Castletownshend, meaning the “Town of the Castle”, is an attractive village developed around a small 17th-century castle built by Richard Townshend.
Prior to the castle, the area was called Glanbarrahane, named from a rocky glen dedicated to St. Barrahane, a local 5th-century saint.
In the porch of the church of St Barrahane, which overlooks the town, there is an oar from a rescue boat from the Lusitania.
It is in memory of the many drowned passengers and crew who were brought into the harbour after the ship was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915. Nearly 1,200 crew & passengers died.
The Festival of Classical Music held in St Barrahane’s Church is an annual event aimed to promote classical music.
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