A visit to Newcastle West, Co. Limerick in 2012

Описание: A slideshow of photos I took during my first visit to Newcastle West on Thursday 16th August 2012.

Newcastle West (Irish: an Caisleán Nua Thiar) is a town in west County Limerick, Ireland. It is the largest town in the county, excluding Limerick city, and sits on the River Arra which flows into the River Deel. Newcastle West is in the middle of a great bowl-shaped valley in West Limerick, known one time as the valley of the Wild Boar, apparently due to the abundance of this animal here when the area was thickly wooded. The crest of the town carries the image of a wild boar. Newcastle West is on the N21 road from Limerick to Tralee, between Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale.

Newcastle West had a population of 6,619 in the 2016 Census.

Newcastle West grew up around a castle, the ruins of which are located off the town square. The large castle ruins are well maintained. The Desmond Castle is open to the public from May to September and the present castle dates from the 15th Century. It was restored in the 20th Century.
Newcastle West used to be called Castle-Roe, after a castle built there by the Knights Templar in 1184. The town then came to be known as Newcastle, West Limerick, but over time the 'west' became part of Newcastle and the town was known by the current name Newcastle West.

Sir William Courtenay, the local landlord, held 10,500 acres (42 km2) of land in Newcastle West in the late 16th century. He was a staunch Catholic, and suffered persecution for his beliefs. His son George may have practiced his faith in secret. Their home was reputed to have had a room in which priests were hidden. William Courtenay was denounced in the House of Commons as a papist recusant in 1624.
During the reign of Elizabeth I, three battles were fought near here. Tradition has it that the locals killed many of the Knights Templar. The town was sacked in 1302 and destroyed in 1315. Two of the Earls of Desmond died here. Garrett (better known as Gearóid Iarla) in 1399, and James, the 8th earl, in 1462.

Markets were held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Large numbers used to attend Thursday's hiring fairs for farm workers. Fairs were held on April 1, May 3, July 12, August 20, October 1, and December 10.

The motto that goes with the town coat of arms is "As Dúchas Dóchas", which may be translated as 'Our Hope springs from our Traditions'.

The poet Michael Hartnett (Irish: Mícheál Ó hAirtnéide) (1941-1999) is perhaps Newcastle West's most famous son. He is an Irish poet who wrote in both English and Irish. A statue was unveiled of him in The Square in 2011 and was sculpted by Rory Breslin.

The town was connected to the railway network until 1975, as part of the "North Kerry" line, from Limerick city to Tralee, via Rathkeale and Listowel. In 1999, the station house was restored. Newcastle West railway station opened on 1 January 1857, closed for passenger traffic on 4 February 1963, closed for goods traffic on 2 December 1974 and finally closed altogether on 3 November 1975. The Rathkeale to Abbeyfeale section of the railway line has been converted into a greenway to walk and cycle.

Bus Eireann routes 12 and 13 connect Newcastlewest to Limerick, Tralee and Killarney.

Church of the Immaculate Conception in Newcastle West was built in 1828. Newcastle West is a Parish in the Diocese of Limerick.

Newcastle West had a Church of Ireland which was built in 1777 but was demolished in 1962; 4 years after it closed. It was in front of the Banqueting Hall of Desmond Castle.

On 1st August 2008, up to 20 homes were badly affected by overnight flash flooding in Newcastle West, in an incident described as a 'freak' occurrence. A number of people had to be rescued from their houses after the River Arra burst it banks following heavy rain. There were few injuries, however an elderly woman was taken to hospital after she was airlifted from her home suffering from hypothermia. 3,000 homes in Newcastle West temporarily lost power.

Newcastlewest has 2 secondary schools: Desmond College (opened in 2001 replacing the old vocational school and contains Gaelcholáiste Uí Chonbá which was established in 1993) and Scoil Mhuire agus Ide (established in 1992 after the amalgamation of Scoil Mhuire and St. Ita’s College).

Primary schools in the town are Scoil Iosaf, Courtenay National School and Gaelscoil Ó Doghair.

Newcastlewest GAA club was established in 1887 and fields teams in both hurling and Gaelic football. It is known as The Magpies. Newcastlewest won the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship in 1917 and 1925. It won the Limerick Senior Football Championship in 1987, 1992, 2015 and 2019.