Kilkee

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'Kilkee'
Cill Caoi

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
52°41′02″N 9°39′00″W / 52.684, -9.65

Irish grid reference
R054791

Statistics

20 m (66 ft)

Population (2006)
- Town:
- Environs:

1,325

Kilkee

Kilkee (Irish: Cill Chaoi, meaning Church of St. Caoi) 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 and is one of the safest bathing spots in Europe. Kilkee has regularly been awarded the Blue Flag by the European Commission. Kilkee has seen many famous guests through the years including members of the British and Austro-Hungarian royal families, The Beatles, Che Guevara, Charlotte Brontë (who spent part of her honeymoon in the town) and actor Richard Harris who owned a house in the town. 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).

1 Sport
2 Festival
3 Transport
4 Life
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Sport

Kilkee cliffs

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.

Kilkee is also a mecca for divers. Jacques Cousteau declared that it was the best diving spot in Europe. The Kilkee Dive Centre, Kilkee [1] 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 tees overlook the Atlantic Ocean and the third tee overlooks Chimney Bay. The views from these holes are spectacular.

Kilkee strand

[edit] Festival

In 2007, Kilkee hosted its first ever Cois Fharraige. The festival was held over 3 days from September 7 - 9 and consisted of live music and water sport events including a surf competition. 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.

[edit] Transport

The town was once one of the two termini of the West Clare Railway from Ennis, the other being the neighbouring town of Kilrush (see Irish railway history). The railway closed in 1961.

[edit] Life

The town is undergoing serious expansion with the development of hotels, estates and other forms of housing. During peak tourist season the beach or "horse shoe" bay is choc-a-bloc with tourists. The town's main source of income is the tourist industry, so many recreational places are set up all along the town, including restaurants, pubs and cafés. In high season the town is thronged, with the nightlife being particularly lively especially in the Abyss niteclub on O'Curry Street

Kilkee features many walking routes for which it is renowned. There are several treks leading out of the town over the cliffs in both directions. From the cliffs, on a fine day, one can see all the way to the Aran Islands.