Editing Ardfert (section)

==Geography and development==
From the 17th century (possibly 1639) until 1800 the area was a [[borough constituency]]. The borough [[corporation]] (its local council) elected two members of the [[Irish House of Commons]]. The borough was disenfranchised by the [[Act of Union 1800]], and from 1801 the area was represented as part of the [[county constituency]] of Kerry. Ardfert lost [[borough]] status under section 13 of the [[Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840]]. It was one of fifty-eight borough corporations dissolved on 25 October 1840. At this time, about a half-mile east of the cathedral, Ardfert Abbey was the home of the Crosbies, [[Baron Brandon]], and contained the ruins of [[Ardfert Abbey|the old Franciscan Abbey]]. They also maintained a well-stocked deer-park and gardens.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

In the 20 years between the 1996 and [[2016 census of Ireland]], the population of Ardfert village increased from 648 to 749 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://citypopulation.de/en/ireland/towns/kerry/0027__ardfert/| website = citypopulation.de | title = Ardfert (Ireland) Census Town | access-date = 19 April 2022 }}</ref>

It is located within an agricultural area, surrounded by flat and low-lying land.<ref name="draftPlan2012">{{cite web|url = http://www.ardfertcommunitycentre.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Ardfert-Village-Design-Plan-27.07.2012.pdf| website = ardfertcommunitycentre.ie | publisher = North and East Kerry Development | title = Ardfert Village Design Plan – First Draft July 2012 | date = 2012 | access-date = 20 April 2022 }}</ref> The main Tralee-[[Ballyheigue]] road bisects the village in an east–west axis, with road width restrictions on the western side of the village. To the north of the village, the Tyshe River traverses the village road network.<ref name="draftPlan2012"/> The village settlement pattern is radial and dispersed and consists of a mixture of single site depth development along radial roads interspersed with [[housing estate]]s. Within the core of the village there is a mix of dwelling types of various traditional designs. More modern design predominates in the [[one-off housing]] on the radial routes. The development of a central [[retail]] and social node has been constrained to some extent by need to protect historic buildings and [[monuments]] within the village.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}