| During
the early parts of the 20th century Doolin was a 'Gaeltacht' or Irish speaking
area, where in fact many of the people only spoke Irish. The proximity of
the Aran Islands and in particular Inis Oirr (Inisheer) led to a lot of
trading between Doolin and the Aran Islands. Doolin was a strong fishing
village at that time, and it is in this area that most of the trade with
the Aran Islands took place. During this time Doolin was also - likes many
parts of Ireland - active in the fight for independence from Britain. Many
skirmishes took place; one of note was the burning of the old Royal Irish
Constabulary barracks, located across from Doolin House.
In the 1920s and 1930s Doolin was discovered by the Bohemian set. Figures
such as J.M. Synge, George Bernard Shaw, Dylan Thomas. Augustus John and
Oliver St. John Gogarty spent time in Doolin, in the atmosphere of O'Connors
Pub.
Seamus
Delargy, the famous Irish story collector, spent much time here in the
late 20s and early 30s and collected a vast volume of folklore from the
North Clare region. This is now held in the National Archives in Dublin.
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