Kilmacrehy, Civil parish in West Clare Municipal District, Ireland
Kilmacrehy is a civil parish on the western coast of Clare with extensive pasture and farmland that reaches toward Liscannor Bay. Two ruined medieval castles stand within its boundaries, one in the Dough area and another near Liscannor.
The area developed as a parish during Ireland's Christian period and became an established rural settlement focused on farming. It witnessed a dramatic moment in 1588 when Spanish Armada ships met their end along its coastline.
The name derives from an early Christian saint, and the area was long a focus of local religious devotion. People traditionally gathered at a holy well to seek spiritual comfort and healing through age-old practices.
Exploring the area is best done by allowing time to visit the scattered ruins on foot, as they are spread across the parish landscape. Visitors should prepare for countryside conditions with sturdy footwear and layers, since weather changes quickly along the western coast.
The coastline holds a powerful connection to European maritime drama, as multiple Spanish vessels wrecked here in 1588 after surviving Atlantic storms. Those fateful events left marks on local memory and stories that still circulate among residents and visitors.
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