Lisdoonvarna

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.

Name

The town takes its name from the Irish Lios Dúin Bhearna (lios dúin="enclosured fort" and bhearna="of the gap"). 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 about 3 km northeast of the town, near the remains of a Norman era castle.

History

|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 |2022|934

The present town is a comparatively new one by Irish standards, dating mainly from the start of the 19th century.

The spa officially opened in 1845, but the town was visited before by people partaking of the waters, fed by sulfur springs thought to have medicinal benefits. Even by the 1880s, however, the facilities were quite primitive. The wells were privately owned by the Guthrie family. They were later developed and baths built by the new owner, a Dr. Westropp, who lived in a house overlooking the spa.

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 (RIC) 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.

The spa prospered into the 20th century. In 1920, it was called the "Homberg of the Irish priests".

The area was officially classified as part of the West Clare Gaeltacht, an Irish-speaking community, until 1956.

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

Matchmaking festival

In September each year since 1857, one of Europe's largest matchmaking events is held in the town, attracting upwards of 40,000 romantic hopefuls, bachelor farmers, and accompanying revellers.{{cite AV media

Music festival

The Lisdoonvarna Music Festival took place near the town between 1978 and 1983 and is celebrated in a song written by Irish folk singer Christy Moore. This festival took place until 1983; it ended after the last event was marred by a riot and the accidental drowning of eight people.

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.

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.

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.

Notes

References

References

1. "Lisdoonvarna (Ireland)".
2. (2025). "Lisdoonvarna". Government of Ireland.
3. "Census of 1901: Table VII. Area, Houses, Out-offices, and Farm Steadings, and Population, together with the Valuation in each District Electoral Division, Townland, &c., County of Clare". Census Statistics Office Ireland.
4. "Abstract of enumerators returns, Ireland, 1871". Online Historical Population Reports, [[University of Essex]].
5. "Alphabetical list of Towns with their population, 2002 and 2006". Census Statistics Office Ireland.
6. (1971). "British Gallantry Awards". Guinness Superlatives.
7. (2023-07-30). "The Irish matchmaker finding love outside of apps". [[BBC News]].
8. McGrane, Sally. (2015-02-04). "A Matchmaker and a Festival Keep an Irish Tradition Alive". [[The New York Times]].
9. (11 June 2017). "From Sunstroke to Lisdoonvarna to Carnsore Point - a history of music festivals in Ireland".
10. (1 August 1983). "Eight swimmers feared dead". [[The Times]].
11. Cunningham, George. (1980). "Burren Journey West". Shannonside Mid Western Regional Tourism Organisation.
12. "Spectacle Bridge, AUGHISKA BEG, Lisdoonvarna, CLARE". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage; Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.