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LOOP HEAD
Loop Head, County Clare
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At the most southern point of County Clare is Loop Head
and the Loop Head Lighthouse. This area of County Clare
is probably the least visited, but one of the most bucolic.
One would say that Loop Head is the back of the . Indeed, their geological make-up is the
same, and is home to many of the same species as up at
the Cliffs, such as Puffins, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Razorbills,
and Fulmars. Storm-battered rock ledges and caves are
home to seabirds, seals and other
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maritime animals. Because of the remoteness of the peninsula,
it's a quiet, untouristy area to visit. Considering the
remoteness of the area, there's actually quite a bit of
history here--
Loop Head Lighthouse - The Lighthouse
stands on the tip of the peninsula and commands
outstanding 360 degree views -- to the north,
views up through the peninsula and countryside;
to the west, sweeping views of the North Atlantic;
to the south, views of Dingle and Mount Brandon;
to the west, the mouth of the Shannon and north
County Kerry. On very clear days, one can even
see the Cliffs of Moher to the north.
The lighthouse is automated today, and unfortunately
closed to the public. Unlike Mizen Head and other
lighthouses around Ireland, Loop Head Lighthouse
has not established a museum on the site as of
yet.
However, the Loop Head Lightkeepers House is
open as a fully self-catered accommodation that
includes three bedrooms and sleeps five. The house
has outstanding views of the mouth of the Shannon
and North Kerry.
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Loop Head Lighthouse |
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The Little Ark - In the 1850's, celebrating
mass was prohibited on the peninsula, as it was over
most parts of Ireland. While mass was still celebrated
without consequence in most places, it was especially
prohibited on Loop Head. This was a result of the
local land agent, Marcus Keane, who was a strong supporter
of the Protestant faith. As a result, three schools
were built on the peninsula where Protestantism was
taught. Food was served at the schools, which was
a major encouragement for attendance because these
were famine years.
Father Michael Meehan came to Loop Head in 1849 and
established six Catholic schools. With landlord sponsored
schools, this increased pressure on Catholic tenants
who were being encouraged to send their children to
Protestant schools or face eviction. This conflict obviously
led to conflicts between Fr. Meehan and Marcus Keane.
When Fr. Meehan applied for permission to erect a Catholic
church, he was turned down by the local Protestant government.
But Fr. Meehan was determined. He constructed a shelter
made from tarpaulin covered cart shaft poles with the
intent of providing a shelter for mass. Unfortunately,
it proved unsuitable. But Fr. Sheean was creative, if
not industrious, and came up with what became known
as The Little Ark, a small timber church on wheels.
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The Little Ark of Kilbaha
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The Little Ark was designed by a local carpenter and completed
in 1852. It was used for the next four years, each time
being wheeled out to an area known as "no man's land,"
a place on the shore that became exposed at low tide. Fr.
Meehan's congregation, some 300, would gather on the strand
and kneel around the Ark to pray. By 1857, permission for
a church on the mainland was finally granted. It took a
year to complete and the Little Ark was placed inside the
church in a specially built annex, and remains there today.
Visitors can see the Little Ark at the Catholic church in
Moneen,near Kilbaha.
The Bridges of Ross - On the coastal route
between Kilbaha and Carrigaholt, one will come across
one of Ireland's more intriguing national phenomena.
Storm battered cliffs have eroded in such a way
that bridges have been formed in the cliffs. Artists
and photographers have traveled to Ireland for more
than a hundred years to capture the beauty and grandeur
of these incredible structures.
Bird watching is also a popular pursuit, the area
being considered a premier bird watching point on
the west coast. Along with those birds listed along
the cliffs as mentioned above, other such birds
seen in this area in particular include Sabine's
Gulls and Leach's Petrels. The best time to see
birds in the area is traditionally between July
and November, with the peak time between August
and September.
Dolphin Watching - Dingle isn't the only
place in Ireland for dolphin-watching. Carrigaholt
boasts its own pod of Bottle-Nose Dolphins in the
Shannon Estuary and Carrigaholt Bay.
is a family run business that takes visitors into
the estuary to see the dolphins and other estuary
and aquatic wildlife.
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Bridges of Ross
Carrigaholt Castle
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~ Free car parking available
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Use caution, as this is area the
coastline is not fenced, rough terrain
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