Doolin

Introducing Doolin

Doolin gets plenty of press and chatter as a centre of Irish traditional music, owing to a couple of pubs that have sessions through the year. It’s also known for its setting – 6km north of the Cliffs of Moher, the land is windblown, with huge rocks exposed by the long-vanished top soil. It’s a place to get boats to the Aran Islands offshore.

Given all its attributes, you might be surprised when you realise that Doolin as it’s known barely exists. Rather, when you arrive you might be forgiven for exclaiming ‘there’s no there here!’ For what’s called Doolin is really three infinitesimally small neighbouring villages. Fisherstreet is right on the water, Doolin itself is about 1km east on the little Aille River and Roadford is another 1km east. None has more than a couple of buildings, which gives the place known as Doolin a scattered appearance, without a centre.

Still, the area is hugely popular with backpackers and more affluent travellers (ex-backpackers with jobs). There are scores of hostels and B&Bs widely spread about the rough landscape and a pretty good scene – usually with music – develops in the local pubs, at night.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009