The Castle of Kilkee was built by the Mac Sweeneys in the late fiftheenth century as feudatories of first the Mc Mahons and and later of the O'Briens. The Castle was subsequently granted to Charles Mac Donnell, a member of a Antrim family of Scotch descent, who retained the property until the end of the eighteenth century.

About one -hundred and seventy years Kilkee was a little fishing village, where at the West End the local landed aristocracy and the merchant princes of the neighbouring City of Limerick built a number of summer lodges. By the year 1830, there was a village of over 100 houses in Kilkee but it has since grown to popular and well-established seaside resort, Bord Failte having officially recognised Kilkee as one of the few major tourist resorts with a population of 1,109 (199 census).

The old Irish name for the long triangular penninsula stretching to Loop Head and forming the northern boundary of the estuary of the River Shannon is Corca Baiscinn. About midway on the Atlantic shore on this penninsula is Kilkee. It is situated on what is geographically known as Moore Bay, a bay of Horse-shoe shape. The entrance to this is guarded by the splendid reef known as Duggerna Rocks.

The town is situated in the County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland. It is one of the most westerly seaside resorts in Europe. Across the broad expanse of the Atlantic Ocean cones the west wind, warmed by the Gulf Stream, the former gives to the resort its bracing, healthy character, the latter its mild equable climate.

During the year 1980, a research team comprising Dr. Ulrich Schmidt of the Institute of KFA outside Cologne and Mrs. Vierkorm Rudoph of the Technical High School in Darmstadt near Frankfurt, carried out a study in the interest of the National Research Programme of the Environment. Air samples of altitudes of 6,000 to 24,000 feet were collected and analysed from all over the world and Dr. Schmidt has pronounced that the air in Kilkee is the cleanest in any part of the world and the resort was the most pollution-free place they have investigated. This, he states, is due mainly to the prevaling westerly winds.

The resort itself is built along a semi-circular strand, nearly one mile in length, with a good stretch of sands between the promenade and the sea. It has long been recognised as the best and safest bathing place on the Western Coast, and although it is exposed to the full force of the Atlantic, the town is protected on the westward side by the long rocky Duggerna Reef.

As a bathing place Kilkee is unsurpassed by any resort. The beach sweeps in a grand semi-circular curve in front of the town, and its smooth clean and firm sands, washed daily by the Atlantic tides, afford capital bathing, always in pergect safety. One of its main features is its very gradual slope towards the sea with virtually no currents. Bathing and swimming may be enjoyed at all stages of the tide. An addition to the strand , swimmers have the choice of several natural rock-enclosed pools called the "Pollock Holes", in which the water is changed by every tide. Thrills can be experienced by bathers at "Myles Creek", "Blackrock", "Byrnes Cove", or "Newfoundout". At the latter bathing place, where diving boards are provided, dives up to 45 feet can be made into the open sea. Kilkee has magnificent cliff scenery stretching in each direction with a rugged coastline broken up at many points into outstanding rocks and small islands and the mighty cliffs are fashioned in aseries of delightful little bays, in which nestle beautiful strands for bathing.

After the bathing, perhaps the greatest attraction for the visitors is the superb rock scenery and walks at either side of the town. Starting at the West End one comes to the "Duggerna Rocks", a natural barrier that breaks the fury of the Atlantic, and wherein are the famous "Polock Holes". Next we come to the "Amphitheatre" with its tier upon tier of seat like rocks, a favourite place for open-air concerts and discos. We next see the "Pink Cave" and further on the "Puffing Hole". Nearby are the celebrated "Diamond Rocks", "Intrinsic Bay", and "Look Out Hill". The latter is approximately 200 feet above the seaand from which, on a clear day, can be seen the Aran Islands, the Twelve Bens, River Shannon and Kerry Mountains.

From here From here one can return to the town by road or can continue further on to "Bishops Island", where are the remains of St. Senans Oratory and Cell. A little inland is St. Kee's Holy Well and then Fooagh Chalybeate Spa, famed for its curative properties. "Hely's Island" is next reached. On this island local farmers in times past grazed their sheep as the grass had great fattening qualities. Further on is "Castle Point" on which stands the ruins of "Dunlickey Castle", at one time a pirate stronghold.

Almost equally enjoyable is a walk alonf the cliffs northwards from the town. Passing through the East End, via Golf Links one comes to "Blackrock", the "Elephant's Teeth", "Byrnes Cove", "George's Head", "Chimney Hill" and "Chimney Bay" and thence to Farrihy Bay and Corbally, once an Irish speaking village. You may then return to Kilkee by road.

Kilkee is now famous throughout Europe for Skin Diving . The European Underwater Fishing Chamopionships were held at Kilkee in September, 1974, and since then Kilkee has had a steady stream of enthusiasts, who come here every year to dive in its unpolluted, clear waters. The coastline is ideal for diving, with its sheer cliffs and sunken reefs. Depths of 30 metres plus can be reached by diving from the shore, at Myles Creek at the tip of the "Duggerna Rocks". There are many interesting diving sites both north and south of Kilkee, some reaching to a depth of 75 metres, but these can only be reached by boat. Bafore undertaking diving here it is advisable to get advice beforehand which is freely available from the local expert, Mr. Manuel Di Lucia.