Quilty, County Clare

Quilty is a small fishing village between Miltown Malbay and Doonbeg in County Clare, Ireland. Lobster, salmon, bass, herring and mackerel are landed at Quilty, formerly known for its curing industry.

The name is thought to come from "coillte", meaning "woods".

The Catholic church is the most prominent building, its round tower being visible for miles around the flat countryside. It was built in remembrance of the Leon XIII rescue.

Leon XIII

On 2nd October 1907 a French three-master, the Leon XIII, was driven up on some of the very rocky reefs on Quilty Bay. All seemed lost for the ship and crew. The local fishermen however went out to sea in their currachs – risking the equinoctial gales and Atlantic breakers in small open boats. They reached the wreck and somehow managed to save the crew and bring them safely ashore.

The church porch contains a replica of the Leon XIII in a glass bottle, and the ship's bell stands in front of the altar.

Mutton Island

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. A signal tower built in the early 1800s was designed to give warning of invasion during the Napoleonic period but was also used by the coastguard to prevent smuggling. In the early 1900s Mutton Island was used as a prison.

Tromoroe Castle

Tromoroe Castle lies about 3km from the village. It witnessed a number of battles in the sixteenth century, the most notable when Teigh Caech McMahon with the help of the Earl of Desmond stormed the castle on the 17th February 1599. The next attack was by O'Flaherty from Connacht on 1st May 1642, when Peter Ward, his wife and heir were slain.

ee also

* List of towns and villages in Ireland

References

* [http://www.irelandmidwest.com/clare/towns/Quilty.htm Quilty]