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Quilty
in County Clare is
a small fishing village
between Miltown Malbay and
Doonbeg. The origin of its
name is uncertain but it may
be a derivation of coillte
meaning woods. Long ago they
had a tradition of curing fish
for export to America.
Nowadays, Quilty fishermen
also bring in Lobster and
Salmon in season as well as a
variety of other fish. Bass,
mackerel and
herring can be fished
from the shore.
Its stone
walls close to shore are
covered in seaweed during
harvest-time. There are two
beaches, the nicer one being
easily missed, and some low
cliffs, but the most
interesting feature of the
village is the church, which
has a remarkable history.
The most noticeable building
is the small round tower of
the local catholic church and
is visible for miles around
the flat countryside. On
October 2nd 1907 a French
three-master, the Leon XIII
out of Nantes, was driven up
on some of the very rocky
reefs on Quilty bay, and as
the coastguard was unable to
reach her, all seemed lost for
ship and crew.
The local
fishermen however went out to
sea in their currachs; if you
stand on the road and look out
into the bay on a windy day,
and watch the Atlantic
breakers crashing on the reefs
and cliffs all around you will
have some slight idea of what
these men faced in small open
boats. They reached the wreck
and somehow managed to save
the crew and bring them safely
ashore. The foundation stone
was laid in 1911 and built
from donations from United
states, England and locally
and all the labour was
supplied free of charge.
Today Quilty
is an attractive seaside
resort and plays an important
role in tourism but local
people are keen to preserve
the charm of Quilty from over
commercialisation. Quilty has
ample accommodation, seafood
restaurants, pub, supermarket,
sea fishing and indoor
swimming pool.
Across the bay from Quilty is
Mutton Island. St Senan
founded a church here in the
early 6th century but by 1887
little remained except the Bed
of St.Senan, a shattered cross
and a gable of his oratory.
The signal tower built in
early 1800’s was designed to
give warning of an imminent
French invasion during the
Napoleolonic period but was
also used by the coastguard to
prevent smuggling. In the
early 1900 Mutton island was
used as a prison for
offenders.
Tromoroe
Castle lies 3km. from village
of Quilty. It had a number of
battles in the early 1500, the
most notable were when Teigh
Caech(bad sight) McMahon with
the help of the Earl of
Desmond stormed the castle on
the 17th February 1599. Daniel
O Brien had been guarding the
castle for his elder brother,
Donogh, Earl of Thomond. Teige
took the wounded Daniel O
Brien to Dunbeg castle but
released him a week later
without ransom. The next
attack was by O Flaherty from
Connacht on a family of Wards
on 1st May 1642. Peter Ward,
his wife and heir were slain.
O Flaherty conveyed seven
persons safe to Richard
White’s of Kilmurry. The
castle was plundered by
another John Ward and his
company and the spoils divided
between them.
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