Tarbert, County Kerry
| Tarbert Irish: Tairbeart | |
| County Kerry | |
|---|---|
 Aerial photo of Tarbert (looking north) | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | R065477 |
| Location: | 52°34’21"N, 9°22’30"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 546 (2022) |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Listowel |
| Dáil constituency: |
Kerry |
Tarbert is a village in the north of County Kerry, with woodland to the south and the Shannon estuary to the north. It is in the Barony of Iraghticonnor, and is to be found on the N69 and N67 roads. The village is connected by ferry, across the Shannon estuary, to Killimer in County Clare.[1]
Just offshore, linked to the mainland by a short isthmus, is Tarbert Island, from which the ferry sails.
As of the 2022 census, Tarbert village had a population of 546.
The name of the village is a commonplace one in the Gaelic word, from the Gaelic Tairbeart meaning 'peninsula' or 'isthmus'.[2]
Tarbert Island
Tarbert Island is linked to the mainland by a short isthmus. A car ferry service sails from the island to the town of Killimer in County Clare across the Shannon mouth. The isle itself is almost uninhabited: in 2016 its population was recorded as 5, and in 2022 as 2.
Also on the island stands a small lighthouse and an electricity plant, Tarbert Power Station, opened in 1969, was the site of an explosion in 2003 that killed two workers and seriously injured another. The plant was due to be de-commissioned in 2010, with the loss of 130 jobs, but instead was purchased by Spanish power company Endesa in January 2009.
Built heritage
Bridewell
Tarbert's bridewell is a former courthouse and prison in the village. Built in 1831, it was used for trying local court cases and for holding prisoners awaiting transfer to the County Jail in Tralee. The jail closed in 1874 but the courthouse continued in use until the 1950s. In 1993, the complex was reopened as a museum and visitor centre.[3]
Tarbert Lighthouse
Tarbert Lighthouse came into operation on 31 March 1834. It is still operational as a harbour light to guide vessels passing up and down the Shannon estuary. It is built on a tidal rock on the north side of Tarbert Island and a cast iron bridge connects the lighthouse to the shore.
Fort Shannon
Fort Shannon was a coastal artillery fortress, near Tarbert, built by the Irish Army in 1942 to protect the River Shannon against potentially hostile warships during 'The Emergency' (as Second World War was known in Ireland). It was the only such fortress to have been built by the Irish Government since independence. It was reduced to a care and maintenance basis in 1946 and completely abandoned several years later.
Tarbert House
Tarbert House is a historic country house dating from 1690. It was built by the Leslie family, and is still owned by them.[4]
Sport
- Gaelic sports: Tarbert GAA, based in Shannon Park[5]
Outside links
References
- ↑ "Shannon Ferries". https://www.discoverireland.ie/clare/shannon-ferries. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ↑ Tairbeart / Tarbert: Placenames Database of Ireland
- ↑ "Tarbert Bridewell Courthouse & Jail". http://tarbertbridewell.com/.
- ↑ Prendiville, Norma (26 August 2013), "Centuries of history and stories are part and parcel of Tarbert House", Leinster Leader, http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/arts-entertainment/133459/Centuries-of-history-and-stories-are.html
- ↑ "Shannon Park". https://tarbertgaa.ie/2021/02/14/shannon-park/. Retrieved 28 July 2024.