Kildysart is a
quiet, picturesque village situated on the banks of the Shannon
Estuary, halfway between the towns of Ennis and Kilrush in the
County of Clare. Although a quiet village, it boasts many
facilities. It has three minimarkets, hardware shops, bank,
pharmacist, clinic, vetinary clinic, credit union, garage, RC
church, Community Centre, Quay Marina and nine pubs. Kildysart has a lot of history and is mentioned in the Moland Report of 1703, which stated "Kildizert is distant from Lymerick 25 miles and 10 from Ennis, has on it ye ruins of an old church and several cabins."
According to Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland in 1837, the population of Kildysart had risen to 4501 inhabitants covering 9485 acres. In 1837 the village contained about 60 houses, irregularly built. A steamboat passed daily on the way to or from Limerick. An application had also been made to the Board of Public Works to improve the Quay near Kildysart, from which pigs, corn, butter and agricultural produce were sent to Limerick in boats; and building material, groceries and other essentials were brought in in return.
In the early 1900's there were many businesses and trades in the village: saddlers, shoemakers, nailmakers, dressmakers, milliners, blacksmiths, tailors and millers. Sadly most of these no longer exist.
In 1990 at a meeting of Kildysart Development
Association the idea for Marina was conceived. With this in mind
an Marina committee was formed. In order to finance the project a
festival committee was also set up and in '91 and '92 the first
two Banner Rose Festivals were held. These raised £20,000 and
made it possible for the Marine Committee to apply to Shannon
Development for funding under the European Regional Development
scheme. This application was successful and £60,000 was granted.
Clare Co. Council also gave a grant of £10,000. Work on phase
one started in Feb.'93. This consisted of a slipway, a drying out
area and a basin adjacent to the quay wall which would have
approx 7ft. of water at low tide.
By Summer '94 this work was completed and a car park and
picnic area were added. Pontoons were put in place in the basin
and the marina was open for business. Phase two of the project
which was to include a toilet and shower block, kitchen, laundry
and workshop for use by visiting boats was never started due to
lack of support by Shannon Development, and even though Clare Co.
Council continues to support the Marine Committee with funding,
the quay is still having problems with silting, as are most of
the quays and harbours in the Shannon Estuary.