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.