Newmarket-on-Fergus, historically known as Corracatlin (), is a town
in
County Clare
County Clare ( ga, Contae an Chláir) is a county in Ireland, in the Southern Region and the province of Munster, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council is the local authority. The county had a population of 118,817 ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. It is 13 kilometres from
Ennis
Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...
, 8 kilometres from
Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport ( ga, Aerfort na Sionainne) is an international airport located in County Clare in the Republic of Ireland. It is adjacent to the Shannon Estuary and lies halfway between Ennis and Limerick. The airport is the third busiest ai ...
, and 24 kilometres from
Limerick
Limerick ( ; ga, Luimneach ) is a western city in Ireland situated within County Limerick. It is in the province of Munster and is located in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. With a population of 94,192 at the 2016 ...
.
History
The English rendering of the name 'Newmarket-on-Fergus' probably owes its origin to the fact that an older 'Market' at nearby Bunratty (on the Ogarney River) predated the 'newer' market located at the village and hence Newmarket-on-Fergus; there is also a popular myth attributing the name-change to Lord Inchiqin who supposedly renamed the village after the famous racecourse, and following a victory at the horse-racing centre in England having wagered Dromoland Estate on the race. In the grounds of his neo-Gothic mansion, Dromoland Castle, is the most extensive hill-fort in Ireland,
Mooghaun Hill-Fort, with several acres of ground encompassed within its treble walls. It is supposed to have been the site of a prehistoric walled village and a meeting- place in about 500 BC. It is regarded as the oldest ring fort of its kind in Europe. The Gaelic name Cora Chaitlín is reputed to have its origins in a 19th-century famine where
weir
A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...
s were placed across the river Canny at Newtown Canny (i.e. Limerick Road near the present entrance to O'Regan Park) and Finn mill race, in which to snare eels, hence Cathleen's Weir. The proper and original name is transliterated 'Tradaree' from the Gaelic 'Tradraigh'; the village being the centre of that ancient district of Tradaree which extended from Bunratty in the south and to Latoon in the north.
One of the earliest known references to the area was in the Book of Survey and Distribution, written in 1636 by James Frost. In it he mentions the main landowners of the area, among them the Earl of Thomond.
There is also mention of Bonratty (later Bunratty) of which Newmarket was in the Barony of, in a 1574 document written by Edward White. His document was written to give an accurate account of the lands of Thomond of which at the time there had been several incorrect descriptions made.
The
Parish of Newmarket-on-Fergus
Newmarket-on-Fergus is a Parish (Catholic Church), parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. It is centred on Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare in Republic of Ireland, Ireland.
Origins
The church in Ireland was originally organized arou ...
is a union of seven ancient parishes:
Bunratty
Bunratty (, meaning "end of the Raite") is a village in County Clare, Ireland, near Bunratty Castle. It is connected by the N18 road to Limerick and Galway. The Raite river defines the parish's eastern boundary and flows into the Shannon Estua ...
,
Fenloe
Tomfinlough ( ga, Tuaim Fhionnlocha) is a civil parish in County Clare, Ireland. A Christian establishment was first made here around 540 AD. The parish lands were often raided by Irish, Viking, Norman and English forces in the years that followe ...
,
Kilnasoolagh
Kilnasoolagh ( ga, Cill Átha na Súileach) is a civil parish in County Clare, Ireland, and a townland within that parish. Church records mention the parish in 1256.
Location
In 1845 the parish lay on the west border of the barony of Lower Bun ...
,
Drumline
Marching percussion instruments are instruments specially designed to be played while moving. This is achieved by attaching the drum(s) to a special harness (also called a carrier or rack) worn by the drummer, although not all marching bands us ...
,
Clonloghan
Clonloghan ( ga, Cluain Lócháin) is a civil parish of County Clare, Ireland, located by road northwest of Limerick, just north of Shannon.
Geography
The civil parish of Clonloghan lies in the barony of Bunratty Lower.
It is in the southern ...
,
Kilconry
Kilconry ( ga, Cill Chomhraí) is a civil parish of County Clare, Ireland, located about northwest of Limerick, west of Shannon on the estuary of the River Shannon. The main village in the area is Ballycalla/Ballcally and it contains the Sha ...
and
Kilmaleery
Kilmaleery ( ga, Cill Mhaoilfhithrigh) is a civil parish in County Clare, Ireland. It is part of the Catholic parish of Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Location
The parish lies on the western border of the barony of Bunratty Lower. It is southwest of N ...
. During the Penal Law period of 1744, the High Sheriff of Clare, John Westropp, had all the Churches in these seven Parishes closed.
In a letter to The Secretaries of the Baptist Irish Society dated 20 December 1823, a travelling preacher named W. Thomas stopped over in Newmarket for a night and wrote a letter the aforementioned Society. In it he described the difficulties that people had in hearing a sermon with some people walking miles over land just to hear the word of God. He also gives an insight into the poverty of the time describing children in various states of dress akin to their poorness. He also describes the children's eagerness to learn scripture by heart.
In March 1854, about two miles from the centre of the village an immense amount of gold was found in what appeared to be a hastily hidden trove concealed in a stone chamber under a cam of slight elevation, near the lake of
Mooghaun
Mooghaun () is a late Bronze Age hill fort located in County Clare, Ireland. It is a well preserved, recently excavated site, occupying an entire hill with wide views of the surrounding lands. Believed to be the largest hill fort in Ireland, i ...
, or Lougha- traska.
At 5 August 1920, during the
War of Independence
This is a list of wars of independence (also called liberation wars). These wars may or may not have been successful in achieving a goal of independence.
List
See also
* Lists of active separatist movements
* List of civil wars
* List of o ...
the village was the scene of a successful attack on the police barracks. With help from a
turncoat
A turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party. In political and social history, this is distinct from being a traitor, as the ...
, the
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dedicated to irredentism through Irish republicanism, the belief tha ...
entered the barracks and captured the present members of the
Royal Irish Constabulary
The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC, ga, Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann; simply called the Irish Constabulary 1836–67) was the police force in Ireland from 1822 until 1922, when all of the country was part of the United Kingdom. A separate ...
. The IRA seized weapons and official police documents before leaving.
In a 1962 published autobiography, 'My Father Marconi', Degna Marconi, the daughter of the inventor of the radio, Guglielmo Marconi, describes in detail holidaying on the Dromoland Estate in 1905.
In late June 2004, the first summit to take place between the US and the enlarged EU 25 Member States took place in Newmarket at
Dromoland Castle
Dromoland Castle ( ga, Drom Ólainn) is a castle, located near Newmarket-on-Fergus in County Clare, Ireland. It is operated as a five-star luxury hotel with a golf course, with its restaurant, the "Earl of Thomond", being awarded a Michel ...
.
In the Spring of 2007, six skeletal remains were found during the archaeological monitoring of improvement works to a local water network near Barnhill, Newmarket-on-Fergus. Dating showed that the remains were Pre-Christian.
Geography
The town is situated about 10 km from
Ennis
Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...
. As its name implies, it lies close to the
River Fergus
The River Fergus ( ga, An Forghas) is a river within the Shannon River Basin which flows in County Clare, Ireland. The river begins at Lough Fergus in north Clare and flows into the Shannon Estuary. The source is at Lough Fergus in the townland ...
. The main
N18 Limerick–Ennis
road
A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation.
There are many types of ...
passed through Newmarket until the town was bypassed in 2003. That main bypass road was renamed as the
M18 on 28 August 2009 as part of a national programme to increase the amount of motorways available to road users.
Neighbouring towns and villages include
Clarecastle
Clarecastle (''An Clár'' or ) is a village just south of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland. From 2008 to 2016 the village saw a significant population increase due to its proximity to Ennis, Shannon, and Limerick.
Name
The town is named after t ...
,
Ennis
Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...
,
Cratloe
Cratloe () is a village in County Clare, Ireland, situated between Limerick and Shannon in the mid-west of Ireland. It is possible that the name derives from ''Croit-shliabh'' meaning "hump-backed hill", referring to Woodcock Hill. The present ...
,
Sixmilebridge
Sixmilebridge (), is a large village in County Clare, Ireland. Located midway between Ennis and Limerick city, the village is a short distance away from the main N18 road.
Sixmilebridge partly serves as a dormitory village for workers in the ...
,
Quin Quin may refer to:
* Quin (name), including a list of people with the name
* Quin, colloquially, one of a set of quintuplets, a multiple birth of five individuals
* Quin (Sigilverse), a fictional planet
* Quin, County Clare, a village in County ...
and
Shannon.
To the west of the town is
Lough Gash
''Loch'' () is the Scottish Gaelic, Scots and Irish word for a lake or sea inlet. It is cognate with the Manx lough, Cornish logh, and one of the Welsh words for lake, llwch.
In English English and Hiberno-English, the anglicised spel ...
, a
turlough (disappearing lake) of considerable size.
People
The earliest census to record the population of Newmarket took place in 1659. Newmarket, listed as Corraeathelin in the census as a part of the Barony of Bunratty showed the population as just 9 people living within the confines the village. As of 2016 census, the population of Newmarket-on-Fergus was given as 1,784.
The town is the birthplace of Irish nationalist
William Smith O'Brien
William Smith O'Brien ( ga, Liam Mac Gabhann Ó Briain; 17 October 1803 – 18 June 1864) was an Irish nationalist Member of Parliament (MP) and a leader of the Young Ireland movement. He also encouraged the use of the Irish language. He ...
. Irish President
Michael D. Higgins
Michael Daniel Higgins ( ga, Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, and broadcaster, who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since November 2011. Entering national politics throug ...
, though born in Limerick, was educated in Ballycar National School.
Commerce and tourism
The town has several small shops and public houses. The proximity of
Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport ( ga, Aerfort na Sionainne) is an international airport located in County Clare in the Republic of Ireland. It is adjacent to the Shannon Estuary and lies halfway between Ennis and Limerick. The airport is the third busiest ai ...
, and the presence of several places of interest nearby (such as
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle (, meaning "castle at the mouth of the Ratty") is a large 15th-century tower house in County Clare, Ireland. It is located in the centre of Bunratty village ( ga, Bun Ráite), by the N18 road between Limerick and Ennis, near Sha ...
and
Craggaunowen
Craggaunowen is an archaeological open-air museum in eastern County Clare, Ireland. It is named for the 16th-century castle which is one of its main components.
Craggaunowen is located 10 km east of Quin, County Clare. The name Craggaunowe ...
) brings some tourism to the area, providing business for local bed and breakfast establishments and hotels, like
Dromoland Castle
Dromoland Castle ( ga, Drom Ólainn) is a castle, located near Newmarket-on-Fergus in County Clare, Ireland. It is operated as a five-star luxury hotel with a golf course, with its restaurant, the "Earl of Thomond", being awarded a Michel ...
. On the grounds of Dromoland Castle is
Mooghaun
Mooghaun () is a late Bronze Age hill fort located in County Clare, Ireland. It is a well preserved, recently excavated site, occupying an entire hill with wide views of the surrounding lands. Believed to be the largest hill fort in Ireland, i ...
, a late Bronze Age hill fort.
Newmarket-on-Fergus houses the O'Regan Park, established on a site of about 6 hectares bought and donated by
Brendan O'Regan
Brendan O'Regan CBE (1917–2008) was an Irish businessman responsible for developing Shannon Airport, inventing the concept of the duty-free shop and transforming the Shannon Region of Ireland. He was involved in promoting peace in Northern Irel ...
. The park officially opened in 2003.
Education
There are four primary schools in the parish: Scoil na Maighdine Muire/Newmarket-on-Fergus National School,
Ballycar National School
Newmarket-on-Fergus, historically known as Corracatlin (), is a town in County Clare, Ireland. It is 13 kilometres from Ennis, 8 kilometres from Shannon Airport, and 24 kilometres from Limerick.
History
The English rendering of the name 'Newm ...
, Stonehall National School and Clonmoney National School. For secondary education, students attend schools in Ennis and Shannon.
Transport
Newmarket-on-Fergus is located on the R471/R458. The
N18/
M18 is located 1 km away on the Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass. The nearest railway station is in
Sixmilebridge
Sixmilebridge (), is a large village in County Clare, Ireland. Located midway between Ennis and Limerick city, the village is a short distance away from the main N18 road.
Sixmilebridge partly serves as a dormitory village for workers in the ...
.
There is a bus service that services the area on an hourly basis
Gallery
Image:Ballycar_road.JPG , Ballycar Road
Image:Knock_Saggart_Road.JPG , Knock-Saggart Road
Image:View_over_the_lake.JPG, View over Lough Gash to Killinasoolagh Church
Image:Lakeside_spring.JPG , Lough Gash
Image:Oregans_park.JPG , O'Regan Park
File:O'Regan park with the Finn Mill Race canal on the right.jpg, O'Regan park with the Finn Mill Race canal on the right
See also
*
List of towns and villages in Ireland
References
External links
Newmarket-on-Fergus National SchoolBallycar National SchoolNewmarket-on-Fergus Catholic Parish website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newmarket-On-Fergus
Towns and villages in County Clare