle. The scenerythroughout the parish is rich, varied, extremely picturesque,and embellished with numerous elegant mansions and villas.Newcastle West 18 th Century.Newcastle West 18 th Century.The ruins of the old castle are very extensive, and two of itstowers, one square, the other round, are in a good state ofpreservation, as are the tower and banqueting-house nearthe church; many parts of its extensive range of archedvaults are also perfect. In the Castle demesne is achalybeate spring, formerly in considerable repute, andprotected by a covered building which still exists”.‘A Topographical Dictionary of Limerick City andCounty’, by Samuel LewisOriginally published in 1837 as part of ‘A TopographicalDictionary of Ireland’Figure 5: Newcastle West 18th century Historical MapSection 3: CHARACTER and LAND USE APPRAISAL11