Clare Genealogy: Slater's Directory, 1846: Part 2: Kilrush: Description

Part 2: Kilrush: Description

A SEA-PORT market town, and parish, in the barony of Moyarta, county of Clare, 176 miles S.W. from Dublin, 117 N.W. from Cork, 53 W. from Limerick, 26 S.W from Ennis, 18 S. from Miltown, and 10 E.S.E; from Kilkee situated on the northern shore of the estuary of the Shannon, about fifteen miles from its mouth, having an excellent harbour, and possessing other local advantages. The town, which is neatly built and annually improving, consists of a market square intersected from east to west by a spacious street, well flagged with smaller thoroughfares branching off. The pier, which is of very solid construction, is protected by a sea wall of great strength, and is very commodious, affording every facility for landing passengers from the steam vessels, which ply regularly between this place and Limerick, as well as for agricultural and commercial uses. Kilrush, besides its own domestic business and extensive fishery, enjoys benefits resulting from genteel families resorting here during bathing season. At the bottom of Francis Street the two principal hotels are well arranged for the accommodation of families or the commercial gentleman. Thirty years ago the whole corn trade of this town was conducted by one person Mr. Patterson; there are now eight corn merchants, some of which have extensive concerns; and there are others in the timber trade, which is a considerable branch. There are manufactories of woollen cloth and linen, upon a small scale, and the fishery is rather productive. At the court-house general sessions of the peace are held in January, April, July, and October, and the magistrates sit in petty sessions once a week; there is also a seneschal court monthly, for the recovery of small debts. The custom-house is a neat building, and the bridewell is the largest in the county, and constructed upon the classification plan. The market-house is a commodious structure, in the centre of the market square. A chief constabulary police force is stationed in the town, and also a coast guard.

The parish church is a large structure, with an embattled tower crowned with pinnacles, situated near the site of the ancient, church of which the ruins form an interesting and rather picturesque appendage. The Roman Catholic chapel of Saint Senan, is a very handsome and spacious edifice, having a well-executed altar-piece. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists, erected on ground presented by Mr. Vandeleur, a great and munificent patron of the town. There are schools for gratuitous education on Erasmus Smith's foundation, and also under the National Board of Education. The other institutions of a charitable nature comprise chiefly a fever hospital and a dispensary. About two miles from the town, on the road to Miltown, and likewise near the Ennis road, are chalybeate springs, both considered efficacious in the cure of bilious complaints. At Mallagha are the ruins of an ancient chapel, supposed to have been built by Saint Senan, who is said to have been a native of that place; attached to it is an old place of sepulture still in use, and near it a holy well. The market is held on Saturday. Fairs May 10th, July 4th, and October 12th. The parish contained, in 1841, 11,385 inhabitants, and the town 5,071 of that number.