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Thanks for the comments, Harty, and the fond reminiscences of your time in Kilkee. John Williams
I came down from Armagh City to stay there in 1965 and 1966- it was a wonderful holiday where the people of Kilkee made us all welcome. We and they discovered that we were just ordinary people. It did more dispel -‘myths’ about each group. Alas cheap package holidays were the death knell to it. Miss Payne was in charge and a superb croquet player. We went on ‘trips’ from Clarellagh and the cliffs of Monr, the Bridges of Ross and the Burren were introduced to us and led to many and their families coming again to the area.
A brief history of Clar Ellagh. In the early 1850’s Edward Cruise built two lodges at Seapoint and sold one of them on his retirement from the hotel business in 1862.The other lodge was rented out and held in trust for his daughter Annie Cruise Cox. After changing hands a few times Kitt Desmond bought one of the lodges in 1920 and in 1923 bought the second lodge and traded very successfully as the Desmond hotel until 1943. It was bought in 1944 by a group of methodists from the midlands led by Rev.Samuel Crawford and under the auspices of the Christian Endeavour movement for the sum of £1,625.The money was raised by the selling of shares,voluntary contributions and a bank loan.The idea behind it was to offer people an affordable holiday in a christian environment and more importantly that people would forge new friendships and broaden their social groups. A company called Christian Endeavour Guest House,Kilkee lLimited was set up and a committee was formed under the chairmanship of Mr.Gerald Armitage,a position he held until his resignation in 1974.The official opening was held on the 21st of July 1944 and it could cater for 50 guests.In 1964 a 2nd storey was added increasing the capacity to 100 guests. A competition was held to name the building using the initial letters C.E.and a Mr.Parkhill from Northern Ireland (who hadn’t a word of Irish)suggested Clar Ellagh.From researching it seems there’s no explanation for the name. Clar Ellagh traded as a guest house until it closed its doors for the last time in 2006 In 2007 the property was purchased by the late Martin Cullinan just before the recession hit. It was purchased again in 2014 and turned into 3 houses.
Thanks for posting. A really interesting subject. I’d love to come and see it.
MY BROTHER EDMUND HOWARD when he holidayed in Crowley’s lodge, about 1959, kicked his ball regularly into the adjacent garden. Having done it several times the ladies in the white attire ran out and confiscated his ball. Our father went in to retrieve the ball with little Eddie, who was barely up to his Dad’s waist. When my father was getting nowhere with his entreaties, Eddie exclaimed, “but Miss Whitey, but Miss Whitey” which was enough to have his ball thrown at him in a hot temper.Yound Eddie left happily to continue his game. Subsequently, we always knew them as the ‘Miss Whiteys’
Claire Thanks for your enquiry. I don’t know of any Sheridans in Kilkee or the Loophead Area. Cahesherkin Church is in the parish of Clooney to the east of Ennis, in local history terms, a long way away. We have limited resources so we concentrate on our local patch. One place you could try is our parent body iCAN (Irish Community Archive Network).email: ouririshheritage@gmail.com. There are branches of iCAN closer to Clooney so they may be able to help. I hope you get the information and contacts that you are looking for. Yours, John Williams
Thanks, Claire, for the kind words. We would also like to thank you most sincerely for you support of our lecture series. John Williams, Chairman, Kilkee Civic Trust
I see that this page has not been updated in a long time. I wish that I could find anyone named SHERIDAN who would like to correspond with me.
Cahersherkin, the old schoolhouse is what I am interested in knowing more about.
To John Williams and Joseph McCloskey,, I spent many summers in Kilkee walking the Cliffs and the beach, attending the Kilkee Civic Trust lectures lunching at Diamond Rocks, meeting my Irish cousins, and making new friends at the library. I introduced my ten grandchildren to their roots and relatives with the hope that they will return to explore their heritage. I wish to thank all those who are involved in this wonderful project. Sincerelly, Clare Harvey Curtin
I do indeed have many happy memories of Kilkee John WIlliams. Although we didn’t move to the town until I was aged 5 or 6 and left when I was 12, it is the part of my life that I remember best as being my childhood. We were really lucky to live across the road from the beach so during the school holidays I and friends would spend hours building complicated sand palaces, decorating them with shells and getting frustrated that the seats we made all collapsed if we tried to sit on them! These days I go by the name LucyAnn – the history of ‘Dorothy’ was not a happy one! I’ve come to terms with it now and as a genealogist I feel it’s important to keep it there in case anyone ever wants to follow my life trail – I’ve moved 14 times altogether and Kilkee was the 3rd place I lived!
Maria, if you dig up that old photo we would love to get it for publication.
Dorothy, you certainly have many lovely memories of your time in Kilkee. I remember the name Curling associated with bank.
Thanks for the nice comment, LucyAnn.
What a brilliant account of the history of the lighthouse. Thank you!
My family lived in Kilkee from about 1955 to 1962. I made my first communion (and first confession) in the old church. I remember Mr Minni, the organist (and choirmaster?); Mass in Latin; the long fast before communion; midnight Mass with everyone holding proper candles and the candles been lit from the back of the church, starting with the priest.
This church was built by my Great-grandfather, John Ronan of Kilrush. Somewhere I have a poor quality photo of it nearing completion.
Hi Clare, Thanks for adding information to the Downes family. I have at last updated the article. Your information is very valuable and great to get the record correct. Thanks Robert Brown
I have really enjoyed reading the information on this website in particular about Clarefield and Downe`s House as my mother, Noreen Downes was born there in 1926 .I appreciate all the work that has gone to this article but would like to update some of the information. The family name is spelled as Downes. Patrick Downes became manager of Blackweir Creamery taking his family with him. He died shortly after in 1938 due to an accident. His wife Nora died in 1954. His oldest son Thomas Downes took over the shop and other concerns with his brothers Jack and William and sister Kathleen. Later just Tom and his wife Bessie O` Donnell remained. Jack, Willie, Kevin, Dick and Noreen went to England. Matthew and Mary went to Dublin. All have now sadly deceased but I have a second cousin in Querrin.
Thanks for your comments, Kathy. We are glad that you found the article useful.
This is such a useful article, especially the table showing how individual street names changed over time. It has clarified for me where some of my ancestors were living in the 19th century, and whether or not they were moving around–apparently not!
Thanks, B Doherty. Thanks for the compliments. We are making a great effort to showcase Kilkee Heritage. When this Covid lockdown is over I hope to meet you and some of our other Galway colleagues. Yours John Williams
Pauline, Thanks for your kind compliments. Apologies for delay in answering but I did not realise we were live. Our official launch was scheduled for 24th March but it has now been postponed. Looking forward to meeting you and your colleagues. Yours John Williams, Kilkee
Your website looks fantastic! Welcome to the ICAN family, I’m sure, we in Milltown Heritage, Galway will be meeting you many times on your journey.
I never heard of periwinkles before, I’m not so sure I’ll be trying them:) but they reminded me of a snail farmer up around our neck of the woods. He was recently on Ear to the Ground explaining how it works.
I always take carrageen when I feel a cough coming on, it’s the only thing that cures it for me!!!
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