TARBERT, an island and port and post-town, in the
parish of KILNAUGHTEN, barony of IRAGHTICONNOR,
county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER, 26
miles (N. E.) from Tralee, and 126 (S. W.) from
Dublin; containing 956 inhabitants. The seigniory
of Tarbert, including the island of that name, was
granted by Jas. I. to Patrick Crosbie, Esq., on condition
of his keeping on these lands several Irish
families brought hither from the King's county, which
condition was fulfilled by him and the subsequent proprietors.
At the Revolution the seigniory was granted
to the family of Leslie. The town is advantageously
situated on the southern bank of the Lower Shannon,
about 35 miles below Limerick, and at the head of the
bay to which it gives name; and though irregularly
built it has, on the whole, a neat appearance. In 1831
it comprised 148 houses, since which period it has been
much improved and enlarged by the erection of some
neat dwelling-houses, and extensive corn-stores, a spacious
R. C. chapel, and a national school. Being the
landing-place for passengers from Dublin and Limerick
to Tralee and the lakes of Killarney, and being situated
on one of the high roads from Limerick to the latter
places, it has a good hotel and other accommodations for
travellers. Tarbert has a considerable and increasing
export trade in corn, butter, pigs, and other agricultural
produce raised in the surrounding district, and chiefly
sent to Limerick, with which city and the town of Kilrush
it has a communication, in summer daily, and in
winter on alternate days, by the vessels of the Inland
Steam Navigation Company: the voyage to the former
place is generally performed in four hours. About
50,000 barrels of grain, and 25,000 pigs, are annually
exported, and the export of butter during the season
averages about 200 firkins per month. A variety of
articles are imported from Limerick, and the import
trade is likely to be much increased in consequence of
the recent erection, by Mr. Jas. Patterson, of Kilrush,
of an extensive store for general merchandise. Fairs
are held on Feb. 20 th, Easter-Monday, June 22nd,
July 20th, Aug. 12th, and Dec. 11th. The bay of
Tarbert extends between the town and an island
of the same name, and being capable of affording
a safe and commodious roadstead for about 150
vessels of the largest class, may be considered an
asylum harbour; it is formed by a deep bight terminated
by a small river flowing into it near the town,
and is sheltered on the north-west side by the Island
of Tarbert, which latter is however insulated only at
extraordinary high water of spring tides, being conTAR
nected with the mainland by a narrow causeway for
foot passengers, which is proposed to be superseded by
a bridge. An excellent road from the town to the island
has been constructed along the shore of the bay by the
Steam Navigation Company, for the convenience of
passengers, there being at present no nearer point of
embarkation than the inner side of the island. A
pier is also in progress of erection on the south-east
side of the island, at a point recommended by Capt.
Mudge in his report to the Board of Public Works, by
which the company is expected to be aided in its erection,
the trade of the port being at present much
checked for want of such an accommodation. On the
island, which is about a mile from the town, is a battery,
and bomb-proof barrack mounting seven 24-pounders
and two howitzers, erected, with several others,
during the late continental war, for the protection of the
trade of Limerick. Here is also a revenue station,
under the Board of Customs, of which the establishment
consists of a surveyor and six boatmen. A lighthouse
(completed in 1835) has been constructed on the
extreme northern point of the island, which now
enables vessels to run for this anchorage at night, when
driven from those of Carrigaholt and Seattery. In the
town is a station of the constabulary police, and petty
sessions for the district are held on alternate Tuesdays.
A small but neat and substantial bridewell was erected
in 1831.
The parochial church, a neat modern edifice, is situated
about a quarter of a mile east of the town. The
R. C. chapel is a handsome cruciform structure, lately
erected at an expense of £1200: there is also a meeting
house for Wesleyan Methodists. Near the town is a
school on Erasmus Smith's foundation; a national
school has been recently established near the chapel;
and a school is held in the Wesleyan meeting-house.
There is a dispensary for the poor. The shores of the
bay and river are prettily wooded, and both above and
below the town are embellished with several handsome
seats, most of which command fine views of the Shannon
and of the opposite coast of the county of Clare.
Of these the principal are Tarbert House, the residence
of Robt. Leslie, Esq.; Ahanna, of Pierce Leslie, Esq.;
Leslie Lodge, lately the residence of another branch of
that family, and now the property of Lord Haliburton;
Shannon Lawn, of D. Harnett, Esq.; Clare View, of the
Rev. R. Fitzgerald; Ballydonohue, of Thos. Fitzgerald,
Esq.; Pyrrnount, of W. Sandes, Sen., Esq.; Sallow Glen,
of W. Sandes, Esq.; and Carrunakilly, of the Rev. F.
Sandes. In a field near the town is a chalybeate spa,
not used for medicinal purposes.