County Clare: A History and Topography 1837 by Samuel Lewis

A post-town in the parish of Tomfinloe, barony of Bunratty, county of Clare, and province of Munster, 6 miles (S. E. by E.) from Ennis, on the mail road to Limerick, and 1051/4 (W. S. W.) from Dublin; containing 1118 inhabitants. It is situated about a mile and a half from the eastern shore of the river Fergus, and in 1831 contained 170 houses, several of which are neatly built. A market was formerly held here on Thursday, but from its proximity to Ennis and Limerick, to which places there are several daily public conveyances, it gradually declined and is now discontinued ; and of the fairs, held on March 31st, Aug. 27th, and Dec. 20th, the last only is now well attended: a "patron" is held on Easter-Monday. Here is a chief station of the constabulary police; petty sessions are held on alternate Thursdays, and a court for Lord Egremont’s manor of Bunratty is occasionally held by the seneschal, for the recovery of small debts. A considerable number of females are employed in satin-stitching on muslin by Wm. Lloyd, Esq., of Limerick : and a school for embroidery is patronized by Lady O’Brien. An unsuccessful attempt was some time since made by Sir Edw. O’Brien to establish the linen manufacture in this town. Newmarket gives name to the R. C. union or district, held by the administrator of the Bishop of Killaloe, and comprising the parishes of Tomfinloe, Kilnasoolagh, Kilmaleery, Clonloghan, Kilconry, Bunratty, and Dromline. The principal chapel, a spacious and substantial building, is in the town; and there are chapels for the rural district at Kilmaleery and Bunratty. A large national school-house is now being erected at the expense of Sir Edward O’Brien, by whom also it will be chiefly supported ; and a female school of industry is supported by a society of ladies : there is also a dispensary. Newmarket House, the spacious mansion of C. Studdert, Esq., is in the town ; and in its vicinity are several handsome seats, among which are Dromoland, the superb castellated edifice of Sir Edward O’Brien, Bart.; Carrigoran, the beautifully situated mansion of Sir Wm. Fitzgerald, Bart. ; Glenwood, the residence of Basil Davoren, Esq.; Ballykilty, of Fitzgerald Blood, Esq.; and Mogullane, of F. Healy, Esq.-See Tomfinloe.

County Clare A History and Topography by Samuel Lewis
Courtesy of Clare Local Studies Project

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