Lisdoonvarna
Lisdoonvarna
Lios Dúin Bhearna | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Lisdoonvarna Main Street | |
  Lisdoonvarna Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°01′49″N 9°17′22″W / 53.0303°N 9.2894°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Clare |
| Elevation | 94 m (308 ft) |
| Population (2011[1]) | |
| • Urban | 739 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | R133984 |
Lisdoonvarna (Irish: Lios Dúin Bhearna, meaning 'fort of the gapped keep')[2] is a spa town of 739 people (2011 census) in County Clare in Ireland. The town is famous for its music and festivals. Although the music festival was discontinued in the 1980s, Lisdoonvarna still hosts its annual matchmaking festival each September.
Geography
Lisdoonvarna is located in the area of County Clare known as the Burren, on the N67 road between Ballyvaughan and Ennistymon. The Aille river flows through the town, where it is joined by the Gowlaun and Kilmoon streams.
The town is in the civil parish of Kilmoon. Nearby townlands in this parish include Ballyinsheen Beg, Ballyinsheen More, Rathbaun and Rooska. Lisdoonvarana Parish is within the Galway diocese and comprises of 3 other villages in North Clare: Doolin, Kilshanny, Toovahera make up the Parish of Lisdoonvarna.
Name
The town takes its name from the Irish Lios Dúin Bhearna meaning the "lios dúin", or enclosured fort, of the gap (bearna). It is believed that the fort referred to in this name is the green earthen fort of Lissateeaun ("fort of the fairy hill"), which lies 3 km to the northeast of the town, near the remains of a Norman-era castle.
History
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 257 | — |
| 1851 | 201 | −21.8% |
| 1861 | 151 | −24.9% |
| 1871 | 141 | −6.6% |
| 1881 | 218 | +54.6% |
| 1891 | 171 | −21.6% |
| 1901 | 223 | +30.4% |
| 1911 | 249 | +11.7% |
| 1926 | 220 | −11.6% |
| 1936 | 193 | −12.3% |
| 1946 | 231 | +19.7% |
| 1951 | 332 | +43.7% |
| 1956 | 618 | +86.1% |
| 1961 | 625 | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 656 | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 459 | −30.0% |
| 1981 | 607 | +32.2% |
| 1986 | 648 | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 842 | +29.9% |
| 1996 | 890 | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 822 | −7.6% |
| 2006 | 767 | −6.7% |
| [3] | ||
The present town is a comparatively new one by Irish standards, dating mainly from 1832. The town of Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare takes its name from Lisdoonvarna Castle which was built in 1619 by Denis Cloghessy, and once stood about 1.5 miles outside the present day town. The Ordnance Survey Map of 1840 records 3 houses in the main part of Lisdoonvarna town, with a number of cottages at nearby Rooska
The spa official opened in 1867, but the town was visited before by people partaking of the waters. Even by the 1840s, however, the facilities were quite primitive. The wells were privately owned by the Stacpoole family the three springs were first analysed by Dr Charles Lucas 1751, from nearby Ballingaddy, who is traditionally associated with the discovery of the wells, and Dr Sylvester O'Halloran, one of the founders of the Royal College of Surgeons. The waters of two of the springs are high in iron and sulphur and the third is a magnesium one. The spa's pump room dates from the 1860s, when it was built by the Stacpoole family. The advent of the West Care Railway in the 1890s brought the wells within relatively comfortable reach of the outside world. Travelers could reach Ennistymon, seven miles away, by train before completing the journey by horse and car. reference A hand Book of Lisdoonvarna and it vicinity 1876
On 11 September 1887 the house of landowner Mike Walsh was attacked by "moonlighters" (members of one of the organized bands of desperados that carried on a system of agrarian outrages in Ireland). A detachment of the Royal Irish Constabulary defended the house and its owner and there was heavy fighting in and around the house. Head Constable Whelehan was killed. All the moonlighters were captured. Seven constables, four acting constables and two head constables received the Constabulary Medal for valour.[4]
The spa prospered into the 20th century. In 1920, it was called the "Homberg of the Irish priests".[5]: 11
The area was officially classified as part of the West Clare Gaeltacht; an Irish-speaking community; until 1956.
Arts and culture
Events
In September each year one of Europe's largest matchmaking events is held in the town attracting upwards of 60,000 romantic hopefuls, bachelor farmers and accompanying revellers. The month-long event is an important tourist attraction. The current matchmaker is Willie Daily, a fourth-generation matchmaker.[6]
A now-defunct music festival which took place near the town is celebrated in a song of the same name written by the Irish folk singer, Christy Moore. This festival took place until 1983, when the last event was marred by a riot and the accidental drowning of eight people. A new Heritage Center was opened in June 2018 a the Spa Wells center charting the history of the town from 1750s.
Infrastructure
Spa
The spa originally consisted of four wells. Copperas Well, on Kilmoon stream, is now closed. It was used externally for skin conditions, ulcers and sores. The Magnesia and Iron Well remains open in season. The Twin Wells offer water rich in iron and sulphur. The main Sulphur Well lies at the bottom of the hill. All the waters contain iodine.[5]: 10
The spa park is located at the confluence of the kilmoon and Gowlaun rivers. The spa complex features a Victorian pump house among other amenities.[5]: 12 The Spa Wells in Lisdoonvarna is currently the only active Spa in Ireland. The Current Pump House was first established in 1867, but the story goes way way way back, A new Heritage Center was opened in June 2018 it charts back to the 1750’s See what the plans for Lisdoonvarna were back in the 1800’s its not what you might you expect and not where you would expect it. Lisdoonvarna Heritage Centre was opened in June 2018 known locally as the Spa Wells. People have been availing of the beneficial attributes of the waters of Lisdoonvarna since 1750s. It has been run by the community for almost 120 years . Over the past number of years Lisdoonvarna Fáilte (Community voluntary group who own and manage the property's) along with Lisdoonvarna Historical Society have restored and brought back to life the story of Lisdoonvarna and its waters. In May visitors can find a rare flower called the greater Butterworth but be carfull this little flower is a killer:]. Visit the centre to learn about local history and the waters in our award winning exhibition. Delve into the history of Ireland’s only surviving Victorian spa town, meet the leading landlord of the time, the promoters of the spa and study the photographic progress of the town from its humble beginnings to present day. Visitors are also welcome to sample the minerals of the sulphur waters. Sit and relax with stunning scenery and views of the garden and listen to the sound of the rivers. Our tea room is within the main building where samples of local tarts and scones can be tasted. In September each and every day there is dancing from 12:00-14:00 in the ball room.
Transport
Bus Éireann route 350 links Lisdoonvarna to several locations: Ennis, Ennistymon, Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Fanore, Kinvara and Galway. There are a number of journeys each way daily. Onward rail and bus connections are available at Ennis and Galway.
Spectacle Bridge, spanning the Aille river, dates from 1850.[7]
See also
References and notes
- ^ Census Statistics Office Ireland : Alphabetical list of Towns with their population, 2002 and 2006 Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lisdoonvarna Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved: 2013-09-05.
- ^ http://www.cso.ie/census and www.histpop.org. Lisdoonvarna was not regarded as a census town until 1840. Pre 1840 totals are for the townlands of Lisdoonvarna and Rathbaun, where the spas are located and the first hotel built for tourists was the Royal Spa Hotel was in 1832. For a discussion on the accuracy of pre-famine census returns see JJ Lee “On the accuracy of the pre-famine Irish censuses” in Irish Population, Economy and Society, edited by J.M. Goldstrom and L.A. Clarkson (1981) p54, and also "New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850” by Joel Mokyr and Cormac Ó Gráda in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Nov., 1984), pp. 473-488.
- ^ P.E Abbott and J.P Tamplin, British Galanntry Awards, page 274.
- ^ a b c Cunningham, George (1980). Burren Journey West. Shannonside Mid Western Regional Tourism Organisation. ISBN 0-9503080-2-1.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/world/europe/a-matchmaker-and-a-festival-keep-an-irish-tradition-alive.html?_r=0
- ^ "National Inventory of Architectural Heritage - Spectacle Bridge, County Clare". Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
External links
- BBC World Service documentary about the matchmaking festival
- Lisdoonvarna at the Clare County Library
