CLARE, or CLAREMORRIS, a market and post-town, in the parish of Kilcoleman, barony of Clanmorris, county of Mayo, and province of Connaught, 14 miles (S.E. by S.) from Castlebar, and 117 miles (W. by N.) from Dublin; containing 1476 inhabitants.
It is situated on the road from Ballinrobe to Castlerea, and consists of one long street, containing about 300 houses, principally slated.
The market is on Wednesday; and fairs are held on May 24th, June 22nd, Aug. 17th, Sept. 27th, and Nov. 23rd.
It is a chief station of the constabulary and revenue police, the latter having subordinate stations at Castlebar, Newport-Pratt, and Oughterard. Quarter sessions are held twice in the year at the courthouse, which is a large building, about a quarter of a mile from the town, and petty sessions every Wednesday.
The parochial church, a handsome building of ancient English architecture, with a light steeple, was erected by aid of a gift, in 1828, of £831, and a loan of £923 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
The R. C. chapel, a spacious slated building is in the town, and there is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists.
About two miles from the town are the ruins of the castle of Marneen.
SOURCE: A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis (pub 1837)
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