Leper hospital in Ardfert

In 1597 George Isham received a grant of lands in Ardfert which included 'a ruinous house, called the Spittle House of Adarte' (Morrin 1862, 413). This lends weight to Smith's (1756, 204) unsubstantiated statement that Nicholas FitzMaurice, third lord of Kerry, who died in 1324, founded a leper house in Ardfert. It may also be of significance that at precisely this period, 1324-5, the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem are recorded as holding half of Ardfert (McNeill 1932, 155). The modern townland of Gortaspiddle preserves the memory, and possibly the location, of this hospital. The above description is derived from Bradley, J., et al. 1987 Urban Archaeology Survey Part XIV County Kerry (49, no.8). Unpublished report. Office of Public Works. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 January 2012