Clare

County Clare is situated on the West coast of Ireland and is bordered by Lough Derg to the east, Galway Bay to the north, the wild Atlantic ocean to the west and by the River Shannon to the south.

There are a lot of things to do and see in Clare, which boasts beautiful and diverse landscapes such as the world-renowned Cliffs of Moher and the spectacular karst limestone area known as the Burren, where wild alpine orchids thrive among the terraces of barren rock.

Major Visitor Attractions

The Burren Display Centre at Kilfenora introduces visitors to the Burren itself, where a variety of models and AV displays explain the story of this unique area. In the Burren National Park, visitors can explore the geography and geology, as well as its ancient landmarks, with more than 100 dolmens still remaining on this landscape. The Poulnabrone Dolmen near Aillwee Cave is extremely popular with visitors.

The Burren Smokehouse produces Ireland's finest oak smoked Atlantic salmon. The ancient traditions of smoking fish over a smouldering fire of oak shavings to give the salmon a distinctive flavour are demonstrated here.

Aillwee Cave, with its many and wonderful stalactites and stalagmites, is one of the most popular attractions in the county.

Lahinch Seaworld helps the visitor to understand the underwater life of this part of the Atlantic coast. View sharks, rays and congor eels, in addition to many other species of fish and marine animals in a giant aquarium.

The Aran Islands, namely Inishmore, Inismaan and Inisheer, display the most splendid landscapes. When taking the short ferry crossing to the islands, the sight of the Cliffs of Moher is just spectacular.

Inishmore is the largest island of the group, and it is here that one is able to rent a bike to explore its landscapes, churches and fortresses such as Dun Aengus - probably the most beautiful prehistoric fortification in Europe, located as it is at the edge of a 80m high cliff.

Inishmaan has a small population, and there are no cars on this Island. Here there is a castle named Dún Conor. A peaceful place much-loved by artists as the light here is simply breathtaking.

Inisheer is the wildest of the Aran Islands, and is wonderful to explore. It too is a place where fable meets reality, set against the wonderful backdrop of the nearby Cliffs of Moher.

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park offers the opportunity to explore the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. Medieval banquets are held here, year round. Bunratty Folk Park lies next to the castle and it is here that 19th century life is vividly recreated, in what is themed a “living” village. Meet the "Bean an Tí" (Woman of the House) and enjoy the tastes, scents, sights and sounds of ancient Ireland, as you step back in time.

Craggaunowen - the Living Past Experience, is an award-winning pre-historic Park. Situated on 50 acres of woodland, it features a stunning recreation of some of the homesteads, animals and artefacts that existed in Ireland over 1,000 years ago. Explore the Crannóg, the Ring Fort, and the 'Brendan Boat' – the actual craft explorer Tim Severin used to re-create the epic voyage of St. Brendan to the shores of North America. It is also possible to enjoy lake walks in this rural setting.

The lakeside town of Killaloe is picturesquely sited at the south-west tip of Lough Derg. Killaloe Heritage Centre explores the themes of Celtic Ireland, Christianity and the development of the Shannon River as a transport system. The 11th century High King of Ireland, Brian Boru (940-1014) was born here. A lovely place to wander around and savour.

A must on any itinerary to Ireland is a visit to see the Cliffs of Moher and O'Brien's Tower. The Cliffs are 8km long and 214m high, and are breathtaking to witness. O'Brien's Tower was built by a descendant of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, as an observation point. From here one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, the Twelve Pins and Maumturk mountains in Connemara, in addition to Loop Head to the south.

Clare is known as “the Banner County”, with a rich tradition in sport, music, song and dance. Its capital is Ennis. Experience all that it has to offer during your Irish visit.