Welcome to Newtown

Newtown, in County Tipperary, is like a storybook place, full of fascinating history. It's a small area, known as a 'townland,' in Ireland. This means it's not quite a town but a piece of land with its own special name.

Long ago, Newtown was full of farms where people grew their own food and raised animals. Imagine waking up to the sound of roosters and going to bed with the smell of fresh hay!

One special thing about Newtown is its ancient ringfort. A ringfort is like a protective circle made from earth and stone. People in ancient times, about a thousand years ago, built these to keep their families and animals safe. Can you picture living in a circle surrounded by stone walls?

There might not be grand castles or famous battles in Newtown's history, but it's the everyday stories of the people who lived here that make it special. It's a place where people worked the land, raised families, and kept their heritage alive for thousands of years. So, when you think of Newtown, think of a living storybook, with each page filled with the lives of the people who have called it home.

  1. What is a 'townland'?
  2. What is one thing that people in Newtown did long ago?
  3. What is a ringfort and why was it built?
  4. Why are there no grand castles or famous battles in Newtown's history? (higher order)
  5. What does the author mean when they say Newtown is like a 'living storybook'? (higher order)

All About Newtown

Newtown, in County Tipperary, is a wonderful place tucked away in Ireland. It's not a big city, but it's very special. There are a few streets that are fun to explore. One of them is Main Street, where you can find the local shop.

This place is rich in beautiful nature. Lots of animals and plants live here. Have you heard of robins? They're little birds with red bellies and they love living in Newtown. You might also see squirrels scampering around the trees. The trees here are mainly oak and ash. In spring, you'll see daisies and buttercups popping up everywhere!

There's also a lovely river that flows through Newtown, called the River Suir. It's home to many fish and ducks. If you're lucky, you might even spot a heron standing still in the water, waiting to catch its lunch!

Newtown doesn't have mountains, but it has beautiful green hills that look like giant waves in a sea of grass. You can climb them for a great view of the whole town.

So, Newtown might not be the biggest town, but it's full of life and beauty. It's a great place for an adventure!.

  1. What kind of trees are mainly found in Newtown?
  2. Name the river that flows through Newtown.
  3. Describe the birds and animals you might see in Newtown.
  4. Using a map of Newtown, can you identify the path of the River Suir and the location of Main Street?
  5. Explore the area around Newtown and find something of geographical interest. What did you discover?

My Family and Newtown

Hi there! My name's Denny and I'm 8 years old. I live in a super cool place called Newtown, in Co. Tipperary. It's really fun growing up here! We've got this awesome place called the Rock of Cashel nearby. It's a big old castle, like where kings and queens used to live. I love imagining I'm a knight defending the castle from dragons!

We also have the Swiss Cottage. It's a cute little house that looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale. It's like walking into a storybook every time I visit.

I also love going to the Apple Farm. They have loads of apple trees and even make their own apple juice! It makes me feel like a big grown-up when I go there with my mom and dad, picking apples and sipping fresh apple juice.

But my favourite place in Newtown is my school. It's small but full of my friends and kind teachers. I love seeing them every day and learning new things. I hope you can visit Newtown someday and see all these fantastic places!

  1. What is the name of the castle near Denny's home?
  2. Can you describe the Swiss Cottage based on Denny's description?
  3. What does Denny do at the Apple Farm?
  4. Why does Denny love his school?
  5. If you could visit one place in Newtown Co. Tipperary, where would you go and why?

The Logainm of Newtown

Newtown is a small village in County Tipperary, Ireland. The name 'Newtown' comes from the Irish word 'An Baile Nua', which means 'The New Town'. This name was given because the town was newly built many, many years ago.

In the past, Ireland was not always English-speaking. A long time ago, people spoke Irish. But, over time, English became more widely used and many places were given English names. So, 'An Baile Nua' became 'Newtown'. But even today, some people still use the Irish name.

Nowadays, Newtown is still a peaceful little village. People live there, kids play there, and it's a wonderful community. The name 'Newtown' reminds us of the time when it was a brand new place and tells us a little bit about its history.

  1. What does 'An Baile Nua' mean in English?
  2. Why was Newtown given its English name?
  3. What language did people in Ireland speak a long time ago?
  4. How does the name 'Newtown' tell us about the village's history?
  5. Do some people still use the Irish name for Newtown today?

Slideshow - Newtown
A full set of teaching plans for teaching about Newtown