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'{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Use Irish English|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Lisdoonvarna |native_name = {{lang|ga|Lios Dúin Bhearna}} |native_name_lang = ga |settlement_type = Town |image_skyline = Lisdoonvarna2.JPG |image_caption = Lisdoonvarna Main Street |pushpin_map = Ireland |pushpin_label_position = right |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Munster]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Counties of Ireland|County]] |subdivision_name3 = [[County Clare]] |established_title = |established_date = |unit_pref = Metric |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |population_as_of = 2016 |population_footnotes = <ref name=cso2016>{{cite web | url = https://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=BC360D83-82A2-4669-90E9-6173F438873C | title = Sapmap Area: Settlements Lisdoonvarna | work = Census 2016 | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] | access-date = 25 October 2021}}</ref> |population = 829 |population_density_km2 = auto |timezone1 = [[West European Time|WET]] |utc_offset1 = +0 |timezone1_DST = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]] ([[Western European Summer Time|WEST]]) |utc_offset1_DST = -1 |coordinates = {{coord|53.0303|-9.2894|dim:25000_region:IE|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 94 |blank_name = [[Irish grid reference system|Irish Grid Reference]] |blank_info = {{iem4ibx|R133984}} |website = |footnotes = }} '''Lisdoonvarna''' ({{Irish place name|Lios Dúin Bhearna|fort of the gapped keep}})<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010331/https://www.logainm.ie/en/1416534 Lisdoonvarna] Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved: 2013-09-05.</ref> is a [[spa town]] in [[County Clare]] in [[Republic of Ireland|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. The population was 829 at the 2016 Census.<ref name=cso2016/> ==Geography== Lisdoonvarna is located in the area of County Clare known as [[the Burren]], on the [[N67 road (Ireland)|N67]] road between [[Ballyvaughan]] and [[Ennistymon]]. The [[Aille River (County Clare)|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. ==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&nbsp;km to the northeast of the town, near the remains of a Norman-era castle. ==History== {{Historical populations|state=collapsed |1841|257 |1851|201 |1861|151 |1871|141 |1881|218 |1891|171 |1901|223 |1911|249 |1926|220 |1936|193 |1946|231 |1951|332 |1956|618 |1961|625 |1966|656 |1971|459 |1981|607 |1986|648 |1991|842 |1996|890 |2002|822 |2006|767 |2011|739 |2016|829 | footnote=<ref name=cso2016/><ref>Census Statistics Office Ireland : [http://beyond2020.cso.ie/Census/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=1760 Alphabetical list of Towns with their population, 2002 and 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930013200/http://beyond2020.cso.ie/Census/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=1760 |date=2007-09-30 }}</ref><ref>http://www.cso.ie/census and www.histpop.org. Lisdoonvarna was not regarded as a census town until 1891. Pre 1891 totals are for the townlands of Lisdoonvarna and Rathbaun, where the spas are located, and the first guesthouses were built for tourists in the 1870s. For a discussion on the accuracy of [[Great Famine (Ireland)|pre-famine]] census returns see [[John Joseph Lee|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. </ref> }} The present town is a comparatively new one by Irish standards, dating mainly from the start of the 19th century. The spa official opened in 1845, but the town was visited before by people partaking of the waters. Even by the 1880s, however, the facilities were quite primitive. The wells were privately owned by the Guthrie family and were later developed and baths built by the new owner, a Dr. Westropp, who lived in a house overlooking the spa.<ref name= "JourneyWest"/>{{rp|10–11}} 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 (Ireland)|Constabulary Medal]] for valour.<ref>{{cite book |first1=P. E. |last1=Abbott |first2=J. M. A. |last2=Tamplin |title=British Gallantry Awards |location=Enfield |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |year=1971 |page=274 |isbn=9780851121734 }}</ref> The spa prospered into the 20th century. In 1920, it was called the "[[Bad Homburg vor der Höhe|Homberg]] of the Irish priests".<ref name= "JourneyWest"/>{{rp|11}} The area was officially classified as part of the West Clare [[Gaeltacht]], an [[Irish-speaking]] community, until 1956. [http://geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9def898f708b47f19a8d8b7088a100c4 Historical maps] of Lisdoonvarna show how the Main Street looked in the nineteenth century. It also gives the location of the RIC barracks and the many hotels associated with the town, such as Queen's Hotel and Eagle Hotel, amongst others. ==Arts and culture== ===Events=== [[File:Lisdoonvarna eglise.jpg|right|thumb|Victorian [[Gothic revival architecture|Gothic revival]] Roman Catholic Church, Lisdoonvarna]] [[File:The Twin Wells on the banks of the River Aille at Lisdoonvarna.jpg|right|thumb|A group taking the waters at the Twin Wells on the banks of the Aille river at Lisdoonvarna, circa 1900]] In September each year one of Europe's largest [[matchmaking]] events is held in the town attracting upwards of 40,000 romantic hopefuls, bachelor farmers and accompanying revellers. The month-long event is an important tourist attraction. The current matchmaker is Willie Daly, a fourth-generation matchmaker.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sally McGrane |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/world/europe/a-matchmaker-and-a-festival-keep-an-irish-tradition-alive.html?_r=0 |title=A Matchmaker and a Festival Keep an Irish Tradition Alive - The New York Times |publisher=Nytimes.com |access-date=2020-01-17}}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/festivals/from-sunstroke-to-lisdoonvarna-to-carnsore-point-a-history-of-music-festivals-in-ireland-35793294.html From Sunstroke to Lisdoonvarna to Carnsore Point - a history of music festivals in Ireland]</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eight swimmers feared dead |url=https://wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=production&url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgtd&AN=edsgtd.CS17796353&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |via=[[Gale OneFile]] |accessdate=28 December 2021 |date=1 August 1983 |work=[[The Times]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> ==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.<ref name="JourneyWest">{{cite book|last=Cunningham|first=George|title=Burren Journey West|publisher=Shannonside Mid Western Regional Tourism Organisation|year=1980|isbn=0-9503080-2-1}}</ref>{{rp|10}} The spa park is located at the confluence of the Aille and Gowlaun rivers. The spa complex features a Victorian pump house among other amenities.<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|12}} ===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.<ref name="Inventory">{{cite web|url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CL&regno=20300111|title=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage - Spectacle Bridge, County Clare|publisher=Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht|access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref> ==See also== * [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]] ==References and notes== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00ngb4g BBC World Service documentary about the matchmaking festival] * [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/lisdtown.htm Lisdoonvarna at the Clare County Library] {{County Clare}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Towns and villages in County Clare]]'