Castletownarra is a parish, in the barony of Owney
and Arra, County of Tipperary, and province of Munster, 8 miles W.N.W. from Nenagh;
containing 4110 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the river Shannon, and on the road
from Nenagh to Killaloe; it comprises 6697 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe
act, and valued at 5110 per annum: about 720 acres are mountain, and the remainder is good
arable and pasture land. At Garry-Kennedy are some very extensive slate quarries belonging
to the mining company of Ireland, from which great quantities of slate are raised and
shipped from a quay which has been constructed there, for which the steam navigation on
the Shannon, and the canal, afford every facility.
The scenery is strikingly diversified; it includes
a large portion of Lough Derg, and the mountains of Clare and Galway. Castlelough, the
seat of Anthony Parker, Esq., is finely situated in a richly cultivated demesne of 640
acres, embellished with timber of stately growth and with young and thriving plantations;
the deer park is extensive and well-stocked. The other seats within the parish are
Lansdowne, the residence of Mrs. Parker, and those of G. Watson and __ Kent, Esqs., at
Garry-Kennedy.
A constabulary police force
has been stationed here; and fairs, chiefly for cattle, sheep, and pigs, are held at
Portroe on March 22nd, May 14th, July 23rd, and Nov. 11th. The living is a rectory and
vicarage, in the diocese of Killaloe, episcopally united, in 1781, to the rectories and
vicarages of Youghal-Arra and Burgess-Beg, forming the union of Castletown-Arra, in the
patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to 304.12.3 3/4, and the whole benefice to
997...16.11 1/4.
The church, of an ancient structure of simple
style, is pleasingly situated on the margin of Lough Derg. The glebe-house was built by
aid of a gift of 250 and a loan of 550 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1820. The
glebe comprises 3 acres, and there are other glebe-lands in the union, comprising together
4a.3r., making in the whole 7a.3r. The R.C. parish is co-extensive with that of the
Established church: the chapel is at Portroe. A parochial school, in which about 50 boys
and 30 girls are instructed, is supported by the rector; and there is a pay school, in
which are about 120 boys and 70 girls. The old castle from which this place derived its
name was formerly the residence of the Parkers, but is now in ruins; the demesne skirts
the Shannon for a considerable distance, commanding some beautiful and extensive views.
The above photos of
Castletown-arra taken by Keith Thomas taken on his last trip to Ireland.
