Kilrush
Encyclopedia
Kilrush is a coastal town in County Clare
, Ireland
. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon
in the south-west of the county. Kilrush is a town of great historical significance, being one of the listed Heritage Towns of Ireland.
John Ormsby Vandeleur built the large family home, Kilrush House in 1808. He owned much of Kilrush. With wealth achieved from a financially beneficial marriage and some political skulduggery, he decided to develop the town. A Scots businessman James Paterson, who had been a gunboat lieutenant until 1802, assisted him in this project. Paterson entered the oats trade in west Clare and in 1802 he was given a site on the square from Vandeleur and erected a six-storey building.
The Napoleonic Wars
(1799–1815) led to an improvement in agricultural prices. As Kilrush and the neighbouring countryside began to prosper, Hely Dutton reported in 1808 that the town was ‘rising fast into some consequence’. He also acknowledged Paterson’s role as a ‘very active and intelligent inhabitant, who has been of the utmost benefit to Kilrush, and the adjoining counties’. In 1812 Paterson went into the shipping business and by 1817 he had a steamboat operating regularly between Limerick
and Kilrush. The increasing popularity of Kilkee
as a bathing resort brought many transit travellers to Kilrush.
In 1837 Samuel Lewis described Kilrush as a seaport, market and post town. The main industries, chiefly for home consumption, were flannel
s, stockings and bundle cloth. The main trade was corn, butter, pigs, agricultural products and hides. There were works for refining rock salt
for domestic use, a tan-yard, a soap factory and a nail factory. Branches of the national and agricultural banks had been opened in the town and a constabulary police force was also stationed there. A small prison was built in 1825 and a court house in 1831.
However the famine years (1845–1849) brought much hardship to Kilrush. Famine, evictions, fever and cholera reduced the population of south-west Clare to such an extent that it never again attained its pre-famine numbers. In the post-famine era, the Vandeleur name became synonymous with the worst of landlord evictions, with over 20,000 evicted in the Kilrush Union. The Kilrush workhouse witnessed terrible deprivation and deaths. By that stage Hector Vandeleur had succeeded John Ormsby Vandeleur.
Kilrush survived these setbacks and with the arrival of the West Clare Railway
towards the end of the 19th century, developed into a bustling market town. The designation of Kilrush as a Heritage Town recognises its legacy as a landlord estate town with a rich maritime and market tradition. There is a long maritime tradition in the town and the presence of a 1500 year old monastic settlement at Scattery Island (just offshore) shows that clearly. The old port of Kilrush is now home to a 120 berth marina with lock gate access to the Shannon Estuary
and the Atlantic Ocean
. An impressive walled garden on the grounds of the old Vandeleur estate can still be visited today, though their home was gutted by fire in the late 19th century.
Kilrush hosts a traditional Irish music
festival in August of each year, the Éigse Mrs. Crotty festival, so named after a famed concertina player from the town.
From 1951 through to 1966, Kilrush supported an Operatic Society of renown, with productions of "The Student Prince" 1951 to "Faust", "Tosca", "Lucia" to name a few. The principal artistes hailed from all over Europe while the operas were produced by: Powell Lloyd
of Covent Garden. The society has been re-born under the banner of the "Kilrush Choral Society" and has five highly successful seasons under its belt. Their first show "My Fair Lady" (2005) was followed by "The Sound of Music" (2006) followed by "Oliver" (2007) and "Showboat" (2008) while their most recent 2009 production was of "Sunrise Sunset", a variety of five different musicals. The aim of the present society is to eventually branch into Grand Opera.
Scattery Island is a small island in the Shannon estuary about 15 minutes from Kilrush by boat. It was once a monastic settlement founded by St. Senan
. It features one of the oldest and tallest round towers in Ireland.
Offshore resides a large pod of Bottlenose dolphin
s who are resident year-round in the estuary. Ferries to the island and dolphin tours are available year-round, weather permitting. 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Kilrush is the seaside resort of Kilkee, a sandy horseshoe bay on the Atlantic coast.
Sailing is also very popular. Classes and instructions on boating are available at the town marina. The Western Yacht Club has in the last decade been rejuvenated, being one of the oldest yacht clubs in the world.
Tennis, football (soccer) and athletics are catered for at the Cooraclare Road complex. The rugby club is based on the Doonbeg Road.
Although Kilrush has enjoyed moderate success in some sports, the town's passion is Gaelic Football. Kilrush Shamrocks GAA Club is located on the Killimer Road. The ground, Captain Tubridy Memorial Park is traditionally called "The Cricket Field", since it was used for that sport during the 19th century. The club was founded in 1886 and has recorded 21 county titles, although recent history has seen the coveted title eluding the club.
Kilrush also has A soccer team Called Moneypoint and there u-11 recently Came 3rd in the leauge
, which is called Gaelscoil Ui Choimin.
The secondary school is called Kilrush Community School which is located within walking distance of the primary schools.
Ennis to Kilrush road. The approach from the north and east is via the N18 (west) from Limerick or Shannon and N18 (south) from Galway
. Kilrush is about 30 minutes from Ennis
, 1 hour from Limerick and 45 minutes from Shannon Airport. It can be reached from Dublin in approx. 3 hours, thanks to recent motorway upgrades on both the Limerick and Galway routes to Dublin.
From the south there is a Car Ferry from Tarbert
(County Kerry
) to Killimer
, which is 5 minutes drive from Kilrush. Crossing time is 20 minutes.
Kilrush was once one of the twin termini
of the West Clare Railway
from Ennis
, the neighbouring town of Kilkee
being the other (see Irish railway history
). The railway closed in 1961 but a short section of the railway has been re-opened at Moyasta as a tourist attraction. One of the original steam engines on the route, the Slieve Callan has been lovingly restored.
Kilrush Creek Marina is the first stopping point at the Atlantic Ocean
end of the Shannon Estuary
, with its lock gates providing protection from the tidal estuary. There are ample berths and onshore facilities for visiting sailors. There is a 40 tonne travel Hoist for lifting out boats and ample storage.
Bus service: The town is serviced by buses run by Bus Éireann between 3 to 4 times a day depending on season.
with the town of Plouzané
in Brittany
, France
since 1982.
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
in the south-west of the county. Kilrush is a town of great historical significance, being one of the listed Heritage Towns of Ireland.
History
Kilrush has existed since the 16th century but it was not until the 18th century that it underwent major development. This development coincided with the succession of John Ormsby Vandeleur as the wealthiest landlord in the district. Of Dutch origin, the Vandeleur family was the most prominent landlord family in West Clare. They designed the layout of the town and many of the present day street names derive from Vandeleur family names.John Ormsby Vandeleur built the large family home, Kilrush House in 1808. He owned much of Kilrush. With wealth achieved from a financially beneficial marriage and some political skulduggery, he decided to develop the town. A Scots businessman James Paterson, who had been a gunboat lieutenant until 1802, assisted him in this project. Paterson entered the oats trade in west Clare and in 1802 he was given a site on the square from Vandeleur and erected a six-storey building.
The Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
(1799–1815) led to an improvement in agricultural prices. As Kilrush and the neighbouring countryside began to prosper, Hely Dutton reported in 1808 that the town was ‘rising fast into some consequence’. He also acknowledged Paterson’s role as a ‘very active and intelligent inhabitant, who has been of the utmost benefit to Kilrush, and the adjoining counties’. In 1812 Paterson went into the shipping business and by 1817 he had a steamboat operating regularly between Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
and Kilrush. The increasing popularity of Kilkee
Kilkee
Kilkee is a small coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located midway between Kilrush and Doonbeg on the N67 road. The town, one of the most famous resorts in Ireland, is particularly popular as a seaside resort with people from Limerick City...
as a bathing resort brought many transit travellers to Kilrush.
Flannel
Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of various fineness. Flannel was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but is now often made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fibre. Flannel may be brushed to create extra softness or remain unbrushed. The brushing process is a mechanical process...
s, stockings and bundle cloth. The main trade was corn, butter, pigs, agricultural products and hides. There were works for refining rock salt
Halite
Halite , commonly known as rock salt, is the mineral form of sodium chloride . Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow or gray depending on the amount and type of impurities...
for domestic use, a tan-yard, a soap factory and a nail factory. Branches of the national and agricultural banks had been opened in the town and a constabulary police force was also stationed there. A small prison was built in 1825 and a court house in 1831.
However the famine years (1845–1849) brought much hardship to Kilrush. Famine, evictions, fever and cholera reduced the population of south-west Clare to such an extent that it never again attained its pre-famine numbers. In the post-famine era, the Vandeleur name became synonymous with the worst of landlord evictions, with over 20,000 evicted in the Kilrush Union. The Kilrush workhouse witnessed terrible deprivation and deaths. By that stage Hector Vandeleur had succeeded John Ormsby Vandeleur.
Kilrush survived these setbacks and with the arrival of the West Clare Railway
West Clare Railway
The West Clare Railway originally operated in County Clare, Ireland between 1887 and 1961, and has partially re-opened. This gauge narrow gauge railway ran from the county town of Ennis, via numerous stopping-points along the West Clare coast to two termini, at Kilrush and Kilkee...
towards the end of the 19th century, developed into a bustling market town. The designation of Kilrush as a Heritage Town recognises its legacy as a landlord estate town with a rich maritime and market tradition. There is a long maritime tradition in the town and the presence of a 1500 year old monastic settlement at Scattery Island (just offshore) shows that clearly. The old port of Kilrush is now home to a 120 berth marina with lock gate access to the Shannon Estuary
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. An impressive walled garden on the grounds of the old Vandeleur estate can still be visited today, though their home was gutted by fire in the late 19th century.
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
festival in August of each year, the Éigse Mrs. Crotty festival, so named after a famed concertina player from the town.
From 1951 through to 1966, Kilrush supported an Operatic Society of renown, with productions of "The Student Prince" 1951 to "Faust", "Tosca", "Lucia" to name a few. The principal artistes hailed from all over Europe while the operas were produced by: Powell Lloyd
Powell Lloyd
Harold Powell Lloyd was an English operatic tenor and opera director and producer.-Biography:Lloyd studied singing at Morley College and later with Amy Martin and Herbert Oliver. He began his career as an actor at the Old Vic in his early 20s, excelling in the plays of William Shakespeare. During...
of Covent Garden. The society has been re-born under the banner of the "Kilrush Choral Society" and has five highly successful seasons under its belt. Their first show "My Fair Lady" (2005) was followed by "The Sound of Music" (2006) followed by "Oliver" (2007) and "Showboat" (2008) while their most recent 2009 production was of "Sunrise Sunset", a variety of five different musicals. The aim of the present society is to eventually branch into Grand Opera.
Scattery Island is a small island in the Shannon estuary about 15 minutes from Kilrush by boat. It was once a monastic settlement founded by St. Senan
Saint Senan
Senán mac Geircinn is a prominent Munster saint in Irish tradition, founder of Inis Cathaig and patron of the Corco Baiscinn and the Uí Fhidgeinte....
. It features one of the oldest and tallest round towers in Ireland.
Offshore resides a large pod of Bottlenose dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
s who are resident year-round in the estuary. Ferries to the island and dolphin tours are available year-round, weather permitting. 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Kilrush is the seaside resort of Kilkee, a sandy horseshoe bay on the Atlantic coast.
Sport
The town has an 18 hole golf course on the Ennis Road.Sailing is also very popular. Classes and instructions on boating are available at the town marina. The Western Yacht Club has in the last decade been rejuvenated, being one of the oldest yacht clubs in the world.
Tennis, football (soccer) and athletics are catered for at the Cooraclare Road complex. The rugby club is based on the Doonbeg Road.
Although Kilrush has enjoyed moderate success in some sports, the town's passion is Gaelic Football. Kilrush Shamrocks GAA Club is located on the Killimer Road. The ground, Captain Tubridy Memorial Park is traditionally called "The Cricket Field", since it was used for that sport during the 19th century. The club was founded in 1886 and has recorded 21 county titles, although recent history has seen the coveted title eluding the club.
Kilrush also has A soccer team Called Moneypoint and there u-11 recently Came 3rd in the leauge
Schools
Kilrush has two primary schools and one secondary school. St. Senans NS is an English speaking school, the other is an Irish speaking GaelscoilGaelscoil
A gaelscoil is an Irish-medium primary school in Ireland, of a sort found outside the traditionally Irish-speaking regions, especially in urban areas....
, which is called Gaelscoil Ui Choimin.
The secondary school is called Kilrush Community School which is located within walking distance of the primary schools.
Transport
Kilrush is on the N68N68 road (Ireland)
The N68 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It runs from Ennis to Kilrush. It is entirely in County Clare.-See also:*Roads in Ireland*Motorways in Ireland*National primary road*Regional road-References:* – Department of Transport...
Ennis to Kilrush road. The approach from the north and east is via the N18 (west) from Limerick or Shannon and N18 (south) from Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
. Kilrush is about 30 minutes from Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
, 1 hour from Limerick and 45 minutes from Shannon Airport. It can be reached from Dublin in approx. 3 hours, thanks to recent motorway upgrades on both the Limerick and Galway routes to Dublin.
From the south there is a Car Ferry from Tarbert
Tarbert, County Kerry
Tarbert is a town in the north of County Kerry, with woodland to the south and the Shannon estuary to the north. It lies on the N69 coast road that runs along the estuary from Limerick before turning inland at Tarbert towards Listowel, and has two schools Tarbert Primary and Tarbert...
(County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
) to Killimer
Killimer
Killimer is a village in County Clare, Ireland. The village is located at the northern banks of the Shannon and the N67 is passing through the village. Killimer is best known for the ferry Killmer-Tarbert, part of the N67. The ferry is operated by Shannon Ferries.According to the geographer Samuel...
, which is 5 minutes drive from Kilrush. Crossing time is 20 minutes.
Kilrush was once one of the twin termini
Terminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
of the West Clare Railway
West Clare Railway
The West Clare Railway originally operated in County Clare, Ireland between 1887 and 1961, and has partially re-opened. This gauge narrow gauge railway ran from the county town of Ennis, via numerous stopping-points along the West Clare coast to two termini, at Kilrush and Kilkee...
from Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
, the neighbouring town of Kilkee
Kilkee
Kilkee is a small coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located midway between Kilrush and Doonbeg on the N67 road. The town, one of the most famous resorts in Ireland, is particularly popular as a seaside resort with people from Limerick City...
being the other (see Irish railway history
History of rail transport in Ireland
The history of rail transport in Ireland began only a decade later than that of Great Britain. By its peak in 1920, Ireland counted 5,500 route kilometers...
). The railway closed in 1961 but a short section of the railway has been re-opened at Moyasta as a tourist attraction. One of the original steam engines on the route, the Slieve Callan has been lovingly restored.
Kilrush Creek Marina is the first stopping point at the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
end of the Shannon Estuary
Shannon Estuary
The Shannon Estuary is a large estuary where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary has Limerick at its head and its seaward limits are marked by Loop Head to the north and Kerry Head to the south...
, with its lock gates providing protection from the tidal estuary. There are ample berths and onshore facilities for visiting sailors. There is a 40 tonne travel Hoist for lifting out boats and ample storage.
Bus service: The town is serviced by buses run by Bus Éireann between 3 to 4 times a day depending on season.
People
- Thomas CusackThomas CusackThomas Cusack of Chicago was born in Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, October 5, 1858, and died in Oak Park, Illinois on November 19, 1926. He was a pioneer and entrepreneur in the outdoor advertising industry and a politician, serving as a Democratic U.S...
(1858–1926), ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Representative from IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
4th District, 1899–1901, was born in Kilrush - Joe JacobJoe JacobJoe Jacob is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician.Joe Jacob was born in Kilrush, County Clare in 1939. He was educated at De La Salle in Wicklow and Terenure College in Dublin...
, Fianna FáilFianna FáilFianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician - Fr. John O'BrienFr. John O'BrienJohn O'Brien was a Roman Catholic priest who worked in the Archdiocese of Dublin from 1956 until his death in 2008. He is best remembered as one of Ireland's leading conductors, a prominent organist and founder of the retired St...
(1931–2008), founder of the St. James's Choir - Pat UptonPat UptonPat Upton was an Irish veterinarian and a senior Labour Party politician.He was born in Kilrush, County Clare and educated at St Flannan's College in Ennis, at University College Galway, and at University College Dublin where he received a doctorate in veterinary medicine...
, politician and veterinarian - Michael TubridyMichael TubridyMichael "Mick" Tubridy is an Irish musician and structural engineer.- Career :In 1962, he was a founder member of the traditional Irish music group, The Chieftains, with whom he played the tin whistle, Irish flute, and concertina. Michael remained a member of the group until 1979.He worked as a...
, original member of The ChieftainsThe ChieftainsThe Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:... - Gregory Young, amateur golfer who played international golf for Ireland and finalist in the South of Ireland five times
- Joe McDermottJoe McDermott (golfer)Joe McDermott is an Irish-American professional golfer.Born and raised in County Clare, Ireland, McDermott moved to the United States in the 1960s...
, professional golfer and winner of the Irish Senior Open in 1998 - David Richard PigotDavid Richard PigotDavid Richard Pigot PC, KC was one of the leading Irish judges of his time.Pigot was born in Kilrush, the only son of John Pigot, a doctor. He went to school in Fermoy and graduated from the University of Dublin...
(1796-1873), leading Irish judge, was a native of Kilrush, where his father was the local doctor - Mrs. CrottyElizabeth CrottyElizabeth Crotty, better known als Mrs. Crotty was a famous concertina player out of Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland....
- musician
Twin towns — sister cities
Kilrush has been twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with the town of Plouzané
Plouzané
Plouzané is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-History:The shores south of Plouzané are in a strategic location for the defense of the Goulet de Brest...
in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
since 1982.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- List of RNLI stations
- Market Houses in IrelandMarket Houses in the Republic of IrelandMarket houses are a notable feature of many Irish towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper floor was...