Corofin & Around

Introducing Corofin & Around

Corofin (Cora Finne), also spelled Corrofin, is a quiet village on the southern fringes of the Burren. It’s low-key but it’s also a classic place to sample the rhythms of Clare life. The surrounding area features a number of turloughs. There are several O’Brien castles in the area, two on the shores of nearby ­Inchiquin Lough.

Corofin is home to the interesting Clare Heritage Centre (683 7955; www.clareroots.com ; Church St; adult/concession €4/2; 9.30am-5.30pm Apr-Oct). Housed in an old church, it has a display covering the horrors of the Potato Famine. More than 250, 000 people lived in Clare before the Famine; today the county’s population stands at about 95, 000 – a drop of some 62%. In a separate building nearby, the Clare Genealogical Centre (683 7955; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri) has facilities for people researching their Clare ancestry.

About 4km northwest of Corofin, on the road to Leamanegh Castle and Kilfenora (R476), look for the small town of Kilnaboy. The ruined church here is well worth seeking out for the sheila-na-gig (explicit carved female figure) over the doorway.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009