A Guide to Ennis in County Clare
With its town heritage, superb selection of places to eat and a nightlife driven by bustling pubs, cultural concerts, traditional live music and dancing, Ennis is well worth a stop off on any visit to Couny Clare and Ireland‘s Mid West region.
The town centre is a wonderful weave of medieval narrow laneways, streets and arched tunnel passageways. Ennis developed as a market town back in the early 17th century and still holds a market every Saturday. Nowadays, the market sells delicious craft foods and vegetables supplied by a vibrant organic farming sector.
One of the town’s most historic landmarks is Ennis Friary. This partially ruined 13th Franciscan Friary is currently under restoration but still opened to visitors. Admission is free until works are finished and the friary’s old tombs and ornate carvings are worth a look. The Clare Museum is also free and houses interesting exhibits, information panels and audio/visual displays relating to the county’s historical and cultural past.
One of the best ways to discover Ennis’s fascinating history is to go on a Ennis walking tour. The local guides are sure to keep you entertained with colourful stories of famous historical figures, local town characters and ghostly occurrences. Those seeking their ancestry should check out the De Valera Library and Museum, just off Abbey Street. The Riverside Walk is also popular with locals and visitors alike and includes art sculptures along the trail and a water meadow - home to wild ducks and geese.
Other fun activities close to Ennis include Imeco Visitor Farm. This rural farm has loads of family-friendly animals to pet and a play area for kids. Woodstock Golf Club and Drumcliffe Riding Stables are other conveniently located outdoor activity option. Then there’s the magical and varied landscapes of The Burren, Cliffs of Moher and Lough Derg to explore; all within an hour’s drive of Ennis.
Ennis also has an abundance of top class accommodation and this includes B&B guesthouses. Clare people are renowned for their friendliness and choosing to stay with B&B hosts is a great way to experience the local culture firsthand.
County Clare is renowned for its traditional musicians, singers and dancers, many of whom perform regularly at the Glor Theatre situated in Ennis town centre. Cultural concerts are held on most nights during the summer months. Most pubs also host regular traditional music sessions, including Brogans on O Connell Street and the cosily atmospheric Poet’s Corner Bar in the Old Ground Hotel. You might not wish to leave Ennis after your visit!
Book a B&B in Ennis 
Posted: 13 Feb 2013 by
Mel Heron |
with 0 comments
Tags: Clare, County, Ennis, Guide, in, to, Visit
The county of Clare has been listed as one of the ‘Best Places to Go’ in 2018 by renowned Frommer's Travel Guide.
Posted: 01 Dec 2017 by
Claire Regan |
with 1 comments
“It’s a long, long way from Clare to here” as the song goes, but even so a million plus visitors a year flock to the Cliffs of Moher to marvel at the 300 meter cliffs, that drop sheer into the Atlantic Ocean for several miles along the western edge of County Clare. But there's more to the Banner County than the Cliffs of Moher. Its a stunning County waiting for you to explore.
Posted: 21 May 2014 by
Niall McKee |
with 0 comments
There is not too much you can do with €5 these days, but the spectacular cliff top walk from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher with local guide Pat Sweeney has to be the best value in Ireland. Pat’s family have farmed the land locally for generations, so he knows all there is to know about this incredibly beautiful area.
Posted: 02 Apr 2014 by
Claire Regan |
with 0 comments