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The Guide
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 Map of Clare
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Other Attractions
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Images from around Clare
 Cliffs of Moher
Co. Clare Countryside
Killaloe
Mullaghmore
Lough Derg
Ennis Abbey
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 Aillwee Caves - Caves in the Aillwee Mountain in the heart of the Burren near
Ballyvaughan, guided tours take you through the cave for 30 minuets
through caverns with stalactites and stalagmites and past a huge
underground waterfall and into extinct Irish brown bear hibernation
den, café and souvenir shop (Tel: 065 77036. Open March to November.
Entry IR£4). The caves are very popular and are least busy in
the morning. Cahermore Stone fort is just west of Aillwee.
Ballinalacken Castle - well preserved 15th century towerhouse built by the O'Briens in
the Burren near Lisdoonvarna
Ballykinvarga stone fort - large ruined prehistoric stone ring fort with a chevaux des frise,
(defensive wide perimeter of upright stones) near Kilfenora
Beaches in County Clare - long Kilkee beach with a sea cave, natural swimming holes called
the Pollock holes, cliff walks and interesting Duggerna Rocks
formations, white sandy beaches White Strand and Ballard Bay beaches
near Doonbeg, surfing beaches at Spanish Point and Lahinch seaside
resort, safe sandy swimming beach backed by dunes at Fanore
Beal Boru - earthen mound which legend says is the site of king Brian Boru's
stronghold Kincora overlooking Lough Derg near Killaloe
Black Head - This northerly headland at the edge of the Burren has an Iron
Age stone fort Cathair Dhun Iorais, the fort of Irghus and views
to the Aran Islands from the lighthouse
Bunratty Castle - The site of Bunratty Castle was originally a Viking settlement.
The Norman leader Thomas de Clare then built a stone fort on the
site. The impressive castle still standing was built in the 15th
century by the McNamaras but was almost immediately seized by
the O'Brien Earls of Thomond who used it has their residence until
the 17th century. The castle was recently restored and is kitted
out with period furniture, wall hangings and portraits and hosts
mock medieval banquets. There is also a folk park adjacent to
the castle which contains a reconstructed Irish village with a
working forge, buttery and weaving cottages. (Tel: 061 361511.
Entry to castle and folk park IR£4.85 For the banquets Tel: 061
360788). Bunratty is very popular and is less busy in the morning
Cahercommaun Cliff Fort - huge stone ring fort on the cliffed edge of a valley near Carron
with a stone inner defence wall and two semicircular defensive
walls
Clare Archaeology Centre - heritage centre housed in the 15th century O'Dea Castle with a
2 mile history trail around it which passes several ancient sites
including a ring fort, high cross and Neolithic cooking site,
(Tel: 065 37722. Entry IR£2 May to September)
Cliffs of Moher - The Cliffs of Moher on the north coast of County Clare are Ireland's
most famous and probably most spectacular cliffs. The cliffs start
at the jutting point of Hag's Head near Liscannor and peak five
miles along, just north of O'Brien's tower (built in 1857 by Cornelius
O'Brien as a viewing point to impress his friends). If you dare
to get close enough to the cliff edge to look over, the views
of the Aran Islands are said to be wonderful. However, having
been battered by fierce Atlantic winds and waves for thousands
of years the cliffs are unstable in parts and sections have subsided
into the seas during storms, so caution is advised. You can just
hear the ocean crashing 660 feet below. Just north of O'Brien's
tower a 70m high sea stack is home to seabirds including puffins.
A precarious path leads to the bottom of the cliffs from north
of O'Brien's tower. (Tel: the Cliffs of Moher visitors centre
on 065 81171).
Corcomroe Abbey - Cistercian Abbey founded by the O'Briens in the 13th century near
Bellharbour
Craggaunowen Project - heritage park with reconstructions of ancient settlements including
a crannog and ring fort and some authentic features including
an Iron Age Road, with a cafe near Quin, (Tel: 061 367178. Open
March to October. Entry IR£3.50), nearby fortified tower house
built by the ruling McNamara family Craggaunowen Castle
Dolphin watching on the Shannon - The Shannon Estuary is home to a resident population of around
70 dolphins. Dolphinwatch (Tel: 065 58156/ 584711) run two hour
dolphin watching trips from Carrigaholt harbour.
Dromore Wood - Forest park near Corofin off the N18 which contains the ruins
of a 17th century castle built by the O'Brien clan and two ring
forts. (Tel: 065 37166. Open June to September)
Dysert O'Dea monastic site - ruined monastery founded by St Tola in the 8th century on a rocky
outcrop near Corofin, 12th century high cross the White Cross
of St Tola, 12th century church with Romanesque and animal carvings,
very ruined round tower
Gleninagh and Newtown Castles - both castles near Ballvaughan were 16th century castles of the
O'Lochlain family. People lived in Gleninagh Castle until 1840.
There are also a holy well and a ruined medieval church outside.
Gleninagh.
Gleninsheen Wedge Tomb - wedge tomb dating 5,000 years also called the Druids altar near
the Aillwee Caves in the Burren, where a magnificent gold gorget
was found by a boy hunting rabbits in 1930 (the gorget can now
be seen in the National Irish Museum in Dublin)
Kilfenora Cathedral - ruined 12th century small cathedral in Kilfenora village on the
edge of the Burren. The Cathedral was founded in the 6th century
by Saint Fachan and has five high crosses outside it including
the Doorty Cross
Knappogue Castle - Near Quin, 15th century castle of the McNamaras, furnished in
period style, hosts medieval banquets (Tel: 061 368102. Banquets
Tel: 061 360788. Open April to October. Entry IR£2.50)
Leamanegh Castle - well preserved castle near Corofin which is a combination of a
15th century O'Brien tower house and the later fortified house
of Conor O'Brien who held this stronghold until he was killed
by Cromwell's forces fighting in 1651 for the Royalists
Loop Head - Scenic rugged cliffs with a clifftop path stretching to Kilkee,
views south along the Kerry coast to the Dingle Peninsula and
to the Aran islands in the north. The 17 miles long Loop Head
Scenic drive heads south from Kilkee
Lough Derg - You can catch boats to the Holy Island monastic settlement which
was founded on Lough Derg by Saint Caimin in the 7th century and
has a round tower, four ancient churches, and ancient graveyard
and other ruins from Mount Shannon. Boats for trout and salmon
fishing on Lough Derg can be also be hired from Mountshannon
Mooghaun Ring Fort - huge Iron Age hill fort with three massive earthen ring banks,
near Newmarket on Fergus in Dromland Forest signposted off the
N18
Poulnabrone Dolmen - carbon dated at between 3800BC and 3200BC the elegant angular
Poulnabrone dolmen in the middle of the Burren near the Aillwee
caves was found to contain the bones of 25 people, pottery and
jewellery. The tomb would have been covered by a low mound of
earth when it was built by megalithic people
Quin Abbey - well preserved Franciscan abbey founded in 1433 on the site of
a castle owned by the Norman de Clare family, tall belfry and
elegant cloisters, adjacent 13th century gothic St Finghin's church
(Tel: 065 544084. Open June to September). A wonderful archaeological
find of hundreds of ancient gold gorgets, torcs and other pieces
of jewellery, the Great Clare Find, was discovered by labourers
working on the Limerick to Ennis railway line at Quin village
in 1854, however although a few pieces are now in the National
Museum in Dublin, most were sold and melted down.
Saint Flannan's Cathedral - Saint Flannan's Cathedral in Killaloe was built by the O'Brien
family in the 13th century with the ancient Thorgrim's Stone,
a stone cross shaft carved with ancient Norse and Irish Ogham
writing and Saint Flannan's oratory church outside.
Scattery Island monastic site - monastery on Scattery Island in the Shannon Estuary founded in
the 6th century by Saint Senan with a well preserved 36 feet high
round tower, five ruined churches and a ruined 9th century cathedral.
Legend says that Saint Senan had to drive a sea monster away from
the island before he could build the monastery. The monastery
was sacked several times by the Vikings who took it over until
970 when Brian Boru drove them off. Boat to Scattery Island run
from Merchants Quay in Kilrush (Tel: 065 51237) and the Scattery
Island Centre (Tel: 065 52144) has displays about the island's
history
Quick guide to Clare
Inis recommends - The Burren
Tourist Attractions
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