Doonbeg

Doonbeg (Irish: Dún Beag, meaning "Small Fort") is a village in West County Clare, Ireland on the Atlantic coast. It is surrounded by dramatic scenery, and is being developed for tourism.

Location

Doonbeg is situated on the N67 between the towns of Kilkee and Milltown Malbay. The nearest large towns are Kilrush and Kilkee, which are both approximately 7 miles away.

The village is located in civil parish of Killard. It is part of the parish of Doonbeg (Killard) in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. The village holds the church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven. It is a modern church, noteworthy for the stained-glass windows that are uniquely designed so that the various colours illuminate the altar throughout the day. The church was built in 1976 and has an uncommon octagonal shape. It replaced the older crucifix-shaped church that was built in 1813.

Doonbeg also has several pubs, Doonbeg National School, two shops, a post office and a village hall and tourist office. The central point of the village is an architecturally significant seven-arched stone bridge which crosses the Doonbeg River and divides the village. This is famous as a lady called Mary Belfast used to live under one of the arches and the remains of her dwelling exist to this day. The crossing is overlooked by the remaining fortifications of Doonbeg castle.

Doonbeg (Killard)

Doonbeg (Killard) (Irish: Cill Ard) is a civil parish on the Atlantic coast of County Clare in Ireland. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. The largest population centre in the parish is the village of Doonbeg.

Location

The parish is part of the historic barony of Ibrickane. The name "Killard" means "church on the hill". The parish is 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Kilkee on the coast of Ibrickane. It contains the village of Doonbeg, and is crossed by the road from Kilkee to Ennistymon. The parish of Kilmacduane lies to the east.

Antiquities

In 1837 there were the ruins of a signal tower on the summit of Baltard cliff, and the ruins of Dunmore castle on the south-western side of Dunbeg bay. The castles of Doonmore and Doonbeg are within 1 mile (1.6 km) of each other. In 1580 they belonged to Sir Daniel O’Brien of Dough. The old church was in ruins but the old church graveyard was still being used in 1897. There is a holy well beside it called Tobar-Cruithnoir-an-domhain (the well of the Creator of the world). There was another graveyard of Saint Senán, called Kiltenain, in the parish. There is a small place of sepulture called Cill-na-clochán in the townland of Cloonmore, and a holy well dedicated to Saint Brendan in the townland of Cloonagarnaun.