Kilrush
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Kilrush Cill Rois |
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Irish Grid Reference Q992554 |
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Province: | Munster | |
County: | County Clare | |
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Website: www.kilrush.ie |
Kilrush (Cill Rois in Irish) 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. It also features a popular eighteen hole golf course, a marina with access to the Shannon Estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, plus an impressive walled garden on the grounds of the old Vandeleur estate (landlords of Kilrush up to the end of the 19th century).
Kilrush[1] also hosts a traditional Irish music festival in August of each year - Eigse Mrs. Crotty festival, so named after a famed concertina player from the town.
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 dolphins who are resident year round in the estuary. Ferries to the island and dolphin tours are available year round, weather permitting. 7 miles from Kilrush is the seaside resort of Kilkee, a sandy horseshoe bay on the Atlantic coast.
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[edit] Sport
Also 7 miles from Kilrush is the Greg Norman designed golf links at Doonbeg [2], quickly gaining a reputation as being one of the most demanding and spectacular courses in Western Europe.
[edit] Transport
Kilrush town 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).
[edit] Born in Kilrush
- Thomas Cusack-A deceased member of the United States House of Representatives.
- Joe Jacob-A Fianna Fáil politician.
- Pat Upton-Labour Party (Ireland) politician and a veterinarian.
[edit] See also
- List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
- List of Irish Towns with a Market House - see picture above
The town's Roman Catholic Church, St. Senan's, houses an impressive marble altar and stained glass windows by Harry Clarke