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The Burren in County Clare, an expansive plateau of natural gnarled limestone paving which is home to a host of unique plants, is possibly the most geologically fascinating area in Ireland. Many ancient remains including dolmens, wedge tombs, ancient caves which were once the lairs of extinct Irish brown bears and huge stone forts like the Cahercommaun Cliff fort are dotted around the Burren. Ruined abbeys and historic castles, including Bunratty castle, which hosts medieval banquets, are also peppered around the county. Clare's rugged Atlantic coast has Ireland's most famous and perhaps most scary sea cliffs, the 660 feet high Cliffs of Moher. The Shannon Estuary has its own resident population of dolphins and boat trips to see them run from Carrigaholt. Boats also run to the Holy Island monastic site on Lough Derg and out to the Aran Islands off the coast. County Clare was ruled by the O'Brien Earls of Thomond between the 13th and the 17th century and they had castles in Clare's main town Ennis as well as at other locations all around the County. Other influential families were the McNamaras who built castles at Bunratty and Quin and the O'Lochlains who ruled the Burren region and had a castle on the Black Head. The County was instrumental in regaining rights for Catholics after the harsh penal laws imposed by the British in the 18th century prevented them from holding masses, buying land or owning property over £5, taking up professions or official positions. The people of Clare illegally backed Catholic rights campaigner Daniel O'Connell as their Member of Parliament and O'Connell gained such a huge majority that Britain was forced to allow him into Parliament in 1828. He succeeded in securing the Act of Catholic Emancipation the following year.
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