St Ishmael ( or ) is a hamlet and

community A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given g ...

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...

, Wales. The community population taken at the 2011 census was 1,327. It comprises the villages of

Ferryside Ferryside () is a village in the Community (Wales), community of St Ishmael (Carmarthenshire), St Ishmael, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is south of Carmarthen near the mouth of the River Tywi. Originally a ferry crossing, then becoming a fishing ...

and Llansaint and the surrounding rural areas. The community is bordered by the communities of:

Llandyfaelog Llandyfaelog () is a community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales. According to the 2001 census the community has a population of 1,272, of which 71.88 percent are Welsh speaking. The population at the 2011 Census had increased to 1,304. The ...

;

Kidwelly Kidwelly () is a town and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales, approximately northwest of the most populous town in the county, Llanelli. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census the community had a population ...

;

Pembrey and Burry Port Town Pembrey and Burry Port Town () is a community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales including the town of Burry Port and the village of Pembrey. The community population taken at the 2011 census was 8,547. The community lies on the north-eastern s ...

; and

Llansteffan Llansteffan, is a village and community situated on the south coast of Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Tywi, south of Carmarthen. Description The community includes Llanybri and is bordered by the communities of: ...

, all being in Carmarthenshire. It is named for the 6th-century Breton prince and Welsh saint

Isfael Isfael or Ismael (), often anglicised as Ishmael, was a 6th-century medieval Welsh bishop of Rhos and saint. He was allegedly also a Breton prince of Armorica. Although his anglicized name invites association with the Biblical Ishmael, Isfael ...

History

In 2017, a 12th century medieval settlement was discovered in St Ishmael during an archaeological dig, which determined that it had been abandoned. This came after winds in 1999 had blown sands away, revealing medieval walls and cooking vessels. In 2012, a

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

hoard of treasure was found in St Ishmael, which included 13 bronze items dating to 1000 BC. The church, around which the hamlet is centred, was first mentioned as standing in 1115.

Governance

electoral ward A ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. In some countries, wards are usually named after neighbourhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures connected t ...

in the same name existed. This ward stretched north from St. Ishmael to include Llandyfaelog, with a total population of 2,674. Local county councillor, Mair Stephens, died on 9 January 2022 after a long illness. She had been an

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

county councillor for St Ishmael since 2004, becoming deputy leader of the county council. Following a local government boundary review (and despite opposition from St Ishmael's and Llandyfaelog's community councils), the St Ishmael ward was reconfigured, losing Llandyfaelog and combining with neighbouring

to become 'Kidwelly and St Ishmael' from the May 2022 local elections. The new ward elects two county councillors.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Ishmael (Carmarthenshire) Communities in Carmarthenshire Carmarthen Bay