Clarecastle

The town is named after the Clare Castle,{{cite web | url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/clarecastle_history.htm

|title=Clarecastle Historical Background|publisher=Clare County Library|website = clarelibrary.ie | access-date=17 October 2019 }} which stands on an island in the narrowest navigable part of the River Fergus. The Irish Clár, meaning a wooden board, is often used for a bridge. The name probably originated as Clár adar da choradh, which means "the bridge between two weirs". Another explanation of the name is that the de Clare family gave the castle its name, since they had acquired land in Kilkenny and Thomond that included the castle. In 1590 County Clare was named after the castle, which is in a strategic location.{{Cite web |title=Fortifications in the Shannon Estuary and Galway Bay: Fortifications in the Shannon Estuary: Clare Castle |url=https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/fortifications/chap9_clare_castle.htm |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www.clarelibrary.ie}}

Clarecastle (Clare Abbey) is a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe.{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Clarecastle (Clare Abbey)}}|url=http://www.killaloediocese.ie/parish/clarecastle-clare-abbey/

|title=Clarecastle (Clare Abbey) |access-date=2004-03-30|publisher=Diocese of Killaloe}} It is also known as Ballyea/Clarecastle. Clare Abbey and Killone Abbey are linked by a footpath, the Pilgrim's Road.{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Mass at St John’s Well 2013}}|url=https://clarecastledev.wordpress.com/tag/killone/ |title=Mass at St John's Well – a very special occasion|date=23 June 2013|publisher=Clarecastle Community Development|access-date=2014-04-04}}

Clarecastle was once home to a port servicing a variety of cargo, used for exports and the delivery of items into the nearby town of Ennis, which could not be reached by navigation of the River Fergus.{{cite web |url= https://clarecastleballyea.clareheritage.org/topics/port-of-clare/shipping-at-the-port-of-clare-the-s-s-brierthorn |title= The SS Brierthorn at the Port of Clare|author= |website= Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage |date= 6 October 2019|publisher= Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage Team |access-date= 19 November 2022}}

The Port of Clare consisted of the main quay of Clarecastle and an additional berthing frontage downstream towards the estuary. Clare was a busy port during its time, allowing safe navigation and berthing for vessels close to the town of Ennis.{{cite web |url= https://clarecastleballyea.clareheritage.org/topics/places/port-of-clare|title= Port of Clare - Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage |author= |date= 11 September 2022 |website= Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage Website |publisher= Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage and Wildlife Team |access-date= 19 November 2022}} The quay structure is approximately 155 metres in length and was completed in 1845 under the supervision of civil engineer Thomas Rhodes, Principal Engineer to the Shannon Commissioners.{{cite journal |author= |date= 1869 |title= Obituary. Thomas Rhodes, 1789 - 1868. |url= https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/imotp.1869.23108 |journal= Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers |volume= 28 |issue= 1869 |pages= 615–618 |doi= 10.1680/imotp.1869.23108 |access-date= 19 November 2022}}

The quay is no longer used for cargo or large vessels, but is suitable for berthing of small craft and recreational use, with an annual community regatta being held in June.{{cite news |last= McMahon |first= P. |date= 24 June 2022 |title= Regatta return expected to bring crowds of 2000-3000 to Clarecastle |url= https://www.clareecho.ie/regatta-return-expected-to-bring-crowds-of-2000-3000-to-clarecastle/|work= Clare Echo |location= Co. Clare, Ireland |access-date=19 November 2022}}{{cite news |author= |date= 23 June 2022 |title= Clarecastle Regatta returns this weekend after two-year hiatus |url= https://clarechampion.ie/clarecastle-regatta/ |work= The Clare Champion |location= Co. Clare, Ireland |access-date= 19 November 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Parish |first=Clarecastle Ballyea |date=2022-06-15 |title=Clarecastle Regatta |url=https://www.clarecastleballyeaparish.ie/clarecastle-regatta/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Clarecastle & Ballyea Parish |language=en-US}} Navigation within the quay area for larger vessels is not available at all states of the tide, with the macro-tidal range resulting in almost dry conditions at low water springs.{{cite web |url=https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@8&key=k%7CdaIpdtu%40 |title= Navionics sonar chart |author= |date= 19 November 2022 |website= Navionics |access-date= 19 November 2022 |quote=Navionics sonar chart showing bathymetry at the head of the Shannon Estuary}}

During the historical peak of commercial activity at the port, the complicated approaches to Clarecastle from the estuaries of the Shannon and Fergus, arising from issues such as limited depth for navigation exacerbated by the presence of estuarine intertidal mudflats and rhythmites, necessitated the use of maritime pilots and precluded very large vessels from accessing the quay. The sediment transport mechanisms in the estuary and lower Fergus are also influenced by historical land reclamation works. {{cite journal |last1= Hickey |first1= K. |last2= Healey |first2= M.|date= 2005|title= The reclamation of the Shannon Estuary inter-tidal flats: A case study of the Clare Slobland Reclamation Company. Irish Geography, 38(1), pp.84-95. |journal= Irish Geography |volume= 38|issue= 1|pages= 84–95|doi= 10.1080/00750770509555851 }}{{cite web |url= http://risknat.org/projets/riskydrogeo/docs/guide_pratique/Acivite1_Ateliers/Presentations%20Atelier1/A1P13-Coastal%20changes/vol2/p19.pdf |title= Palaeo-environmental Study Area P19: Shannon Estuary, west coast, Republic of Ireland |author= |date= 19 November 2022 |website= risknat.org |publisher= The Discovery Programme, Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland |access-date= 19 November 2022}}{{cite web |url= https://irishwaterwayshistory.com/abandoned-or-little-used-irish-waterways/the-lower-shannon/the-fergus/ |title= Irish Waterways History - The Fergus |last= Goggins |first= Brian J. |date= 2019 |website= Irish Waterways History |publisher= Brian J. Goggins |access-date= 19 November 2022 |quote=Historical details of the River Fergus from the Irish Waterways History website}} Navigation beyond Clarecastle towards Ennis is precluded by the presence of a barrage (dam) north of the quay, which serves to limit tidal influence upstream as part of a flood control strategy.{{cite web |url=https://waterlevel.ie/hydro-data/stations/27065/station.html?1608693906 |title= Station: Clarecastle Barrage (27065) |author= |date= 19 November 2022 |website= Irish Hydro-Data |publisher= Office of Public Works |access-date= 19 November 2022 |quote= OPW website showing details of Clarecastle Barrage}}

The local GAA team is Clarecastle GAA.{{cite web|url = https://www.clarecastlegaa.ie/clg-clar-atha-an-da-choradh-a-brief-history/ | publisher = Clarecastle GAA | website = clarecastlegaa.ie | title = CLG Clár Átha an Dá Choradh – A Brief History | access-date = 17 October 2019 }}{{Cite web |title=Clarecastle |url=https://clare.gaa.ie/clubs/clarecastle/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Clare GAA |language=en}} The club's colours are black and white and they are known as the Magpies.

The composer Gerald Barry was born in Clarecastle in 1952.{{cite web|url=http://www.roh.org.uk/news/the-musical-world-of-gerald-barry-like-being-attacked-by-knives|title=The Importance of Being Barry|work=roh.org.uk}}

The Quay Clarecastle.jpg|The quay was once a busy port, acting as port of Ennis

The former Clare castle and military barracks.jpg|On the left the ruins of the castle itself, name-giver of the village. In the middle the former military barracks.

Bridge over River Fergus Clarecastle.jpg|Built in the 1970s it replaced a five arch bridge to cope with the increasing traffic

Roche Clarecastle.JPG|The factory of Roche used to be the main employer in Clarecastle

Estate at Clarecastle - geograph.org.uk - 1872921.jpg|Housing estate off Hill View

Clarecastle quay wall at low water.jpg|The quay wall at Clarecastle at low water in 2019.

• List of abbeys and priories in County Clare
• List of towns and villages in Ireland

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• [http://www.clarecastlegaa.ie/ Clarecastle GAA]
• [https://clarecastleballyea.clareheritage.org/ Website of the Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage and Wildlife Team, with many historical records]

{{County Clare}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe}}

Category:Towns and villages in County Clare

Category:Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe