Clare[castle]

CLARE, is situate 104 Miles, S. W. of DUBLIN in Lat. 52 d. 42 m. N. and in Long. 9. d. 11 m. West, some Writers affirm, that it derives it’s Name from RICHARD and THOMAS DE CLARE, Sons of the Earl of GLOUCESTER, to whom King Edward the First, granted this Country.

I shall advance the following Opinion and Derivation, according to the old Historian BRODINUS a Native of this County—this latter Definition may be essentially receiv’d as the former.

It was DONOGH CARBREACH (Son of the great DONALD O’BRIEN, absolute King of LIMERICK and NORTH MUNSTER) built and strongly fortified the Castle of CLARE, which took it’s Name from a Bridge of Planks erected over the River FERGUS at that Time.

This Town, situate on the FERGUS, is by Name the Capital of this County, it’s a small Sea-Port: the entrance whereof is only Navigable and sufficient for small Vessels to Ride in; and with respect to it’s proximity to ENNIS, it’s Trade and Commerce are of no material Consequence; here are some good Houses, also, an elegant New Bridge, built by the ingenious Mr. JOHN SEMPLE, under the superintendence of Sir LUCIUS O’BRIEN Bart. The Castle and Fortifications here are much decayed—the situation of this Place is truely delightful, the Air open and agreeable, and the Lands about it extremely good and beautifully Improv’d——two or three Companies of Infantry are generally Quarter’d here, it was formerly counted a strong Pass: and was for some time the Residence of the great Earl of CLARENCE, commonly call’d CLARAGH MORE ⁽⁶⁾.