Church

The National Monuments Service's description

The precise location of the medieval parish church in the historic town of Newscatleswest is uncertain. On the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map the building now known as Desmond Hall is annotated 'Church (in ruins)' with the C of I church immediately to N. Westropp suggested that the C of I Church was built on the site of the medieval parish church.
The Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 208) recorded the following about the parish church of Newcastle; 'Westropp (1904-05, 406) notes that the church was destroyed in the early 14th century but whether this was the church close to the castle (LI036-067002-) or that in Churchtown (LI036-024001-) is unclear. By 1401 the church, apparently at Churchtown, was in good condition and was dedicated to St. David (ibid). It is mentioned again in the seventeenth century as being sited near St. David’s well (LI036-187----). There is a re-used window head with cusps, moulding over a well in the castle garden; fragments surround a well on the external bawn can be found around the ornamental pond to the castle wall'.
According to Westropp (1904-5, 208) 'There were two churches, one of late seventeenth century at Churchtown, near St. David's Well. The I. C. church "is on the site of the other," Order to change churches of Newcastle and Monagay to Newcastle, 1775 (L.M.H., pt. v., p. 176). The modern church was built, 1777, by W., Viscount Courtenay, who granted the site'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 20 May 2019

References

Westropp, T.J. 1904-5 A survey of the ancient churches of Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 25C, 327-479.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1989 Urban archaeological survey - county Limerick (3 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.