Killard
| Doonbeg (Killard) | |
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| Parish | |
Hillside in the parish
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 Doonbeg (Killard)
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| Coordinates: 52°43′53″N 9°31′24″W / 52.731302°N 9.523437°WCoordinates: 52°43′53″N 9°31′24″W / 52.731302°N 9.523437°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Clare |
| Website | www |
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.
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.
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.
It is 8 by 2 miles (12.9 by 3.2 km) and covers 17,022 acres (6,889 ha). The coast extends from Lough Donnel in the north to Farrihy bay in the south, and includes Doonbeg bay, Carronmore Point, Donegal Point, and Baltard or Ballard Point.
Beaches include the White Strand, Doughbheg Beach, Doughmore Beach and Clogher Strand. The White Strand, sheltered from the prevailing winds, is safe for swimming and monitored by lifeguards in the summer. Doughbheg Beach is also safe for swimming, but Doughmore is not, although the 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) sandy beach provides good surf. Clogher Strand, with sand and stones, separates Lough Donnell from the sea. The Hubáns, Baltard Cliffs, the Horseshoe and Donegal Point are dramatic cliffs with spectacular views. On a clear day it is possible to see four counties from the Baltard Cliffs: Clare, Galway, North Kerry and West Limerick.
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Wikipedia