General History -

The town of An Spidéal in Irish or Spiddal in English has been here for centuries. It's thought the name is derived from the Irish for hospital which is Ospidéal of which there was one in the town many centuries ago. The village itself grew up as many do at a crossing point on the Boluisce river. I also has one of the few naturally sheltered piers where the local fishermen kept their boats. This Old Pier or Sean Cheabh is right in the village itself and has been beautifully restored in recent years.

The most substantial and famous building in Spiddal is Spiddal house. Click on the picture below for more detail and views of this former Lord Kilanin residence.

Cill  Éinde Church, An Spidéal

The Cill Éinde church is located right in the centre of the village. It's a catholic church first blessed on the 9th November 1908. Before this building there was an older church dating from 1854 where the current car park is.  Prior to that, according to Lewis's "Topographical Guide 1837" there was a thatch church located where we now have the bridge house hotel. The building as we see it today had it's last changes in 1985. At that time it got a new floor and roof along with a new sacristy. The re-blessing of the church upon completion of the work was celebrated on the 8th December 1985 by the Bishop Eamonn Casey.

The Main Street some time ago

I'm afraid I don't have a date on this one. It's a view looking East from outside the Bridge House Hotel.

Báile Árd circa 1920

Looking down from the top of the first hill on Baile Árd which is the road that goes North from the village. The building with the people outside it was the old postoffice. You can clearly make out Hughes pub further down the hill.