CASTLEMAINE, a market-town (formerly), in the
parish of KILTALLAGH, barony of TRUGHENACKMY,
county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER, 1¼ mile
(N. by E.) from Milltown; containing 387 inhabitants.
This place, which is situated on the harbour of Castlemaine,
on the south-west coast, takes its name from a
castle erected on the bridge over the river Maine by Mc
Carthy More and the Earl of Desmond, as a defence to
their frontiers. Each of these chiefs was to garrison it
alternately for their joint protection; but when the earl
received possession of it from McCarthy, he retained
it in his own power, and on the expiration of the
term for which his garrison was to remain, refused to
admit McCarthy, and kept entire possession of the
castle, which remained in his family till the reign of
Elizabeth. The garrison under Thomas Oge defended
it for a considerable time against the Queen, but it was
ultimately taken by the English forces. During the
war in 1641, it was in the hands of the Irish, till it was
taken and demolished by Cromwell's troops under Gen.
Ludlow. After the Restoration, though the castle was
in ruins, a constable continued to be regularly appointed,
and the clerk of the Crown was generally selected
for that office. The constable had 10s. per day and the
fishery above the river; but on the death of the last
constable the income was reduced, and the present
constable receives £50 per annum for the ground rent,
with the privileges of the two fairs and the fishery. The
royalty extends to high water mark on the south side of
the river; and the crown lands, which are on the north
side, comprise about seven plantation acres, which are
called the King's acres.
The town, which is situated on the north side of the
river Maine, and on the road from Castle-island to Dingle,
contains only 62 houses. The Maine flows into the
harbour of Castlemaine, which is a continuation of the
bay of Dingle; the bridge is supposed to be coeval with
the old Thomond "bridge at Limerick. The castle stood
over it, and projected considerably on. the east side; the
buttresses of the arch by which it was supported are
remaining, and the stone socket on which the pivot of
the castle gate turned is still to be seen. The trade
consists principally in the exportation of corn, and the
importation of coal, salt, and other necessaries; but
since the erection of a quay and warehouses at Callanafercy,
between the mouths of the Maine and Laune, it
has very much decreased. Vessels of 100 tons' burden
can come "up to the bridge; but from the circuitous
course of the river, they require two tides, which creates
a delay very injurious to trade. On both sides of it are
level tracts of ground, formerly swamps, but now wholly
embanked and reclaimed. The late Mr. Nimmo reported
that, if cuts were made across the winding parts of
the river, vessels drawing 12 feet of water might discharge
their cargoes at the town, and barges navigate
four miles above the bridge, to which distance the tide
extends. The expense of this improvement, and also of
laying down proper marks to direct the navigation,
would not exceed £1500; and the advantage derivable
from it to the agriculture and the trade of the district
would be very great. The erection of a pier would be
a great improvement, there being scarcely any portion
of the old pier remaining. Fairs are held on September
3rd and November 21st, for cattle, and two others have
been recently established. Three miles to the west of the
town are the ruins of Castledrum, erected by the sept of
Moriarty; and on the lands of Farnass is a good chalybeate
spa.- See KILTALLAGH.