Kenmare in County Kerry, Munster, Ireland — Irish South-West ((Éire) North Atlantic Ocean)

Kenmare Heritage Town

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 18, 2019

1. Kenmare Heritage Town Marker

Inscription.

Early History , Stone circles, standing stones and rock art are common around Kenmare. These archaeological sites indicate humans have lived here from the Bronze Age (c.2200-500BC). But it was the upheavals of 17th century Ireland that saw the birth of Kenmare town. Originally called Nedeen (An Neidín, from the [I]rish Little Nest), Kenmare grew as a plantation town within lands granted to William Petty by Cromwell in 1657, as payment for the Down Survey.

[Illustration caption reads] Sir William Petty, 1683

From Nedeen to Kenmare (An Neidín) , In 1775 William Petty Fitzmaurice, later Prime Minister of Great Britain and the First Marquis of Lansdowne, rejuvenated the settlement of Nedeen, renaming it Kenmare from the [I]rish words Ceann Mhara (Head of the Sea). It established a link between the town and the Lansdowne family that continues to this day. Over the intervening years great changes have occurred. The "X" shaped layout of the town, as you see it today, was created. By the 1790's a Market House, Bridewell and an Inn were established.

[Illustration caption reads] William Petty Fitzmaurice, 1st Marquis of Lansdowne

Industry, trade and Lace , The town's growth into the 19th century was sustained by several local industries - herring fisheries; iron works; lead mining, quarrying and later a buttery. The town's infrastructure improved slowly. In the early 1800s new roads, houses and the first suspension bridge in Ireland were built. The Great Famine of 1845 however decimated the local population through starvation, disease and emigration.

[Photo caption reads] Original Suspension Bridge

In 1861 the Sisters of Poor Clare settled in Kenmare. Their convent and nearby Holy Cross Church were designed by renowned architect Charles Hansom. You will see these buildings if you take the short trail from the Green. Sister Mary Francis Cusack, the Nun of Kenmare, a writer and political activist lived in the convent from 1862 to 1881. The Sisters of Poor Clare also nurtured a significance lace making industry that would become world renowned in the late 19th, early 20th centuries.

[Photo caption reads] Kenmare Lace

Kenmare - as we see it today , With the turn of the 20th century Kenmare continued to expand. Emmet Place, Parnell Place and Davitt Place were named between 1908 and 1913. The street names indicate the rise of nationalism in the locality, a trend common throughout rural Ireland at that time. You will walk along several of these streets if you follow the looped trail.

From the late 1800s Kenmare had gained a reputation as a tourist destination. The construction of a railway line in 1893 saw an influx of visitors. Later with the improvements of roads and the construction of a bridge across Kenmare Bay, tourists took the Grand Atlantic Tour, later called the Ring of Kerry. Today Kenmare remains a significant town in southwest Kerry. You are welcome, we hope you enjoy your stay and take time to read the other panels that form part of this heritage trail.

[Photo caption reads] Main St. 1880-1914

[Left side of marker] The Trail , [Not transcribed]

[Right side of marker] Trail Map , [Not transcribed]

Early History
Stone circles, standing stones and rock art are common around Kenmare. These archaeological sites indicate humans have lived here from the Bronze Age (c.2200-500BC). But it was the upheavals of 17th century Ireland that saw the birth of Kenmare town. Originally called Nedeen (An Neidín, from the [I]rish Little Nest), Kenmare grew as a plantation town within lands granted to William Petty by Cromwell in 1657, as payment for the Down Survey.

[Illustration caption reads] Sir William Petty, 1683

From Nedeen to Kenmare (An Neidín)
In 1775 William Petty Fitzmaurice, later Prime Minister of Great Britain and the First Marquis of Lansdowne, rejuvenated the settlement of Nedeen, renaming it Kenmare from the [I]rish words Ceann Mhara (Head of the Sea). It established a link between the town and the Lansdowne family that continues to this day. Over the intervening years great changes have occurred. The "X" shaped layout of the town, as you see it today, was created. By the 1790's a Market House, Bridewell and an Inn were established.

[Illustration caption reads] William Petty Fitzmaurice,

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1st Marquis of Lansdowne

Industry, trade and Lace
The town's growth into the 19th century was sustained by several local industries - herring fisheries; iron works; lead mining, quarrying and later a buttery. The town's infrastructure improved slowly. In the early 1800s new roads, houses and the first suspension bridge in Ireland were built. The Great Famine of 1845 however decimated the local population through starvation, disease and emigration.

[Photo caption reads] Original Suspension Bridge

[Photo caption reads] Kenmare Lace

Kenmare - as we see it today
With the turn of the 20th century Kenmare continued to expand. Emmet Place, Parnell Place and Davitt Place were named between 1908 and 1913. The street names indicate the rise of nationalism in the locality, a trend common throughout rural Ireland at that time. You will walk along

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 18, 2019

2. Kenmare Heritage Town Marker

several of these streets if you follow the looped trail.

[Photo caption reads] Main St. 1880-1914

[Left side of marker] The Trail
[Not transcribed]

[Right side of marker] Trail Map
[Not transcribed]

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Churches & Religion • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1657.

Location. 51° 52.843′ N, 9° 35.075′ W. Marker is in Kenmare, Munster, in County Kerry. Marker is on The Square (National Route N71), on the left when traveling north. Marker is at the old Court House, now the Kenmare Heritage Centre, just WNW of Fair Green. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kenmare, Munster V93 KT1K, Ireland. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Market House (within

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shouting distance of this marker); James Joyce Pub Award (within shouting distance of this marker); Fair Green (within shouting distance of this marker); War of Independence (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Street (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Main Street (about 120 meters away).

Also see . . .
1. Kenmare Heritage Trail. (Submitted on September 18, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Kenmore Heritage. (Submitted on September 18, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 314 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 18, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.