Kildysart

Kildysart (Irish place name|Cill an Dísirt|Church of the Wilderness) is a small village in County Clare, Ireland. It is situated on the Shannon Estuary. Recently re-branded as 'The Fisherman's Haven' it is famed for the excellent fishing resources nearby. For some reason it is spelt as 'Killadysart' on road signs but locals use the 'Kildysart' spelling. Its English translation may be 'Church of Dysart'.

Kildysart

Kildysart is a quiet, picturesque village situated on the banks of the Shannon Estuary, halfway between the towns of Ennis and Kilrush in the County of Clare. Although a quiet village, it boasts many facilities. It has three minimarkets, hardware shops, bank, pharmacist, clinic, vetinary clinic, credit union, garage, RC church, Community Centre, Quay Marina and nine pubs.Kildysart has a lot of history and is mentioned in the Moland Report of 1703, which stated "Kildizert is distant from Lymerick 25 miles and 10 from Ennis, has on it ye ruins of an old church and several cabins."According to Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland in 1837, the population of Kildysart had risen to 4501 inhabitants covering 9485 acres. In 1837 the village contained about 60 houses, irregularly built. A steamboat passed daily on the way to or from Limerick. An application had also been made to the Board of Public Works to improve the Quay near Kildysart, from which pigs, corn, butter and agricultural produce were sent to Limerick in boats; and building material, groceries and other essentials were brought in in return.In the early 1900's there were many businesses and trades in the village: saddlers, shoemakers, nailmakers, dressmakers, milliners, blacksmiths, tailors and millers. Sadly most of these no longer exist.Kildysart boasts excellent fishing, both in the Estuary and in the local lakes. Gortglass, Clonshnacta and Effirnan, which are only about a five minute drive from the village, are trout fishing lakes only, and membership of the local angling club is required to fish in them. This is easy to obtain and inexpensive.A boat can be chartered in Kildysart for fishing in the Shannon Estuary, or for trips to the many islands that lie off the village. Conger, Skate, Greater and Lesser Dogfish, Pollock, Thorn Back Ray, Flounder, Tope, to name but some, can be caught in this area. All of these species can also be caught off the Cahercon Pier, which is open to the public and is approx. one mile from Kildysart. Bait in the form of Peeler Crab and Lugworm is available in good quantity in the area.

External links

* [http://www.kildysart.com Official home page]
* [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kildysartvisit.htm "Kildysart: Places of Interest" Clare County Library]
* [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kildysart_history.htm "Kildysart: Historical Background" Clare County Library]
* [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kildysart_history.htm "County Clare: A History and Topography 1837 - Kildysart" Clare County Library]