Kilkee
Encyclopedia
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. It has been a resort since the early 19th century when it was featured on the front page of the Illustrated London News
as the premier bathing
spot in what was then the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
. The town retains some of its 19th-century Victorian
feel, and also features many modern amenities. The horseshoe bay is protected from the Atlantic Ocean
weather by the Duggerna Reef
. Kilkee has regularly been awarded the Blue Flag by the European Commission
. In 2006, a statue of Richard Harris
was unveiled in Kilkee by actor Russell Crowe
who spoke very highly of the town saying it had some of the best public walks in the world. Summer holidays in 1950s Kilkee are evocatively described in Homan Potterton's
memoir, Rathcormick (2001).
The last weekend in June sees an influx of triathletes as Kilkee hosts the Hell of the West Triathlon, the longest running triathlon in the country, this is one of the biggest and toughest triathlons in the Triathlon Ireland schedule with upwards of 600 athletes taking part in a 1500 metre swim, 45 km cycle and finishing with a hard 10 km road race,
Kilkee is also a mecca for divers. Jacques Cousteau declared that it was the best diving spot in Europe. The Kilkee Dive Centre, Kilkee http://www.oceanlife.ie is a fully equipped SCUBA diving centre which caters to both beginners and experts. Divers can go to depths from 10 metres (32 feet) to 45 metres (147 feet). The diverse marine life attracts divers from around the world.
Kilkee is home to an 18-hole golf course
. The first and second tee
s overlook the Atlantic Ocean and the third tee overlooks Chimney Bay.
Kilkee has a strong GAA tradition, where the local team is known as St. Senan's Kilkee (blues and white colour jersey). The club has won many county finals at all levels and has reached two Munster Senior Football Final deciders. The people of the town are proud of their strong history with Gaelic sports, which is an unreplaceable part of local culture.
A version of racquetball (not squash, as is often incorrectly stated) has been played against the high sandstone walls in the West End for generations, and it is possible that the rules were codified in Kilkee before racquetball was standardized anywhere else. The main trophy, the Tivoli cup, was first competed for in Kilkee in the 1930s; racquetball in its current form was not codified internationally until 1950. Interestingly, obstruction in the Kilkee game uses the racquetball term ("hinder") rather than the squash one ("let").
. The festival was held over 3 days from September 7 - 9 and consisted of live music and water sport events including a surf
competition In Spanish Point
. Although Cois Fharraige was a new event it managed to attract some well-known bands such as Republic of Loose
, Fun Lovin Criminals, The Blizzards
, Ham Sandwich, Ocean Colour Scene
and Delorentos
.
from Ennis
, the other being the neighbouring town of Kilrush
(see Irish railway history
). The railway closed in 1961. There are regular bus services provided by Bus Éireann
which serve Kilrush
, Ennis
and Limerick
.
Kilkee is known for its many walking routes which lead out of the town over the cliffs in both directions.
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 midway between Kilrush
Kilrush
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.-History:...
and Doonbeg on the N67
N67 road (Ireland)
The N67 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It runs from Kilcolgan to Tarbert and passes though Kinvara, Ballyvaughan, Lisdoonvarna, Ennistymon, Lahinch, Miltown Malbay, Quilty, Doonbeg and Kilkee.-See also:*Roads in Ireland*Motorways in Ireland...
road
Roads in Ireland
The island of Ireland, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has an extensive network of tens of thousands of kilometres of public roads, usually surfaced. These roads have been developed and modernised over centuries, from trackways suitable only for walkers and horses, to...
. The town, one of the most famous resorts in Ireland, is particularly popular as a seaside resort
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
with people from Limerick City. It has been a resort since the early 19th century when it was featured on the front page of the Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper; the first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842. It was published weekly until 1971 and then increasingly less frequently until publication ceased in 2003.-History:...
as the premier bathing
Sea bathing
Sea bathing is swimming in the sea or in sea water and a sea bath is a protective enclosure for sea bathing. Unlike bathing in a swimming pool, which is generally done for pleasure or exercise purposes, sea bathing was once thought to have curative or therapeutic value. It arose from the medieval...
spot in what was then the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. The town retains some of its 19th-century Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
feel, and also features many modern amenities. The horseshoe bay is protected from 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...
weather by the Duggerna Reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
. Kilkee has regularly been awarded the Blue Flag by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. In 2006, a statue of Richard Harris
Richard Harris
Richard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
was unveiled in Kilkee by actor Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
who spoke very highly of the town saying it had some of the best public walks in the world. Summer holidays in 1950s Kilkee are evocatively described in Homan Potterton's
Homan Potterton
Homan Potterton is an art historian and writer who was director of the National Gallery of Ireland, 1980-88. He was previously an assistant keeper, curator, at the National Gallery, London. He was editor of Irish Arts Review, 1993-2002...
memoir, Rathcormick (2001).
Sport
Along with bathing on the strand, swimmers can choose from the Pollock Holes, New Found Out and Byrnes Cove. The Pollock Holes, on the west end of town, are three natural rock-enclosed pools, with water that is changed by every tide. The Pollock Holes are hugely popular with visitors to the town. The diving boards at New Found Out allow for dives of up to 13 metres (45 feet) into the open sea. Every year there is a huge entry, sometimes in the hundreds, for the Bay Swim which is a race from the east end of the town to the west end across the bay.The last weekend in June sees an influx of triathletes as Kilkee hosts the Hell of the West Triathlon, the longest running triathlon in the country, this is one of the biggest and toughest triathlons in the Triathlon Ireland schedule with upwards of 600 athletes taking part in a 1500 metre swim, 45 km cycle and finishing with a hard 10 km road race,
Kilkee is also a mecca for divers. Jacques Cousteau declared that it was the best diving spot in Europe. The Kilkee Dive Centre, Kilkee http://www.oceanlife.ie is a fully equipped SCUBA diving centre which caters to both beginners and experts. Divers can go to depths from 10 metres (32 feet) to 45 metres (147 feet). The diverse marine life attracts divers from around the world.
Kilkee is home to an 18-hole golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
. The first and second tee
Tee
A tee is a stand used to support a stationary ball so that the player can strike it, particularly in golf, tee ball, American football, and rugby.- Etymology :...
s overlook the Atlantic Ocean and the third tee overlooks Chimney Bay.
Kilkee has a strong GAA tradition, where the local team is known as St. Senan's Kilkee (blues and white colour jersey). The club has won many county finals at all levels and has reached two Munster Senior Football Final deciders. The people of the town are proud of their strong history with Gaelic sports, which is an unreplaceable part of local culture.
A version of racquetball (not squash, as is often incorrectly stated) has been played against the high sandstone walls in the West End for generations, and it is possible that the rules were codified in Kilkee before racquetball was standardized anywhere else. The main trophy, the Tivoli cup, was first competed for in Kilkee in the 1930s; racquetball in its current form was not codified internationally until 1950. Interestingly, obstruction in the Kilkee game uses the racquetball term ("hinder") rather than the squash one ("let").
Festival
In 2007, Kilkee hosted Cois FharraigeCois Fharraige
Cois Fharraige is a three-day Irish surfing and music festival, first held in Kilkee, County Clare in 2007. The name is derived from the Irish language phrase, "beside the sea". It is notable as Ireland's first surfing and music festival and is a joint project between MCD and Sony Ericsson...
. The festival was held over 3 days from September 7 - 9 and consisted of live music and water sport events including a surf
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
competition In Spanish Point
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...
. Although Cois Fharraige was a new event it managed to attract some well-known bands such as Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose are an Irish funk rock band from Dublin. Formed in 2001, the band currently consists of lead vocalist Mick Pyro, bass guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Loose, keyboardist Darragh, guitarists and vocalists Dave Pyro and Darach O' Laoire and drummers and percussionists Andre Lopes...
, Fun Lovin Criminals, The Blizzards
The Blizzards
The Blizzards are an Irish band from Mullingar in County Westmeath. They were formed by Niall Breslin in late 2004, and also feature Dec Murphy , Justin Ryan, Anthony Doran and Aidan Lynch...
, Ham Sandwich, Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
and Delorentos
Delorentos
Delorentos are a Dublin-based Irish alternative rock band, formed in 2005. They consist of Rónan Yourell , Kieran McGuinness , Níal Conlan and Ross McCormick...
.
Transport
The town was once one of the two termini of the West Clare RailwayWest 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 other being the neighbouring town of Kilrush
Kilrush
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.-History:...
(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. There are regular bus services provided by Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
which serve Kilrush
Kilrush
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.-History:...
, 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 ....
and 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...
.
Life
The town is undergoing considerable expansion with the development of hotels, estates and other forms of housing. During the peak tourist season the beach or "horse shoe" bay is crowded as the population expands to 25,000 during the summer months. The town's main source of income is the tourist industry, so many recreational places have been established, including restaurants, pubs and cafés.Kilkee is known for its many walking routes which lead out of the town over the cliffs in both directions.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland