Introduction

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The historic village of Tarbert is picturesquely situated on the Shannon estuary.  It acts as a north gateway to the Kingdom of Kerry and, through its ferry services, as a bridge between the southwest and the west of Ireland.  Tarbert's tidal estuary location is enhanced by its varied landcape whereby its rich agricultural land is fringed by gently sloping hills, interspersed by deciduous woodlands and stretches of bogland, home to many botanical specimens.

One of the features of Tarbert life which is freqently commented on is its vibrant community spirit.  Its range of community, cultural, sporting and social clubs bears testimony to the high quality of the community;s social capital.  The community combines an informed interest in its past with a caring concern for the well-being of its current inhabitants, while being proactively concerned for its economic and social future.  The pulse of community life has a caring, incolusive and welcoming character.  It is a community which likes to celebrate, and the year is punctuated with community festivals, with those held in August and on New Year's Eve renowned throughout the region.  Traditional music and singing are integral to most social occasions.

Tarbert has a deep-rooted and distrinctive tradition in education, and educational achievement is engrained on the community;s ethos.  In contemporary times, its educational needs are served by a finely designed national school and by a splenddily equipped comprehensive school.  As well as providing second-level education for pupils from Tarbert and surrounding parishes, the comprehensive school also provides lifelong learning for the adult community.  The school has a great success record, with a majority of its pupils progressing to nearby third level instituions in Tralee, Limerick and further afield.

Recreational

The quality of the locality's amenities allow for a great range of sports and recreation such as fishing, boating, swimming, fowling, hunting, hillwalking, bird-watching, walking and athletics.  Sport forms a central feature of the way of life.  Tarbert's gaelic football club is over a century old and enjoys excellent facilities.  Other sports activiely pursued include soccer, rugby and badminton.  Greyhound racing si strongly established and facilities exist for horse riding and hunting. 

Historical Interests

Those with an interest in history can visit a wide variety of historic remains from the pre-historic, early christian, late medieval and the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.  Local groups such as the Development Association and the Tidy Towns Committee have done a great deal to preserve the historic and environmental heritage, regarding these as integral to the quality of life of the community.  Quality of life is a cherished feature of Tarbert community's value system.