Kilfenora

Infobox Irish Place
name = Kilfenora
gaeilge = Cill Fhionnúrach
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 70px; top: 70px
north coord = 52.993889
west coord = 9.213611
irish grid = R180939
area =
elevation = 20 m (66 ft)
province = Munster
county = County Clare
town pop = 169
rural pop =
census yr = 2006
web =
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Kilfenora (Irish place name|Cill Fhionnúrach|Church of the Fertile hillside "or" Church of the White brow) is a small village in County Clare in Ireland, just south of The Burren. It is situated at the southern tip of the Burren. It supposedly derives its name from its location, the church of the fertile hillside, although another explanation for the name is given in "Cill Fionn abhrach", the church of the white brow or meadow. The official Irish name, as used on the roadsigns, is "Cill Fhionnurach" but no such person as a St. Fionnuir has ever been associated with Kilfenora. Other names for the town or diocese were Fenebore, Kilfenoragh, Finneborensis, and Collumabrach.

History

Kilfenora was the site of an important early monastic settlement. St. Fachtna founded an Abbey here in the 6th century. Kilfenora gained the title "City of the Crosses", a reference to the High Crosses within or near the precincts of the cathedral.

Religion

The Diocese of Kilfenora

The Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 ignored Kilfenora's claim to separate episcopal government. This rejection briefly united the O'Connor and O'Loghlen clans whose chieftains preferred to maintain their own independent bishopric rather than submit ecclesiastically to the O'Brien dominated diocese of Killaloe. In 1152 the Synod of Kells, under Cardinal Paparo, recognised the diocese of Kilfenora as a separate entity.

Kilfenora was among the most important dioceses in Ireland at one stage but by the late mediaeval period it had fallen on hard times and the diocese was regarded as one of the most impoverished in the country. The first Protestant bishops were appointed in Ireland in 1541 but Kilfenora was not an attractive appointment. In 1628 Dr. Richard Betts was nominated by Charles 1 as bishop but he declined the position, stating that he had "no wish to become bishop of the poorest see in Ireland". His predecessor, Richard Murray, had been fortunate in obtaining a translation in 1627 to Llandaff, the poorest see in the then Church of England. Within the Church of Ireland jurisdiction and no longer able to maintain its independence, Kilfenora was united in turn to the Protestant diocese of Limerick from 1606-1607, Tuam from 1617-1742, Clonfert from 1742-1752, Killaloe from 1752-1976 and reunited to Limerick diocese in 1976. The diocese was described by Lord Stafford in 1638 as "being not worth above four score pounds to the last man." The diocese consisted of the baronies of Corcomroe and Burren and was the smallest in Ireland.

The Bishops of Kilfenora

The last Catholic bishop of the diocese was James Augustine O'Daly who died in France in 1749. In 1750 the Catholic church united Kilfenora with Kilmacduagh and in 1883 both dioceses were united with the relatively new diocese of Galway. The pope is the bishop of Kilfenora diocese, and the bishop of Galway is the Apostolic Administrator. To this day, the official title for prelate in the see of Galway is Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora.

Agriculture

Kilfenora has been a focal point for the farming community in North Clare for thousands of years. The Celts are believed to have converged at Cathair Bhaile Cinn Mhargaidh (the town at the head of the market) for fairs. As Kilfenora grew around the monastic settlement it became a place where farmers could converge to sell their livestock and crops and enjoy the social contact of a visit to a market town. Fair days were commonplace in Kilfenora up to the 1960s but the establishment of marts in other towns in Clare and Galway soon took their toll on this way of life.

Music

The Kilfenora Ceili Band is one of Ireland's most famous ceili bands. A group of musicians had come together in 1907 with the intention of raising funds for the local church and to play at local houses or cross road dances. They went on to become a household name in Ireland and beyond. The members of the band changed over the years but their special brand of traditional dance music was extremely popular. The 1950s was the golden era of ceili dancing in Ireland. In the 1960s the band played regularly in England. Huge crowds turned out to hear them. They won three All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles in a row. In July 1992 the local population gathered to pay tribute to the Kilfenora Ceili Band as they celebrated 85 years in existence. The event was broadcast live on RTE radio. The great tradition of bands in the parish stretches back to the 1800s with fife and drum, brass and reed and ceili bands all having their glory years.

Population

The population of Kilfenora in 1937 was 558. As in many places the numbers declined during the 1950s but this trend has been reversed in recent times. Village and rural renewal schemes have been put in place. Uninhabited and derelict buildings have been removed or restored. Kilfenora is the gateway to the Burren region and is a village rich in history and culture.

but the american tourist in the summer time keep this rural village alive

Places of interest

*Kilfenora Cathedral, which is partly in ruins, dates from the 12th century and three high crosses from the site have recently (2005) been conserved and are now in display in the reroofed transept; amongst them the "Doorty Cross". Another cross, shown here on the right, stands in a field to the west of the cathedral.
*Burren Display Centre is an interpretative centre displaying the botany and wildlife of The Burren.

Transport

*Kilfenora railway station opened on 5 July 1887, closed to passenger traffic on 31 December 1934 and to goods traffic on 2 June 1978. [cite web | title=Kilfenora station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-16]

References

ee also

* List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Clare)

External links

* [http://www.clare-tour.com/area/Kilfenora Kilfenora tourist information]