Kilfenora

About Kilfenora

Cill Fhionnúrach – Church of the Fertile hillside

Kilfenora has it all…. the Pope as Bishop, a 10th Century Cathedral with 12th Century high crosses, the most famous céilí band in Ireland, the Burren Interpretative Centre, rare Ring Forts, Holywells, Castles, a 200 acre lake for trout fishing and boating, craft work, choice accommodation, good food, friendly people, dancing, fun and music sessions. All you have to do is visit Kilfenora and it will all be shared with you.

Kilfenora 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.

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.

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.

Kilfenora High Cross

Kilfenora Church

Kilfenora Cathedral