An Spidéal

An Spidéal derives from the word ospidéal meaning 'the hospital' in Irish. The medieval leper hospital that gave the village its name was established around the fourteenth century, possibly by the Knights Hospitallers, and was situated in An Spidéal Thiar (West Spiddal). Historical records reference a townland called Ballynaspiddell dating back to 1585. The settlement developed as a primarily m...