Newcastle, County Wicklow

Newcastle An Caisleán Nua
—  Village  —
The village of Newcastle
Newcastle Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°02′28″N 6°02′06″W / 53.0410°N 6.0351°W / 53.0410; -6.0351Coordinates: 53°02′28″N 6°02′06″W / 53.0410°N 6.0351°W / 53.0410; -6.0351
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	County Wicklow
Elevation	50 m (164 ft)
Population (2002)
- Urban	1,636
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
- Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Irish Grid Reference	O296038

Newcastle (Irish: An Caisleán Nua) is a village situated on the R761 that runs along the East Coast of County Wicklow, Ireland from Bray to Wicklow town. It is about 45 km (28 mi) south of Dublin and 2 km east of the N11. Newcastle had a population of 1,636 in the village and hinterland in the census of 2002.

History

The village is half a mile from the castle and church where it was originally located. Newcastle takes its name from the castle, built by the Normans on an earlier Irish fortification in the territory of the O'Byrne's. Constructed in the period between 1177 and 1184 by Hugh de Lacy then governor of Ireland under Henry II, the Castle called Newcastle Mackynegan, became a major stronghold in the outer fortifications of the Pale. Even so it was attacked and occupied at intervals by the Wicklow Irish chieftains the O'Tooles and the O'Byrnes. The current ruin on the site is not that of the castle which was destroyed in the 16th century but of a building which was erected on the site. The Castle was the county seat and administrative centre until the shiring of Wicklow county in the 16th century when it moved to Wicklow Town after the castle was again raided.

Newcastle Church of Ireland

The church is located a few hundred feet from the castle and some parts of the building date from the 12th Century. This Church is named as a prebend as early as 1227. In 1467 it was assigned by Archbishop Michael Tregury to the Archdeacon of Glendalough. In 1872 the Archdeacon of Glendalough ceased to have a place in the Chapter, as such, and the separate prebend of Newcastle was revived. The current Rector is the Reverent William Bennett - The church which is owned by the Church of Ireland (Anglicans) is also used as the local Catholic church for services since 2000 when it was agreed to share it. The local primary school St Francis's is located beside the church. There is a ruin of a Catholic church about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the village with a graveyard.

Ruin of Fortified House

Newcastle is in the Roman Catholic parish of Kilquade and the parish church is located in Kilquade about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of the village. A new oratory was built in the village in 2009 replacing an earlier temporary structure.

Local recreation

In more recent times, Newcastle has seen the building of a community centre providing space for sporting and recreational activities. An Information Technology Centre provides training for all ages. The young population is very socially and culturally active with many club and organisations like the local Gaelic Athletic Association Club, indoor soccer, Bowls, Badminton, Tennis and croquet. Newcastle is very close to the beach, which is used for swimming, walking and shore angling.

There is one pub, The Castle Inn (previously the Bridge Inn), which is currently undergoing refurbishment and a shop/garage. Close by is Blackditch Wood, an 89-hectare (220 acre) priority woodland and wetland site a restored Nature Reserve project creating a large wetland complex, for the protection of Annex 1 birds threatened within the European Union. The reserve will comprises a variety of diverse habitats, including pure birch forest, fen and willow scrub, natural grasslands, a conifer plantation, 8 km (5.0 mi) of drainage ditches and farmland for grazing and crop planting. The site includes a diverse but protected habitats, attracting a wildlife diversity, protecting threatened bird, flora and insect species.

Transport

• Dublin Bus provides services between Newcastle and Dublin on their 84 bus with a journey time of about 90 minutes.
• A railway station opened in Newcastle on 1 August 1856 and finally closed on 30 March 1964.^[1]

People

Born in Newcastle:

• Barry Corr, soccer player.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

References

1. ^ "Newcastle station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-19.