Sights in The Burren
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Caherconnell Fort
For a look at a well-preserved caher (walled fort) of the late Iron Age-Early Christian period, stop at Caherconnell Fort, a privately run heritage attraction that's more serious than sideshow. Exhibits detail how the evolution of these defensive settlements may have reflected territorialism and competition for land among a growing, settling population. The drystone walling of the fort is in excellent condition. The top-notch visitor centre also has information on many other monuments in the area. It's about 1km south of Poulnabrone Dolman on the R480.
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Burren Perfumery & Floral Centre
This sweet-smelling stop is a creative treasure. It uses wildflowers of the Burren to produce its scents, and is the only handicraft perfumery in Ireland. There's a free audiovisual presentation on the flora of the Burren, which has a surprising diversity. One example: the many fragrant orchids that grow among the rocks. The centre has an organic cafe, and native and herb gardens. Look for perfumery signs at the T-junction near Carron church. Note that tour buses aren't welcome.
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Aillwee Caves
Send the kids underground. The main cave here penetrates 600m into the mountain, widening into larger caverns, one with its own waterfall. The caves were carved out by water some two million years ago. Near the entrance are the remains of a brown bear, extinct in Ireland for more than 10,000 years. Often crowded in summer, there's a cafe, and a large raptor exhibit has captive hawks, owls and more. A shop sells locally produced Burren Gold cheese, which is excellent.
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Green Holes of Doolin
The rocks to the north of Doolin Harbour are honeycombed with an unusual system of undersea caves called the Green Holes of Doolin. They're the longest known undersea caves in temperate waters. Nondivers can look, with care, into Hell, a large gash in the rocks, north of the harbour and about 50m from the sea. The gash is about 6m wide, and the heaving water at the bottom leads to a maze of submarine passages.
Note that all unguided caves require experience and full equipment.
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Burren Smokehouse
You can learn about the ancient Irish art of oak-smoking salmon from a video (available in six languages) at the Burren Smokehouse. Tasty smoked salmon and other fishies in a myriad of forms are offered for free tasting – perhaps you'll even buy some? Good coffee and tea are sold along with other deli-type foods suitable for picnics. Tourist information is also available. The smokehouse is at the edge of Lisdoonvarna on the Kincora road (N67).
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Clare Heritage Centre
Corofin is home to the interesting Clare Heritage Centre, housed in an old church and with a display covering the horrors of the Great Famine. More than 250,000 people lived in Clare before the Famine; even today the county's population is only about 106,000 – a drop of almost 60%. The Clare Genealogical Centre, in a separate building nearby, has facilities for people researching their Clare ancestry.
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Fisherstreet Potholes
The Doolin area is popular with cavers. Check out the Fisherstreet Potholes.
Note that all unguided caves require experience and full equipment.
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Poll na gColm
The Doolin area is popular with cavers. Poll na gColm is Ireland's longest cave, with more than 12km of mapped passageways.
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Clare Genealogical Centre
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Doolin Cave
The Doolin area is popular with cavers. A little over 1km north of Roadford you’ll find Doolin Cave, which boasts an enormous stalactite that looks like a giant squid. The main entrance is at the Fisherstreet Potholes; tour times vary by season.
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High Crosses
Kilfenora is best known for its high crosses, three in the glass-covered cathedral ruins and a large one from the 12th century in a field about 100m to the west. Most interesting is the 800-year-old Doorty Cross. It lay broken in two until the 1950s, when it was re-erected. A panel in the ruins does an excellent job of explaining the carvings that adorn the crosses.
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Cathedral
The 11th-century cathedral at Kilfenora was once an important place of pilgrimage. St Fachan (or Fachtna) founded the monastery here in the 6th century, and it later became the seat of Kilfenora diocese, the smallest in the country. Loop around the more recent protestant church and you can enter the oldest part of the ruins, which have a stoic charm. The chancel has two primitive carved figures on top of two tombs.
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Burren Centre
The centre has a series of entertaining and informative displays on many aspects of the Burren past and present. Stone-age mannequins look on the verge of frostbite. There's a cafe and a very large shop that sells local products.
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