Kilrush.ie

Kilrush Art Group
2025-10-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-10 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-03 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Dublin) | West Clare Family Resource Centre / Kilrush Community Centre, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 VK31, Ireland
Monthly art classes with Pauline Dunleavy also available. For further details contact Pauline on 086 8339347

Kilrush Farmer's Market
2025-10-23 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-16 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-09 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-02 09:00 - 14:00 | The Square, Kilrush, The Square, Kilrush, Co. Clare
Support local businesses by shopping the Kilrush Farmer’s Market. Held every Thursday from 9am-2pm.

Knitting and Craft Club at Kilrush Library
2025-10-21 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Kilrush Library, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 W577
The knitting & craft group meet in the library every Tuesday evening and share their crafty tips and patterns. Free event, all welcome.

Weekly Woodland Walk with West Clare Mental Health Association
2025-10-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-13 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-06 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Vandeleur Gardens and Visitor Centre, Feagarroge, Kilrush, V15 E735
Join us for a group walk around Vandeleur Woods and Gardens.

Mermaids and Buoys, Cappagh
2025-10-19 09:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-12 09:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-05 09:00 - 10:30, 2025-09-28 09:00 - 10:30
Open water swimming, with a big meetup every Sunday and sea swims at other times throughout the week. Further details 086 8339347

Vandeleur Parkrun
2025-10-18 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-10-11 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-10-04 09:30 - 11:30 | Vandeleur Gardens and Visitor Centre, Feagarroge, Kilrush, V15 E735
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it’s up to you!

Kilrush Library Uplifting Poetry Sessions
2025-10-14 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-10-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Kilrush Library, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 W577
Free sessions for poets and poetry lovers, on the first and second Tuesday of every month at Kilrush Library. Come to read your own poetry or to share a favourite poem by another writer.

Thursday Tea Dance
2025-10-09 14:00 - 16:30 | West Clare Family Resource Centre / Kilrush Community Centre, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 VK31, Ireland
Bookings; 065 905 2173

Ceoil agus Tae
2025-10-03 11:00 - 12:00 | West Clare Family Resource Centre / Kilrush Community Centre, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 VK31, Ireland

Monthly Birthday Party
2025-10-02 14:30 - 16:00 | West Clare Family Resource Centre / Kilrush Community Centre, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 VK31, Ireland
A celebration for everyone who has their birthday this month!

Wednesday Book Club for Children
2025-10-01 15:30 - 16:30 | Kilrush Library, O'Gorman Street, Kilrush, V15 W577
Our monthly book clubs are ideal for children who would like to read exciting new books and to discuss or listen to others’ opinions about the books. This book club is suitable for children aged 8 – 12 years.
Contact: Frances Pender (065) 905 1504 kilrush@clarelibrary.ie

Book Launch - 'Forgotten Lives' with Rita McCarthy
2025-09-28 16:00 - 17:00 | Banner Books, 1a, Hector Street Mills, Kilrush, V15 PW83
In 1922, the County Clare Nursery, a state-supported mother and baby home for County Clare, was opened in part of Kilrush Workhouse. For the ten years of its existence it was owned and funded by Clare County Council. For the first six years it was managed by the Sisters of Mercy and thereafter by lay staff.
Rita McCarthy, a social historian, extensively researched original archives, newspaper reports and oral histories to recount the story of this unique institution, placing it in the historical context of how unmarried mothers and illegitimate children were treated in Irish society. Conditions in the Nursery were inhumane and the death rate of babies was described by the doctor in charge as ‘appalling’. Yet this is also a story of good people trying to do their best to help the women and children.
McCarthy offers an insight into the characters of the women from all parts of County Clare who spent time in the institution. Interviews with a survivor and descendants of some of the women recount life after the County Nursery.
This book ensures that the County Clare mother and baby home, and the women and children who were unfortunate enough to spend time within its walls, will not be forgotten.
Forgotten Lives was published by Banner Books in August 2025.After the huge success of her launch at De Valera library, Ennis last month, Rita will be holding her local launch with a talk, readings and a visit to the Kilrush memorial for the mothers and babies of the County Nursery.
