The History of Clare: The People, the Place and the Presbyterians

‘Clare, an ancient village, in the parish of Ballymore…situated on the river Cusher, over which is an ancient stone bridge.  In the village is a meeting-house for Presbyterians occupying the site of that destroyed in 1641... In the vicinity are the ruins of Clare castle.’ A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis, 1837.

This short extract sums up the historical pedigree of Clare village perfectly.  For anyone interested in geography, social history or church history, this is the book for you.  This seemingly insignificant corner of Co. Armagh punches well above its weight when it comes to history, filling over 600 pages with a treasure trove of information.  Humour and heartbreak abound in stories shared by the generations that have gone before us. 

History is not just about kings and queens or great battles.  The most important history of all is our own and that of our forefathers.  They were the ones who did the living and the working and the dying in an era that has all but disappeared.  Countless stories, accompanied by beautiful old maps and photographs, have all been documented in this one book.

Clare’s history dates back at least 1,500 years, from ancient forts and forgotten roads to uprisings and murder.  From crime to sport; schooling to farming; the role of women and the role of war and so very much more.  As mentioned by Samuel Lewis, the remains of Clare Castle can still be found, and beautiful Clare Bridge is one of the oldest working monuments in the county.  Built in the early 1700s, its pedigree is much older and the design is something of an architectural rarity.  It is probably one of the major factors for the growth of the village. 

The church itself is one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in Ireland, having been established in 1633.  It is an example of a Plantation church and to say that its earliest years were turbulent, would be an understatement.  The little church was destroyed during the 1641 Uprising and many in the surrounding area were killed.  However, the congregation survived and by the 18th century it had over 400 families.  Little wonder, as in those very early days, there were only 3 Presbyterian congregations in the locality – Clare, Markethill and Vinecash.  The current Meeting-house is the 4th building to occupy the site, built in 1828 at a cost of £750.