Editing Liscannor

{{short description |Coastal village in County Clare, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                   = Liscannor
|native_name            = {{Irish place name|Lios Ceannúir}}
|native_name_lang       = ga
|settlement_type        = Village
|image_skyline          = Liscannor Panorama.JPG
|image_caption          = Panoramic view of Liscannor
|image_seal             = W106 F Image 9 11824.jpg
|pushpin_map            = Ireland
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Ireland
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      = Munster
|subdivision_type3      = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
|subdivision_name3      = [[County Clare]]
|established_title      = 
|established_date       = 
|unit_pref              = Metric
|area_footnotes         = 
|area_total_km2         = 
|population_as_of       = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
|population_footnotes   = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Liscannor | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=a9293f54-514d-4a22-b8dc-fbb5181c574a | work = [[2022 census of Ireland|Census 2022]] | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] | access-date = 18 May 2025}}</ref>
|population_total       = 
|population             = 135
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone1              = [[West European Time|WET]] 
|utc_offset1            = +0
|timezone1_DST          = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]] ([[Western European Summer Time|WEST]]) 
|utc_offset1_DST        = -1
|coordinates            = {{coord|52.93851|-9.394000|dim:25000_region:IE|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes    = 
|elevation_m            =
|blank_name             = [[Irish grid reference system|Irish grid reference]]
|blank_info             = {{iem4ibx|R064884}}
|website                = 
|footnotes              = 
}}
{{Historical populations|state=collapsed
|1821|315
|1831|506
|1841|562
|1851|429
|1861|394
|1871|415
|1881|321
|1891|286
|1901|251
|1911|242
|1926|217
|1936|183
|1946|170
|1951|146
|1956|139
|1961|106
|1966|94
|2002|108
|2011|128
|2016|113
|2022|135
| footnote=<ref name=cso2022/><ref>{{cite web|url = http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=7034D6E6-2667-4DB8-A57D-905903D5176C#SAPMAP_T1_100 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | work = Census 2016 | title = Sapmap Area: Settlements Liscannor | date = 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181120015023/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=7034D6E6-2667-4DB8-A57D-905903D5176C#SAPMAP_T3_310 | archive-date = 20 November 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/index.html|title=Home|website=CSO – Central Statistics Office}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org/ |title=Histpop - The Online Historical Population Reports Website |access-date=2020-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=2016-05-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = J. J. Lee | author-link =J. J. Lee (historian)| title = On the accuracy of the pre-famine Irish censuses | journal = Irish Population, Economy and Society | year = 1981 | page = 54}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850 |first1=Joel |last1=Mokyr |first2=Cormac |last2=Ó Gráda |author-link1=Joel Mokyr |author-link2=Cormac Ó Gráda | journal = The Economic History Review |series=New Series | volume = 37 | issue = 4 | date = November 1984 | pages = 473–488 | doi=10.2307/2596554| jstor = 2596554 | hdl = 10197/1406 | hdl-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST&Geog_Code=16032 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | work = Census 2011 | title = SAPMAP Data – Settlement Liscannor (CSO Area Code ST 16032) | date = 2011 | access-date = 19 November 2018}}</ref>
}}

'''Liscannor''' ({{Irish place name|Lios Ceannúir|[[ringfort]] of Ceannúr}})<ref>{{cite book| first = A. D. | last = Mills | year = 2003| title = A Dictionary of British Place-Names | publisher= Oxford University Press}}</ref><ref name="logainm">{{cite web|url = https://www.logainm.ie/1416533.aspx | publisher = Irish Placenames Commission | website = logainm.ie | title = Lios Ceannúir / Liscannor | access-date = 24 November 2018}}</ref> is a coastal village in [[County Clare]], Ireland. It is located between [[Lahinch]] and [[Doolin]], close to the [[Cliffs of Moher]]. As of the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]] it had a population of 135.<ref name=cso2022/>

==Geography==
Lying on the west coast of Ireland, on [[Liscannor Bay]], the village is located on the [[R478 road (Ireland)|R478 regional road]] between Lahinch, to the east, and Doolin, to the north. The Cliffs of Moher are about {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} north west of the village. Between Lahinch and Liscannor lies the small village of Moymore. Liscannor is located in the [[Civil parishes in Ireland|civil parish]] of [[Kilmacrehy]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.townlands.ie/clare/corcomroe/kilmacrehy/liscannor/liscannor/ | publisher = Townlands Ireland | website = townlands.ie | title = Liscannor Townland, Co. Clare |access-date = 24 November 2018 }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Liscannor_Castle.JPG|Liscannor Castle|thumb]]
Liscannor probably takes its name from an old fort that was located here.<ref name="logainm"/> {{lang|ga|Lis}} meaning 'fort' and {{lang|ga|Cannor}} a corruption of the name "Connor".<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|66}}

The area around Liscannor was part of the [[Barony of Corcomroe]], controlled by the [[O'Conor dynasty|O'Connor family]].

At least 30 ships of the [[Spanish Armada in Ireland|Spanish Armada]], sent to invade England in the summer of 1588, were lost along the coast of Ireland, mainly along the western seaboard. The oar-powered [[galleass]] Zuñiga was damaged, and anchored off-shore of Liscannor. The ship came under surveillance by the [[High Sheriff]] of Clare and by crown forces, and those Spanish sailors who had come ashore had to withdraw to their ship. One captive was taken and sent for interrogation. The Zuñiga escaped the coast with favorable winds, and later reached Le Havre.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/spanish_armada.htm | publisher = Clare County Library | website = clarelibrary.ie | title = The Spanish Armada and the fate of some of its ships off the West Clare coast | access-date = 24 November 2018 }}</ref>

The village of Liscannor is of late 18th century origin. According to an 1814 survey there were nearly 200 houses in it at the time, and about ten of them had flag roofs. 40 houses were used by fishermen.<ref name="JourneyWest">{{cite book|last=Cunningham|first=George|title=Burren Journey West|publisher=Shannonside Mid Western Regional Tourism Organisation|year=1980|isbn=0-9503080-2-1}}</ref>{{rp|66}}

While there was once a ''[[Gaeltacht]]'' (Irish-spealing area) around the Liscannor area, by 1956 the loss of native speakers meant that it could no longer be considered a Gaeltacht area.{{fact|date=September 2023}}

==Points of interest==
=== Cliffs of Moher ===
[[File:Cliffs_of_Moher_Colour.JPG|Cliffs of Moher|thumb]]
{{Main|Cliffs of Moher}}
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's top visitor attractions, and include a protected colony of cliff-nesting seabirds. The area was designated as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988, and as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/nature-in-all-its-glory-wonder-of-cliffs-of-moher-captured-26741038.html| publisher = Independent News & Media | website = independent.ie | title = Nature in all its glory: wonder of Cliffs of Moher captured | date = 10 June 2011 | access-date = 24 November 2018}}</ref>

=== Kilmacreehy Church and graveyard ===
[[File:Kilmacreehy 023.jpg|Kilmacreehy Church|thumb]]
{{Main|Kilmacrehy}}
''Cill MacCreiche'' (Kilmacreehy Church) is first documented in the 14th century, but some of the church's structures, including its Gothic ornamentation, are later additions.<ref>{{cite report|url = http://www.clarecoco.ie/services/planning/publications/clare-ruined-churches-graveyard-survey-2010-27628.pdf | title = A Church And Graveyard Survey In County Clare | publisher = Clare County Council | website = clarecoco.ie | author = Simon Large | date = 2011 | page = 77−79 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20210601070713/https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/planning/publications/clare-ruined-churches-graveyard-survey-2010-27628.pdf | archivedate = 1 June 2021 }}</ref>

===Liscannor Castle===
Liscannor Castle was an O'Connor stronghold which, like [[Dough Castle]], later passed to the O'Briens. In 1712, the Earl of Thomond let the estate to William Fitzgerald (annual rent £14). Under the Fitzgerald family, the town began to grow in the later 18th century.<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|68}}

The ruined remains include a six-story tower with a spiral stairway to the east and a lower main building next to it. This latter was described in some detail by [[Thomas Johnson Westropp]] in the late 19th century, who noted that it had five floors.<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|68–9}}

=== St. Brigid's Well ===
[[File:Entrance_to_St_Brigids_Well.JPG|Entrance to St. Brigids Well|upright|thumb]]
Located at a site of pre-Christian [[Lughnasadh]] celebrations,<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|74}} ''Dabhach Bhríde'' (or Brigid's Vat) is located near the Cliffs of Moher. Behind the well, on a higher level to which steps lead, is an ancient cemetery. There is a large cross here and a circular path around it, and part of the Rite of the Holy Well is performed in this area known as the ''Ula Uachtarach'' or upper sanctuary.

The well, dedicated to [[Brigid of Kildare]], is in the lower ground, the ''Ula íochtarach'' or lower sanctuary, enclosed in a little house which contains votive offerings left by pilgrims.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clareherald.com/2017/02/st-brigid-celebrated-at-famous-liscannor-well-10231/ |publisher=[[Clare Herald]] |website=[[ClareHerald.com]] |title=St Brigid celebrated at famous Liscannor well |date=1 February 2017 |access-date=24 November 2018 }}</ref>

The well has been a pilgrimage site since at least the 1830s, when following a personal cure which he attributed to the waters of the well, [[Cornelius O'Brien (County Clare)|Cornelius O'Brien]] had the well house built.<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|74}} Pilgrims from elsewhere in County Clare and from the Aran Islands came to Liscannor. Pattern Days on which large groups attended included St Brigid's Day (1 February) and [[Garland Sunday]] (late July).<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|74}}

=== Liscannor Harbour ===
[[File:Harbourmerge.jpg|500px|thumb|Panoramic view of Liscannor Harbour]]
[[File:Liscannor_Harbour.jpg|thumb|Old photo of Liscannor Harbour]]

The harbour was built between 1825 and 1831 for £2,900, of which £2,000 was a government grant.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1901/jul/18/liscannor-harbour-county-clare#S4V0097P0-02014 | website = [[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] | title = Lords Sitting – Petitions – Liscannor Harbour, County Clare – Hl Deb 18 July 1901 Vol 97 CC795 | date = 18 July 1901 | access-date = 24 November 2018 }}</ref>

In modern times, the harbour has a number of fishing vessels moored there as well as smaller boats using it is a launching site for sea fishing/recreational sports. During summer months there is also a ferry service to the base of the Cliffs of Moher as well as to the Aran Islands.

In the past the harbour was a hub for fishing vessels as well as a location to export locally quarried Liscannor Stone and to receive in coal supplies. Some historical documents note that due to the silting of the harbour, ships could only carry approximately 380 tonnes into port.  At low tides ships had to be winched into harbour.  A currach would bring the rope out to the ship. Locally quarried flag was cut and polished beside the harbour and winched onto ships by steam crane. These slabs were transported to several British cities.{{fact|date=August 2023}}

===John P. Holland memorials<span class="anchor" id="John P. Holland Centre"></span>===
The engineer [[John Philip Holland]] (1841–1914), who was born in Liscannor, developed some of the [[Holland Torpedo Boat Company|first submarines]] commissioned by the [[United States Navy|US Navy]], [[Imperial Japanese Navy|Japanese Navy]] and [[Royal Navy]].<ref name="dibHolland">{{cite web|url = https://www.dib.ie/biography/holland-john-philip-a4063 | work = Dictionary of Irish Biography | publisher = Royal Irish Academy | title = Holland, John Philip | first1 = Owen | last1 = McGee | first2 = Aidan | last2 = Breen | date = 2021 | accessdate = 29 August 2023 | doi = 10.3318/dib.004063.v1 }}</ref> Castle Street, on which Holland was born, was renamed 'Holland Street' in his honour.<ref name="Murphy">{{cite book | title = The Most Famous Irish People You've Never Heard Of | first = Colin | last = Murphy | date = 2012 | publisher = O'Brien Press | isbn = 9781847174468 | quote = In 1964, the village of his birth, Liscannor, erected a plaque to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of his death. The town also renamed Castle Street, calling it 'Holland Street' in his honour}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title = A History of County Clare | page = 60 | first = Sean | last = Spellissy | date = 2003 | isbn = 9780717134601 | publisher = Gill & Macmillan | quote = John Philip Holland (1841-1914) was born in Castle Street , now Holland Street , Liscannor }}</ref>

There are several memorials to Holland in the area, including one erected on the 50th anniversary of his death in 1964.<ref name="Murphy"/> A further memorial, donated by the Submarine Veterans of the US Navy,<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|66}} was erected in Liscannor in 1977.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://photos.clarechampion.ie/image?&_bqG=1&_bqH=eJxz80rML3GpcjVwytAtN8mycAyv8IpMLMoIzUu2MjQ3tDI0MABhIOkZ7xLsbJuRn5OTmJeiBubFO_q52JYA2aHBrkHxni62oSCVycF.EQHxqUaekclq8Y7OIbbFqYlFyRkAv3IgcQ--&GI_ID= | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20230829122540/https://photos.clarechampion.ie/image?&_bqG=1&_bqH=eJxz80rML3GpcjVwytAtN8mycAyv8IpMLMoIzUu2MjQ3tDI0MABhIOkZ7xLsbJuRn5OTmJeiBubFO_q52JYA2aHBrkHxni62oSCVycF.EQHxqUaekclq8Y7OIbbFqYlFyRkAv3IgcQ--&GI_ID= |url-status=live | archivedate = 29 August 2023 | work = Clare Champion | title = Holland Plaque Unveiling Liscannor 1977 | date = 10 July 1977 | accessdate = 29 August 2023 }}</ref>

A visitor centre, the John P. Holland Centre, opened in 2016.<ref>{{cite AV media|url = https://www.rte.ie/radio1/seascapes/programmes/2016/0520/789788-seascapes-friday-20-may-2016/ | publisher = RTÉ Radio | website = rte.ie | title = Seascapes Friday 20th May 2016 | date = 20 May 2016 | access-date = 24 November 2018 | time = 26m 50s | quote = a new John P Holland centre has opened in his birthplace of Liscannor in County Clare }}</ref> A statue of Holland, originally on public display on Liscannor's Main Street,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://clarearts.ie/sites/public-art/john-phillip-holland-shane-gilmore/ | website = clarearts.ie | publisher= Clare Public Art | title = John Phillip Holland - Shane Gilmore| accessdate = 29 August 2023 }}</ref> was moved into the centre,<ref name="johnphollandIE">{{cite web|url = https://johnpholland.ie/museum/| website = johnpholland.ie | title = The John P Holland Centre | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200813115912/https://johnpholland.ie/museum/ | archivedate = 13 August 2020 }}</ref> alongside displays about his life and work with submarines.<ref name="johnphollandIE"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnphollandcentre.com/ |title=John P. Holland Centre - Resources and Information |website=johnphollandcentre.com |date= |accessdate=2022-02-27 |archive-date=22 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122151552/http://johnphollandcentre.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Churches ==
=== St. Brigid's Church ===
[[File:St_Brigids_Church_Liscannor.jpg|St. Brigids Church|thumb]]
[[File:Liscannor Church Inside OLD.jpg|left|upright|Inside of St. Brigids Church 1960s|thumb]]

St Brigid's Church in Liscannor was built in 1858. It is a single-cell, four-bay church built of rubble masonry. A new roof was later added but the gallery, y-mullioned windows and semi-Tudor door were retained. Although the construction of a round tower was suggested in the 1920s, this ''Touheran'' tower which would have housed the bell as well as cottage industries on the lower floors was never built.<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|68}}

Liscannor has been referred to as "the Pope's Own Parish". Located in the [[Diocese of Kilfenora]], of which the Pope is the Bishop and the Bishop of Galway is the Apostolic Administrator, Liscannor is a mensal parish, i.e. directly under the direct authority of the bishop.<ref name="JourneyWest"/>{{rp|68}}

=== Moymore Church ===
[[File:Interior of Moymore Church.JPG|thumb|upright|Interior of Moymore Church]]
The church of Moymore was built in 1877, on an elevated site overlooking the bay. There was no church previously at this location. Before that the people of the area attended Mass in a small thatched chapel a quarter mile to the east in Caheraderry (Derry).{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

=== Derry Church ===
[[File:Derry Church Ruins.JPG|Derry Church Ruins|thumb]]
The Caheraderry (Derry) church probably dates from the 17th century penal times, built either to facilitate travelling friars or possibly as an out-chapel or hermitage for Kilmacreehy Church. Beside the ruins stand two small one-room attached cottages. According to local tradition, one of these cottages was a sheebeen known as Gleeson's and the other a schoolhouse, where a hedge-schoolmaster taught.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

==Infrastructure==
===Transport===
[[Bus Éireann]] route 350 links Liscannor to several locations: [[Ennis]], [[Ennistymon]], [[Cliffs of Moher]], [[Doolin]], [[Lisdoonvarna]] and [[Galway]]. There are a number of journeys each way daily. Onward rail and bus connections are available at Ennis and Galway.

== Sports ==
===Liscannor GAA===
Liscannor won a county title in 1940 – with a combined team from the broader North Clare area. Liscannor GAA Club was reformed in 1985 as a separate entity after players from the area had played with The St Michaels team for a number of years. Liscannor were promoted to Intermediate ranks after winning the Junior title in their first year after reforming in 1985. Liscannor also won the league title in 1985. An intermediate title followed in 1988, but Liscannor were to revert to the Intermediate grade after one year at Senior level.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} It would be 12 years later, in 2000, before Liscannor returned to the Senior Grade.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

===Moher Celtic===
Moher Celtic is the local [[Association football|football club]]. They have reached two Clare Cup finals in their history but have been edged out on both occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.claresoccer.net/index.php/2013-03-02-01-26-38 |title=Clare District Soccer League – Cups |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930234101/http://www.claresoccer.net/index.php/2013-03-02-01-26-38 |archive-date=30 September 2013 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{See also|Category:People from Liscannor}}
* [[Cornelius O'Brien (County Clare)|Cornelius O'Brien]] (1782–1857), Member of Parliament<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine = [[History Ireland]] | url = https://www.historyireland.com/cornelius-obrien-and-the-cliffs-of-moher/ | title = Cornelius O’Brien and the Cliffs of Moher | first = Perry | last = McIntyre | issue = 2 | volume = 15 | date = 2007 }}</ref>
* [[John Philip Holland]] (1840–1914), inventor of the modern [[submarine]]<ref name="dibHolland"/>

==See also==
*[[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/liscannor.htm Liscannor History] – at Clare Library

{{County Clare}}

[[Category:Towns and villages in County Clare]]