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Tarbert Tairbeart (Irish)
Town
Aerial photo of Tarbert (looking north)
TarbertLocation in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°34′21″N 9°22′30″W / 52.572386°N 9.375114°W / 52.572386; -9.375114
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	County Kerry
Local electoral area	Listowel
Dáil constituency	Kerry
EU Parliament	South
Population	546
Irish Grid Reference	R065477

Tarbert (Irish: Tairbeart, meaning 'peninsula' or 'isthmus') is a village in the north of County Kerry, with woodland to the south and the Shannon estuary to the north. It lies on the N69 coast road that runs along the estuary from Limerick before turning inland at Tarbert towards Listowel. As of the 2022 census, Tarbert village had a population of 546.

Geography

Location

Tarbert is in the historical barony of Iraghticonnor in the civil parish of Kilnaughtin. Located on the N69 and N67 roads, Tarbert is connected by ferry (across the Shannon estuary) to Killimer in County Clare.

Tarbert Island

The nearby island is linked to the mainland by a short isthmus. There is a car ferry service from the island to the town of Killimer in County Clare. This service, operated by Shannon Ferries, provides a link between the N69 in County Kerry and the N67 in County Clare.

Also on the island is a small lighthouse and an electricity plant, Tarbert Power Station, with four oil-fired turbines and a capacity of 640MW. This plant, opened in 1969, was the site of an explosion in 2003 that killed two workers and seriously injured another. The plant was due to be de-commissioned in 2010, with the loss of 130 jobs. However, the plant was purchased by Spanish power company Endesa in January 2009. As of 2023, the plant was operated by SSE.

Population (Tarbert Island)

Built heritage

Bridewell

Tarbert's bridewell is a former courthouse and prison in the village. Built in 1831, it was used for trying local court cases and for holding prisoners awaiting transfer to the County Jail in Tralee. The jail closed in 1874 but the courthouse continued in use until the 1950s. In 1993, the complex was reopened as a museum and visitor centre.

Tarbert Lighthouse

Tarbert Lighthouse came into operation on 31 March 1834 H.T.L.H. Tarbert Island lighthouse, which is still operational, is a harbour light to guide vessels passing up and down the Shannon estuary. It is built on a tidal rock on the north side of Tarbert Island and a cast iron bridge connects the lighthouse to the shore.

Fort Shannon

Fort Shannon was a coastal artillery fortress, near Tarbert, built by the Irish Army in 1942 to protect the River Shannon against potentially hostile warships during The Emergency (as World War II was known in Ireland). It was the only such fortress to have been built by the Irish Government since independence. It was reduced to a care and maintenance basis in 1946 and completely abandoned several years later.

Tarbert House

Tarbert House is a historic country house dating from 1690. It was built by the Leslie family, and is still owned by them.

Amenities

St Mary's Catholic Church is in Tarbert parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kerry. It was built in 1833.

There are two schools in the area: Tarbert National School (primary) and Tarbert Comprehensive (secondary). As of 2024, the secondary school had an enrolment of 501, and the national (primary) school had 138 pupils.

The local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club, Tarbert GAA, is based in Shannon Park in the village.

Notable people

• Thomas MacGreevy (1893–1967), poet, critic and director of the National Gallery of Ireland
• Jennifer Musa (1917–2008), Irish-born, Pakistani nurse, politician and social worker

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

References

1. ^ "Census Interactive Map - Towns: Tarbert - Population Snapshot". Census 2022. Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
2. ^ "Tairbeart / Tarbert". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
3. "Shannon Ferries". discoverireland.ie. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
4. "ESB's farewell to Tarbert". The Kerryman. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
5. "SSE applies for permission to develop new biofuel power plant in Kerry". independent.ie. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
6. "Tarbert Bridewell Courthouse & Jail". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012.
7. "Commissioner for Irish Lights Website". Archived from the original on 25 September 2006.
8. "Coastal Defence Artillery Collection". militaryarchives.ie. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
9. Prendiville, Norma (26 August 2013), "Centuries of history and stories are part and parcel of Tarbert House", Leinster Leader
10. "Parishes - Tarbert". dioceseofkerry.ie. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
11. "Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Chapel Street, Tieraclea Lower, Tarbert, Kerry". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
12. "Directory page - Tarbert Comprehensive School". gov.ie. Department of Education. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
13. "Directory page - Tarbert National School". gov.ie. Department of Education. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
14. "Shannon Park". tarbertgaa.ie. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
15. Schreibman, Susan (October 2009), "MacGreevy, Thomas", Dictionary of Irish Biography, Royal Irish Academy, doi:10.3318/dib.005218.v1, retrieved 28 July 2024
16. Kane, Conor (23 January 2008). "Irish nurse remembered in Pakistan and Tarbert after 'very interesting life'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 June 2024.

External links

• Tarbert Community Website
• Tarbert Bridewell

v t e Places in County Kerry
County town: Tralee
Towns	Ballybunion Cahersiveen Castleisland Dingle Kenmare Killorglin Killarney Listowel Tralee
Parishes, Villages and Townlands	Abbeydorney Annascaul Ardfert Asdee Ballydavid Ballinskelligs Ballyduff Ballyferriter Ballyheigue Ballylongford Ballymacelligott Ballyseedy Beaufort Blennerville Bonane Brandon Creek Brandon Brosna Caherboshina Caherdaniel Camp Castlecove Castlegregory Castlemaine Causeway Chapeltown Cloghane Coolgarriv Currans Currow Derrymore Derrynane Duagh Dunquin Doonshean Fahamore Farranfore Fenit Feothanach Fieries Finuge Fossa Glenbeigh Glenflesk Gneeveguilla Kilcummin Kilderry Kilflynn Kilgarvan Kilmoyley Knightstown Knockanure Knocknagoshel Lispole Lisselton Lixnaw Milltown Moyvane Portmagee Rathmore Scraggane Sneem Spa Tarbert Templenoe Tuosist Valentia Island Ventry Waterville
Islands	Beginish Blasket Islands Deenish Fenit Innisfallen Magharee Islands Puffin Scariff Skellig Islands Valentia
List of townlands in County Kerry Category:Geography of County Kerry

• Towns and villages in County Kerry