CLAREGALWAY

In 1868, the parish of Claregalway contained the following places:

"CLAREGALWAY, (or Clare), a parish and village in the baronies of Clare and Dunkellin, in the county of Galway, province of Connaught, Ireland, 3 miles N. of Oranmore. The parish is traversed by the river Clare. There is some bog, but the soil is generally good. The living is a rectory united with Galway. The village, situated on the road between Galway and Tuam, contains three chapels and two clay schools, but no church. Here De Cogan, in 1290, founded a friary, which is now a ruin of much beauty, and, though much defaced, still affords a very perfect specimen of Gothic architecture; lying exposed within the walls are numerous human bones. This friary was given to the Clanricardes, who built a castle here, the ruins of which stand at the foot of the bridge; it was surrendered to Sir Charles Coote in 1651. The principal residences in the neighbourhood are Waterdale, Rocklawn, Rockwood, and Lydacan.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018