Newcastle West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Newcastle West
An Caisleán Nua Thiar
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Town
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The Square
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 Newcastle West
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Limerick |
| Local electoral area | Newcastle |
| Dáil constituency | Limerick County |
| EU Parliament | South |
| Elevation | 55 m (180 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
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| • Total | 7,209 |
| Time zone | UTC0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Eircode routing key |
V42
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| Area code(s) | +353(0)69 |
| Irish Grid Reference | R282336 |
Newcastle West (Irish: An Caisleán Nua Thiar) is a lively town in west County Limerick, Ireland. It is the biggest town in the county, if you don't count Limerick city. Newcastle West is also known as the county town, meaning it's an important center for the county. It sits right on the River Arra, which then flows into the larger River Deel.
The town is located in a big, bowl-shaped valley in West Limerick. This area was once called the valley of the Wild Boar. This name came from the many wild boars that lived here when the area was covered in thick forests. You can even see a wild boar on the town's official crest! Newcastle West is on the N21 road, which connects Limerick to Tralee. In 2022, about 7,209 people lived here.
Contents
Discovering Newcastle West's Past
How Newcastle West Began
Newcastle West grew up around a large castle. You can still see the impressive ruins of this castle near the town square today. The castle was built by the FitzGerald family, who arrived in the area after 1194. By 1298, the castle was fully built using strong stone.
At first, the town was known as Newcastle, West Limerick. Over time, the "West" became part of the town's name, and it became known as Newcastle West. The town's motto is "As Dúchas Dóchas," which means 'Our Hope springs from our Traditions.'
Important Moments in History
During the time of Queen Elizabeth I, three battles were fought close to Newcastle West. Local stories say that many Knights Templar were killed here. The town faced tough times, being attacked in 1302 and destroyed in 1315. Two important leaders, the Earls of Desmond, also died here: Garrett in 1399 and James in 1462.
In the past, markets were held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Many people would come to the Thursday hiring fairs to find farm work. Fairs were also held on specific dates throughout the year, like April 1st and July 12th.
The 2008 Flooding Event
On August 1, 2008, Newcastle West experienced sudden flash flooding. Heavy rain caused the River Arra to overflow its banks. About 20 homes were badly affected, and some people needed to be rescued. An elderly woman was even taken to the hospital after being airlifted from her home. Around 3,000 homes in the town temporarily lost power. Roads like the Killarney Road (N21) were closed for a while.
Business and Economy
Local Businesses and Jobs
The Newcastle West area has always been strong in farming and dairy production. However, over the last 20 to 30 years, the town has grown a lot as a service center for West Limerick. This growth has also led to more people living here. Many people who work in Limerick city live in Newcastle West and travel the 42 kilometers (26 miles) each day.
Newcastle West itself is now a big place for jobs. Some of the larger employers include Pallas Foods, Rettig Myson, Ballygowan Spring Water, and Filtertek. There are also many smaller businesses that employ 10 to 50 people, such as PSE Power Systems and Nolan Products. Hundreds of people work in retail stores, including local shops and big international chains like Dooley's SuperValu, Tesco, Aldi, and Lidl. The town also has many clothes shops and fashion boutiques.
Learning in Newcastle West
Schools for All Ages
Newcastle West has four primary schools for younger students. These are Courtenay Boys' School, Scoil Iosaf (an all-girls school), Gaelscoil O'Doghair (an Irish language school), and Killoughteen National School, which is in the countryside.
For older students, there are three secondary schools. These include Scoil Mhuire Agus Ide (which means the School of Mary and Ita), Desmond College, and Gaelcholáiste Uí Chonba (an all-Irish second-level school located on the grounds of Desmond College).
Getting Around Newcastle West
Roads and Public Transport
Newcastle West is located on the main Irish national primary road, the N21. Other regional roads, like the R520, R521, and R522, also meet here. The town is about a 40-minute drive from Limerick City and an hour from Killarney. It's also within an hour's drive of Shannon and Kerry International Airports, and two hours from Cork Airport.
You can easily travel to and from Newcastle West using public transport. Bus Éireann and Dublin Coaches offer regular bus services to places like Tralee, Killarney, Limerick, and Dublin.
The Old Railway Line
Newcastle West used to be connected to the railway network until 1975. It was part of the "North Kerry" line, which ran from Limerick city to Tralee, passing through Rathkeale and Listowel. The Newcastle West railway station, located on Bishop Street, opened in 1857. It stopped carrying passengers in 1963 and closed completely in 1975.
After the tracks were removed in the late 1980s, the old station house was restored in 1999 and is now a private home. The Great Southern Trail, a popular walking and cycling path, now follows the route of the old railway line.
Sports and Activities
Newcastle West is home to many sports clubs. These include the Newcastle West GAA club, which plays Gaelic games, and the Newcastle West Rugby Football club. There are also association football (soccer) clubs. In 2018, two local soccer clubs, Newcastle West A.F.C. and Newcastle West Rovers F.C., joined together to form Newcastle West Town AFC.
Places to Visit
Exploring Historic Sites and Parks
- The Square: This is the main town square, a central point for the community.
- Desmond Banqueting Hall and Castle: This is Newcastle West's most famous landmark. It stands proudly at the southern end of the main town square. The banqueting hall of Desmond Castle, which was the home of the Earl of Desmond, has parts that date back to the 13th century. The castle itself is from the 15th century. It has been partly restored and is open for guided tours from May to September. The castle grounds include about 0.4 square kilometers (100 acres) of parkland, along with playing areas and sports fields.
- Slí na Sláinte: These are walking trails that include the Square and the castle grounds, perfect for a stroll.
- Great Southern Trail: This is a walking trail built along the old, unused railway line. It connects Newcastle West to Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale. You can get onto this trail from the town center or directly from Station Road.
- Churchtown Graveyard and Grotto: The ruins of an old Catholic church in Churchtown are hundreds of years old.
- Old IRA Monument: This monument is located across from the church. It honors 17 volunteers who died during the Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War. The monument was officially revealed in 1955.
- Church of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic): This church was built in 1828. The local landlord, the Earl of Devon, provided the land, and local people helped build it with their own hands.
- Iron Footbridge: This bridge crosses the River Arra and is located opposite the church. It was put up by Edward Curling, who managed the landlord's property in Newcastle West from 1848 to 1874.
- Famine Graveyard: This graveyard is behind St. Ita's Hospital. Many hundreds of people who died in the workhouse during the Great Famine are buried here in unmarked graves. The cemetery has an old cross and modern limestone gates. These gates were sculpted by Cliodna Cussen and show scenes from the famine.
- St. Bridget's Well: You can find this well in Shanagarry, on the Killarney Road.
- Carnegie Library: Located in the Market Yard, this building was built with money from the Carnegie Trust, founded by the Scottish helper Andrew Carnegie. For many years, the building was a secondary school. Now, it's a business center.
- Bridge of Tears: This stone bridge is at the south of the town, where the Cork Road and Bruff Line meet. It got its name because it was a place for sad goodbyes. During the time of the famine, people leaving Ireland would say their last farewells here before walking or taking a carriage to Cork to catch a boat to North America or other places.
- Barnagh Gap: About 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) west of the town is a viewpoint at Barnagh Gap. From here, you can see amazing views over County Limerick, West Tipperary (including the Galtee Mountains), and north County Cork.
The Great Southern Trail
The Great Southern Trail is a 53-kilometer (33-mile) path through the countryside in West Limerick and North Kerry. It follows the route of the old Limerick-Tralee railway line, which operated from 1867/1880 until it closed in 1975/1977. A group called the Great Southern Trail Action Group is working to turn the entire Limerick to Tralee section into a walking and cycling trail. This group is based around the Newcastle West area.
Nearby Villages
Several villages are located within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of Newcastle West. These include Ardagh, Dromcolliher, Broadford, Carrigkerry, Kilmeedy, Castlemahon, Feenagh, Ballingarry, Knockaderry, Feohanagh, and Killeedy.
Famous People from Newcastle West
- Michael Hartnett: A well-known poet.
- Mary, Lady Heath: An Irish aviator (pilot) who was born Sophie Catherine Theresa Mary Peirce-Evans in Knockaderry, County Limerick, before moving to Newcastle West. She was one of the most famous women in the world for about five years in the mid-1920s because of her flying adventures.
- Philomena Lee: The person whose story inspired the book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee" by Martin Sixsmith.
- Max Arthur Macauliffe: A civil servant and scholar.
- William Nash: Someone who received the Victoria Cross, a very brave award.
- John Wolfe Ambrose: A civil engineer born locally who became a developer in New York City.
- Claire O'Riordan: A footballer who plays for the Republic of Ireland national team.
Images for kids
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The Square
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A Street by the River
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Desmond Banqueting Hall and Castle
See also
In Spanish: Newcastle West para niños
