d
them back by an English tenure, together with the title of earl of
Thomond, on condition of adopting the English dress, manners and
customs. In 1565 this part of Thomond (sometimes called O'Brien's
country) was added to Connaught, and made one of the six new counties
into which that province was divided by Sir Henry Sidney. It was named
Clare, the name being traceable either to Richard de Clare (Strongbow),
earl of Pembroke, or to his younger brother, Thomas de Clare, who
obtained a grant of Thomond from Edward I. in 1276, and whose family
for some time maintained a precarious position in the district. Towards
the close of the reign of Elizabeth, Clare was detached from the
government of Connaught and given a separate administration; but at the
Restoration it was reunited to Munster.

_Antiquities._--The county abounds with remains of antiquities, both
military and ecclesiastical, especially in the north-western part. There
still exist above a hundred fortified castles, several of which are
inhabited. They are mostly of small extent, a large portion being
fortified dwellings. The chief of them is Bunratty Castle, built in
1277, once inhabited by the earls of Thomond, 10 m. W. of Limerick, on
the Shannon. Those of Ballykinvarga, Ballynalackan and Lemaneagh, all in
the north-west, should also be mentioned. Raths or encampments are to be
found in every part. They are generally circular, composed either of
large stones without mortar or of earth thrown up and surrounded by one
or more ditches. The list of abbeys and other religious houses formerly
flourishing here (some now only known by name, but many of them
surviving in ruins) comprehends upwards of twenty. The most remarkable
are--Quin, considered one of the finest and most perfect specimens of
ancient monastic architecture in Ireland; Corcomroe; Ennis, in which is
a very fine window of uncommonly elegant workmanship; and those on
Inniscattery or Scattery Island, in the Shannon, said to have been
founded by St Senan (see KILRUSH). Kilfenora, 5 m. N.E. of Ennistimon,
was until 1752 a separate diocese, and its small cathedral is of
interest, with several neighbouring crosses and a holy well. The ruined
churches of Kilnaboy, Nouhaval and Teampul Cronan are the most
noteworthy of many in the north-west. Five round towers are to be found
in various stages of preservation--at Scattery Island, Drumcliffe,
Dysert O'Dea, Kilnaboy and Inniscaltra (Lough Derg). The cathedral of