Atlantic Hotel (Spanish Point, Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The Atlantic Hotel is a former hotel in Spanish Point
, County Clare
, Ireland
.
The Atlantic Hotel is built around 1810 by Thomas Moroney, member of the family of local landlords. For quite a while it could boast the title Biggest Hotel on the British Isles.
The quietness and luxury made it a popular refuge for Irish and English gentry.
After establishing a nine hole golf course at Spanish Point, they soon started a collaboration. While the guest of the hotel could play for free, others had to pay a green fee of 2 shilling 6 pence.
to take care of the poor people and - in emergencies - to take control over destitute people. After the outbreak of the potato blight (Phytophthora infestans
) and the failure of the potato crops, the system almost cracked under the pressure. Spanish Point fell under the Poor Law Union
of Ennistymon. The Poor Law Union had set up a workhouse
between Ennistymon and Lahinch
When the real trouble broke out due to the famine, the workhouse was soon overwhelmed. The Poor Law Union leased several other big buildings, to serve as auxiliary workhouses. The Atlantic Hotel was one of them, and from September 1848 it housed 500 women and children.
In 1893 the hotel was owned by mrs. E.L. Moroney.
near Quilty
. Despite the extreme danger of storm and sea the fishermen from Quilty manned their currach
s and came to the rescue. Over three days they managed to save most of the crewmembers, except the captain. Due to a broken leg he could not be moved. He was rescued later, after the storm, by a navy vessel.
The French Government was very impressed. At an event in the Atlantic Hotel the Government presented the gallant fishermen with bronze medals.
. But they did not dare to travel to Spanish Point after the Irish War of Independence
and the Civil War
.. The building is still mentioned in the 1942 ITA Survey, but not as a hotel.
After the closure of the hotel, it went derelict and became a ruin. Nowadays just a few pieces are left.
Spanish Point
Spanish Point is a village in the parish of Miltown Malbay in County Clare, Ireland, situated on the west coast of Ireland. The town is home to many holiday homes, and during the winter has a significantly smaller population. It is also one of the better surf breaks in County Clare...
, County Clare
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
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
The Atlantic Hotel is built around 1810 by Thomas Moroney, member of the family of local landlords. For quite a while it could boast the title Biggest Hotel on the British Isles.
History
Circa 1845 Thomas Moroney extended the hotel to sixty rooms with luxurious hot and cold baths and spacious halls.The quietness and luxury made it a popular refuge for Irish and English gentry.
After establishing a nine hole golf course at Spanish Point, they soon started a collaboration. While the guest of the hotel could play for free, others had to pay a green fee of 2 shilling 6 pence.
Auxiliary workhouse
In 1838 the English Government issued the Irish Poor LawsIrish Poor Laws
The Irish Poor Laws were a series of Acts of Parliament intended to address social instability due to widespread and persistent poverty in Ireland. While some legislation had been introduced by the pre-Union Parliament of Ireland prior to the Act of Union, the most radical and comprehensive...
to take care of the poor people and - in emergencies - to take control over destitute people. After the outbreak of the potato blight (Phytophthora infestans
Phytophthora infestans
Phytophthora infestans is an oomycete that causes the serious potato disease known as late blight or potato blight. . Late blight was a major culprit in the 1840s European, the 1845 Irish and 1846 Highland potato famines...
) and the failure of the potato crops, the system almost cracked under the pressure. Spanish Point fell under the Poor Law Union
Poor Law Union
A Poor Law Union was a unit used for local government in the United Kingdom from the 19th century. The administration of the Poor Law was the responsibility of parishes, which varied wildly in their size, populations, financial resources, rateable values and requirements...
of Ennistymon. The Poor Law Union had set up a workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
between Ennistymon and Lahinch
Lahinch
Lahinch or Lehinch is a village on Liscannor Bay, on the northwest coast of County Clare, in northern Munster, Ireland. It lies on the N67 national secondary road....
When the real trouble broke out due to the famine, the workhouse was soon overwhelmed. The Poor Law Union leased several other big buildings, to serve as auxiliary workhouses. The Atlantic Hotel was one of them, and from September 1848 it housed 500 women and children.
In 1893 the hotel was owned by mrs. E.L. Moroney.
Leon XIII
The hotel also played a part in the story of the rescue of the Leon XIII. During a very severe storm the sail vessel Leon XIII ran on a reefReef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
near Quilty
Quilty
Quilty is an Irish family name which has spread throughout the English-speaking world.-Origins and history:The name "Quilty" is an Anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic name of "Caoilte" . There was a mythic Celtic warrior by the name of Caoilte Mac Ronan, who was a member of the Fianna and the...
. Despite the extreme danger of storm and sea the fishermen from Quilty manned their currach
Currach
A Currach is a type of Irish boat with a wooden frame, over which animal skins or hides were once stretched, though now canvas is more usual. It is sometimes anglicised as "Curragh". The construction and design of the currach is unique to the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, with variations in...
s and came to the rescue. Over three days they managed to save most of the crewmembers, except the captain. Due to a broken leg he could not be moved. He was rescued later, after the storm, by a navy vessel.
The French Government was very impressed. At an event in the Atlantic Hotel the Government presented the gallant fishermen with bronze medals.
Closing down
About 1930 the hotel was permanently closed down. It was largely depending on the English gentryGentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
. But they did not dare to travel to Spanish Point after the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
and the Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
.. The building is still mentioned in the 1942 ITA Survey, but not as a hotel.
After the closure of the hotel, it went derelict and became a ruin. Nowadays just a few pieces are left.