Newtowncashel


Newtowncashel is a village located near Lough Ree in County Longford, Ireland. It is within the townland of Cornadowagh. Newtowncashel won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition in 1980.

History

Situated on the north-eastern shore of Lough Ree on the River Shannon, Newtowncashel was previously known as Cor na Dumhca in Irish - an ancient name meaning the 'Round Hill of the Cauldron'. Two historical sites in the Newtowncashel area are Inis Clothrann where St Diarmuid founded an abbey in 540 AD, and Saints' Island where St Kevin founded a monastery in 544 AD. The ruins of the old parish church, St Catherine's, are on the side of Cashel Hill overlooking Lough Ree.

Amenities

;Woods and greenspaces
Culnagore Wood covers an area of 90 acres along the edge of Lough Ree. Carrowmore Wood is a forest of pine and spruce on a hill within the parish. A short distance from the town is Lough Slawn, which is surrounded by meadows and bog lands. Cashel Commons is a 200 acre commonage which has several walking routes.
;Mass rocks
Lady Well is situated in the townland of Derrydarragh. The Penal Laws, which outlawed Catholic observances, meant the people of Cashel assembled for worship outside, at mass rocks close to Lady Well and at Derryhaun.
;Harbour and islands
Barley Harbour is cut-limestone harbour located outside the village on the lakeshore.
Four groups of islands are in the parish of Cashel: the Black Islands; Clawinch, Priests' Island and Inis Clothrann. St Diarmuid founded a monastery on Inis Clothrann around 540 AD. On Saints' Island are the ruins of an Augustinian monastery that survived until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century. A canon named Augustine McGradion compiled the Annals of Saints in this monastery in the 15th century. This island can now be accessed via a causeway.
;Castles
Five castles are recorded in the parish of Cashel: Elfeet, Caltramore, Corool, Portanure and the castle of Baile Nui. The ruins of Elfeet Castle can still be seen. George Calvert, the owner of a 15th-century tower house in the area, became governor of the province of Maryland and founder of Baltimore in America.