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Kilfenora, An Clár

Ceantar

Kilfenora

An Clár

44

Townlands

1,856

Taifid Daonáirimh

345

Teaghlaigh

2

Bliana Daonáirimh

1901 Daonáireamh
Daoine
955
Teaghlaigh
166
1911 Daonáireamh
Daoine
901 -5.7%
Teaghlaigh
179 +7.8%

Maidir Liom

Kilfenora is a small village and district located in northwestern County Clare, situated within the distinctive landscape of the Burren, one of Ireland's most remarkable geological regions. The village sits at an elevation where limestone bedrock defines the terrain, creating the characteristic karst landscape with bare, weathered stone formations, sparse vegetation, and numerous natural caves and underground water systems. The surrounding area is relatively remote and rural, positioned inland from the Atlantic coast, with views across rolling limestone hills and moorland that extend toward the nearby villages of Corofin and Ballyvaughan. The landscape's starkness and natural beauty have made the broader Burren region an area of significant geological and ecological interest.

Kilfenora holds considerable historical significance as an ecclesiastical settlement dating back to the early medieval period. The village developed around a monastery traditionally attributed to Saint Fachtna, and it later became the seat of a bishopric, the Diocese of Kilfenora. The ecclesiastical importance of the location is reflected in the presence of several stone crosses and church ruins that remain in the village, including High Crosses that are characteristic of early Irish Christian art and architecture. These medieval monuments represent a period when Kilfenora was a more prominent religious center than it is today, and they continue to be important markers of Ireland's Christian heritage.

The village is perhaps best known today for its strong association with traditional Irish music and dance culture. Kilfenora has gained recognition as a center for Irish céilí dancing and traditional music, particularly through the Kilfenora Céilí Band, which became famous for performing and recording Irish traditional music. The village's cultural significance extends beyond music to broader interests in Burren heritage and Irish language traditions. For visitors and enthusiasts of Irish culture, Kilfenora serves as both a destination and a gateway to understanding the Burren's natural and cultural landscape.

Within the local community, Kilfenora functions as a small village center serving the surrounding rural population. It maintains basic services and remains a focal point for the dispersed communities across the Burren district. The village's significance to locals lies in its role as a cultural touchstone and historical anchor in a landscape that has been inhabited and shaped by human activity for millennia. The combination of its ecclesiastical heritage, cultural traditions, and position within the distinctive Burren environment makes Kilfenora representative of how Irish rural villages maintain identity and community connection in remote areas.

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Áit

An Clár

Dlínse

Poblacht na hÉireann

Bliana Daonáirimh

1901, 1911

Townlands

44 townlands taifeadta

Suíomh an Cheantair

OpenStreetMap

Sonraí

Ceantar
Kilfenora
Gaeilge
An Clár
Dlínse
Poblacht na hÉireann