Newport, County Tipperary

Location

It is located approximately 8 km from Birdhill and 16 km from Limerick. The Newport River, a tributary of the Mulcair (or Mulkear) River, flows through the middle of the town. Newport is nestled in the Silvermine mountain range. It is close to Lough Derg and the villages of Murroe, Killaloe and Ballina.

History

The original settlement in Newport dates back centuries back before the Norman invasions. After the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Richard Warren Waller acquired Cully Castle sometime in the 1650s. He was the son of Edward Waller and Margaret Glascoke. He was granted 1,195 acres (4.84 km²) of land in the vicinity. After the war the castle was in ruins and was rebuilt as Castle Waller. A townland still bears that name. He died in 1676. Vice-Admiral Robert Otway and Sir Arthur Otway, 3rd Baronet along with the other Waller baronets are direct descendents. During this time the settlement was changed from the Irish name Tulach Sheasta to the English Newport.

There were two churches in the town. The (Church of Ireland) Church of St. John's, built in 1766, had been the major church in Newport until the building of a 'Mass house' was completed by the end of the 18th century after the relaxing of the penal laws.The Catholic church called St John's is located on Chapel Lane and built circa 1796. The last service in the Anglican (Church of Ireland) church also called St John's was held in 1964 and was later demolished. The church graveyard remains. It is located on church road.

The town also contains an old courthouse and a jail called the Bridewell. Built in 1862-63 on land owned by Sir Edward Waller. The Courthouse was used for the trail of minor offences fromm time to time it was used for preliminary hearings for more serious crimes, before they were referred to a higher circuit court. The building contains 8 cells, 2 day rooms and 2 limestone staircases. It remains today on Jail street and now houses the Peter Dee Academy of Music.

During the War of Independence Newport was the scene of various incidents including the shaving of a woman's head for keeping company of policemen. The RIC barracks moved from the center of the village to Rosehil House. On the 15 May the Newport brigade planned an attack on District Inspector Harold Biggs. He was ambushed at Coolboreen returning from dinner at the house of a local landowner Major Gabbitt. He was shot and killed in the ambush along Winifred Barrington daughter of Sir Charles Barrington of what was then Glenstal Castle and now Glenstal Abbey. Among the members of the raiding party was Patrick Ryan, after whom the Newport GAA pitch is named, on being reprimanded by another female present who was present in the car for shooting at a women, Lacken replied "It served them right, and only for the b***h being in bad company, she would not be shot. Also killed were Sgt John Walsh of the RIC and Patrick Gilligan a former soldier was shot on 22 May 1922. This was after the treaty had been signed.

Education

There are two primary schools (Convent of Mercy Primary School and the Boys' National School) in the town and two second level schools (St Mary's Secondary School and St Joseph's College). St.Mary's was ranked 224 out of 400 schools in a recent poll of top secondary schools.

Transport

Newport is served by Bus Éireann. Who run a bus service three times a day to and from Limerick to Newport. On Fridays Bus Éireann operate a bus from Newport to Nenagh via Silvermines. The nearest railway station Birdhill railway station is in the neighbouring village of Birdhill which is 8.5 km away. The main road through Newport is the R503 and the M7 lies 12 km to the west

Religion

There is one catholic church in the village The Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. It was constructed in 1933 and is located on Church street. It is part of the parish of Newport, Birdhill and Toor which is in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.

Services

Amenities

Three kilometers from the town there is the beauty spot called Clare Glens. It is a wooded area along the banks of the Clare River.

Association Football

Founded in 1970 Newport Town AFC has gone from humble beginnings to a modern club with top-class playing facilities and in the current 2016/17 season have a playing membership in excess of 300 and 26 teams. The club fields teams from U.6 to Junior with participation in three leagues, LDSL for our schoolboy teams, NTSFL for our schoolgirl teams and the LDMC for our youth and junior teams. Derryleigh Park the home of Newport Town AFC is located just outside the town of Newport and has two sand-based playing pitches, a 60 by 40 metre flood-lit astro-turf pitch and the new modern clubhouse with 4 changing rooms will be ready for the start of the 2017/18 season. In the 2016/16 season the club won one league title (U13) and two cups (U12 & U13).

GAA

Newport GAA sports facilities are based at Páirc Chuimhneacháin Pádraig Uí Riain locally known as Lacken Park. It features 1 Full size field with flood lights with a small stand, 1 Juvenile field with lights and 1 Small training field. There is also a clubs room. It is named after Patrick Ryan.

Social activities/groups

There are a number of clubs in the town:

The soccer pitch was located in "Freigh", but the new pitch is located in Derryleigh.They have an astro turf pitch too. The hurling field is to the south of the town.