Introducing County Clare
Clare (An Clár) is a trip in itself. It combines an Atlantic-pounded coast, and dramatic and unique wind-swept landscapes with artefacts from prehistory through medieval times. Of course all this physical attraction is fine, but what will really get into your soul is that Clare carries a song in its heart. This is the centre for traditional Irish music. From tiny village pubs to large venues, you’ll hear the county’s musicians not just keeping the legacy of song alive but refining and developing it.
Ennis is the main city. From this hub of narrow streets and nightlife, the entire county is a short trip away. But you’ll want to take your time becoming part of Clare’s fabric. Wander the coast. The desolate barrens south of Kilkee to Loop Head have dramatic cliffs and sweeping vistas and a surprising paucity of visitors. North, you’ll find absolutely wonderful villages such as Miltown Malbay, Ennistymon and Kilfenora, where you’ll find character and characters ready to make you feel right at home.
The iconic headlands of the Cliffs of Moher and the music-filled pubs of Doolin are a draw for many. Use them as an excuse to plunge further, for you’ll be right on the edge of the Burren, a stark, alien landscape of wild beauty and delightful villages such as Corofin.
Learn the fabric of this water-dashed, windswept land and soon you’ll be singing your own songs of joy.
Activities in County Clare
The Burren
The Burren region is rocky and windswept, an apt metaphor for the hardscrabble lives of those who've eked out an existence here.
Ennis
Ennis (Inis) is the busy commercial centre of Clare.
County Clare destination guides
Southwestern & Western Clare
One look at the map and you can see that Loop Head on Clare's southwestern tip is giving the finger to the Atlantic.
Hotels in County Clare
Budget Hotels & Hostels in County Clare
Guesthouses and B&Bs in County Clare
Apartments in County Clare
Eastern & Southeastern Clare
Away from the Atlantic coast and the rugged Burren, Clare rolls gently eastward through low-lying green countryside given emphasis by the occasional range of smooth hills.
Entertainment in County Clare
Doolin
Doolin gets plenty of press and chatter as a centre of Irish traditional music, owing to a trio of pubs that have sessions through the year.
Shopping in County Clare