Kilkee Civic Trust

Talk Description:
Seán Aloyisious Bourke (1934–1982) was born in Limerick. A petty criminal, who became internationally famous when he sprung George Blake, a fellow inmate, from the Wormwood Scrubs prison in 1966. Blake was a notorious spy for the Soviet Union.

Our speaker – Michael Nolan – has an intriguing account to tell of Bourke’s life and times, particularly, the Kilkee aspect of the Seán Bourke story. After escaping Wormwood Scrubs; Bourke & Blake made their way to East Germany. Once in Soviet territory it was comparatively easy to get to Moscow, where both Bourke and Blake were treated Royally – given accommodation and a pension. However; Bourke did not like the Soviet Union with its bureaucratic institutions and society – so after a couple of years he returned to Ireland. Once back in Ireland; Seán Bourke faced an extradition charge from the United Kingdom authorities – but the Irish Supreme Court rejected the application on the grounds that the Jailbreak was a Political Offence; and therefore, exempted under Extradition Law. During this time, Bourke wrote an account of the Jailbreak – The Springing of George Blake – which was a best seller. The proceeds from the book were soon spent as alcohol had taken over a lot of his life. He ended up penniless. In 1981 – Seán Bourke moved to Kilkee and lived in a caravan in Percy French Estate. To discover all the intriguing parts of this Spy Story; simply, you will have to attend Michael Nolan’s Talk! Seán Bourke George Blake ~ Double Agent 26

About the Speaker: Michael Nolan is a Kilkee Native and a well known West Clare Solicitor. It is always rewarding to be in Michael’s company as he effortlessly tells the story & history of so much about West Clare and, particularly, Kilkee, in an accessible and easy manner. His knowledge and love of home place is considerable. Michael is passionate about the history & heritage of the Loop Head Peninsula area. A member of several local organisations; Michael Nolan is a Member of Kilkee Civic Trust for many years and has delivered Talks several times over the years. Two recent examples are as follows: • In 2014 – Michael spoke on “Kilkee and the Great War” • In 2016 – Michael spoke on “Sinn Féin Courts in West Clare 1918 – 1925”

Kilkee Civic Trust

Talk Description:
The land at Seapoint was acquired by Edward Cruise in the late 1840’s / early 1850’s and he built 2 semi-detached lodges on the site. In the early 1860’s he sold one of the lodges and rented out the 2nd one which was held in trust for his daughter.
In 1920 Kitt Desmond acquired one of the lodges and a few years later she purchased the 2nd lodge and ran a very successful hotel business until 1943 when she put the hotel up for sale. The Desmond Hotel was purchased by a group of Methodists, who hailed from Cloughjordan and its environs. Clár Ellagh was the brainchild of Rev. Samuel Crawford, who wanted to offer reasonably priced holidays in a Christian environment with a view to young people expanding their social circle and making new friends. It was under the auspices of The Christian Endeavour Movement. With the addition of a 2nd floor in the 1960’s – it could cater for 100 guests at any one time. It closed its doors for the last time in 2006.In 2007 it was purchased by the late Martin Cullinan and in 2014 it changed hands once again and was later converted into three private houses. Yvonne McGann Clár Ellagh 24 About the Speaker: Born and reared in Tipperary Town, Yvonne got her love of local history from her father. Her lifelong ambition was to be a secondary school teacher and after attending U.C.C. she graduated with a degree in History, Spanish and English. Yvonne’s 1st teaching job was in Kilrush, then Salesians in Limerick and finally she spent 28 very happy years teaching in Salesian College, Pallaskenry. Having retired in 2019 – Yvonne now resides permanently in Kilkee and is a member of both Kilkee Historical Society and Kilrush & District Historical Society. Yvonne is also our newest Kilkee Civic Trust member.

Kilkee Civic Trust

Talk Description:
Desperate to conquer the frozen frontier, Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) undertook four dangerous journeys to Antarctica, including his famous failure-turned-successful survival mission on the Endurance.
One hundred years after Shackleton’s death, Neale Webb will provide a unique insight on the life and extraordinary times of his Explorer and Adventurer Relation Sir Ernest Shackleton.



2014 to 2017 marked the Centenary Years of the Endurance Expedition. The Centenary of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration has given rise to much research, analysis and reflection about this human endeavour, survival and achievements in the harshest of conditions. Sir Ernest Shackleton was one of the heroes of that age.

Although there were some occasional claims for Kilkee, Co. Clare – Shackleton was actually born in Kilkea, Co Kildare, in 1874. Neale Webb’s Grandfather was a cousin of the great Irish Explorer and Neale himself has been to the Antarctic on three occasions. He will discuss Shackleton’s background, career and legacy and his interaction with Scott, Amundsen and other characters of the age.

The Endurance, the lost vessel of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, was crushed by sea-ice and sank on 21st November 1915, forcing Shackleton and his men to make an astonishing escape on foot and in small boats.
Endurance – Final Sinking 1915.

The wreck of Endurance was found on 5th March 2022, nearly 107 years after she sank, at the bottom of the Weddell Sea,

Endurance rests at a depth of 3,008m.

Video of the remains show Endurance to be in remarkable condition.

About the Speaker:
Neale Webb lives in Dublin and has a family connection to Shackleton!
He first travelled to the Antarctic in 2005 and the intervening years have been marked by several invitations from Local History Societies and Event Groups for Neale Webb to tell the story of his travels in Polar Regions. Webb says his most spectacular trip was in 2006 when he travelled on a Russian Icebreaker all the way to the Ross Ice Shelf – and McMurdo Sound – where the Huts of the Heroic Age are situated. Webb was even more fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to fly by helicopter to Shackleton’s Hut at Cape Royds, then, Scott’s Hut at Cape Evans, and the Discovery Hut beside the US McMurdo Base.
Neals Webb says he is particularly chuffed that the BBC are, in more recent times, describing Shackleton as ‘Anglo-Irish’ rather than the traditional ‘British’.
In January 2012, Neale Webb delivered his Talk to the Kildare Street and University Club.

A Review said: “It was a virtuoso performance by Neale and enjoyed by the huge attendance. He reclaimed Shackleton as a genuine Irish hero”.

Talk Description:
A Treasure Trove of old photographs across not only decades, but two centuries; representing a lifetimes passion for all things Kilkee; has been assembled by well-known and greatly admired Kilkee man J.J. Hickie. So large is his collection; the great dilemma for J.J. will not be what photographs to put in, but what ones to leave out!
Each photograph will be accompanied by J.J.’s insightful commentary, revealing many interesting historical facts, anecdotes and, perhaps, even a few surprising revelations.
About the Speaker:
An active member of Kilkee Historical Society & Kilkee Civic Trust; J. J. Hickie is a well-known Kilkee native, businessman, purveyor for many years of Hickie’s Victualler Shop at O’Connell St. Kilkee; now in the safe hands of his son Shane.
J.J. Hickie has an encyclopaedic knowldge of Kilkee’s life and times over recent centuries and his personal selection of photographs is certain to be memorable.
Those who know him well say the accolade of “Local Historian” is more than justified.

Talk Description:

Talk Description: The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, (IWDG), was formed in December 1990. Success quickly followed, when six months later, on the 7th of June 1991, the Irish Government declared Ireland an Irish Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary. This was a remarkable first achievement of the newly formed group. Throughout the intervening thirty plus years; the IWDG strived to make Ireland an “Effective Sanctuary”. This Talk will bring you on an exciting “virtual” sea voyage, when you will hear about the unique population of Dolphins in the Shannon Estuary, the amazing Humpback Whales, Basking Sharks and Porpoises, and much more, all only a short distance from our Western Shore at Kilkee on the Loop Head Peninsula. The IWDG speakers are passionate about their work. This Talk will be enhanced with many marvellous photographs, unique video footage and the sound of Whales singing! The core work of the IWDG involves Scientific Research, Marine Conservation Zones and, sadly, assisting with managing animal welfare when live strandings occur. President Michael D. Higgins became the IWDG sole Patron in 2012. IWDG undertook an Ireland to Iceland – Humpback Whale Expedition in 2018 – sailing aboard Celtic Mist. Humpback Whale Fluke ~ Just off Loop Head Humpback Whale Fluke Waters around Loop Head.

About the Three Speakers: Dr Simon Berrow is Chief Executive Officer of the IWDG and lecturer at the Atlantic Technological University in Galway. He founded the IWDG in December 1990 and started the Shannon Dolphin Project in 1993. Simon has also worked on whales in the Antarctic and off west Africa and caught Shark Fever (basking sharks) at an early age, which is incurable. He has published widely on marine mammals, seabirds and basking sharks. Mags Daly is the IWDG Shannon Dolphin Project Officer responsible for managing the long-term Shannon Dolphin Photo-ID Catalogue. The catalogue contains over 80,000 images of bottlenose dolphins collected in the Shannon and adjacent waters of Brandon and Tralee Bays and off Loop Head. In her role of as the IWDG SDP Officer she has been expanded the monitoring to include Loop Head and Brandon Bay, as the Shannon dolphin range increasingly includes these important areas. Richard Collins has a great interest in wildlife in west Clare. Having fished and sailed the waters around Loop Head for years, spent hours watching from headlands and contributing extensively to the work of the IWDG and the Irish Basking Shark Project. He is founder member of the West Clare Wildlife Club which is very active in the area.

Talk Description:
This is the story of the County Clare Nursery, a Mother and Baby Home, that was housed in Kilrush Workhouse from 1922 – 1932. 

This Institution was set up as part of the County Clare Amalgamation to replace the Poor Law in the County.  It also became the facility for unmarried pregnant women and their children as well as acting as an Orphanage.
Upwards of 400 children were born there – but the poor condition of the building – and the lack of adequate provisions for the women and children – meant a horrendously high death rate.

County Clare Nursery (Mother & Baby Home) Memorial ~ Kilrush
This talk will explore the reasons why a “high death rate” was the case – and why little or no provision was made to improve the lives of the women and children.
About the Speaker:
Rita McCarthy is a Social Historian whose area of interest includes Ireland in the post 1922 period; particularly the lives of women and children in the Free State. She works in Adult Education where she teaches Irish History and Heritage Studies.

Rita McCarthy is also an Independent Researcher and has produced and presented Radio Documentaries and Podcasts.  Whilst researching her MA she uncovered the existence of the County Clare Mother and Baby home (1922 – 1932) and she has written and presented an Exhibition on the topic. Rita is currently writing a book on the County Clare institution.

Born in Meath his ghost resides mostly in the history of West Clare. After attending an Irish-language summer college at Ballingeary, Co. Cork, O’Higgins received a Language Teacher’s Certificate in 1906 and began work as a Múinteoir Taistil (Travelling Teacher) for the Gaelic League.

During this time, he was one of the founders of Coláiste Uí Chomhraidhe, an Irish Language College in Carrigaholt, County Clare and in 1917 he became the College Secretary. In May 1918 he was arrested and deported to Birmingham Jail on suspicion of German conspiracy. While he was in prison, he was elected Sinn Féin candidate for West Clare during the 1918 General Election.
It is said that because of Brian’s republican affiliations and involvement with the Irish College that the Black and Tans paid a visit to the college in 1920 and burnt half of the building down. Dr. Síle Ní Choincheannain Coláiste Uí Chomhraidhe ~ Carrigaholt, Co. Clare Brian Ó hUigínn 12 This talk hopes to shed some light on Brian Ó hUigínn, this lesser-known Republican, and his connection to West Clare, particularly Carrigaholt.
O’Curry College, better known as Coláiste Uí Chomhraidhe, was named in honour of Doonaha native and renowned Irish scholar, Eugene O’Curry.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Síle Ní Choincheannain is currently working as a full-time Irish Lecturer in Mary Immaculate College. She spent time lecturing in the University of Limerick and spent two years (2017-2019) in Canada as an Irish Canadian University Fellow at the University of Ottawa.

Síle also spent the academic year 2013-2014 on a Fulbright Scholarship in the University of Montana. Síle also has experience working on Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4. Her current research deals with modern Irish historical fiction, the role of women in this genre, and the O’ Curry Irish College. She recently held a conference commemorating local scholar Eugene O’ Curry, 160 years after his death in Mary Immaculate College.

About the Three Speakers:

Peadar King

Originally from Kilkee, Peadar King is a documentary filmmaker and non-fiction writer.
For the past two decades, he has filmed in over fifty countries across Africa, Asia and The Americas for the award-winning RTÉ Global Affairs series What in the World?.

Thomas Lynch

Essayist, Poet, and Funeral Director – Thomas Lynch has written five critically acclaimed volumes of poetry, four books of essays and a book of short fiction.

Date: Wednesday, 6th July 2022 at 8pm No. 1 of 9 Talks

Speaker: Rosita Boland
Talk Title: Breaking a Silence
Talk Description:

Kilkee Civic Trust

The full programme can be downloaded here – Kilkee Civic Trust – Summer Programme 2022
Each talk will be recorded and is sheduled for broadcast at 4:10pm on the following Monday. Podcast links will available to listen back.