Summary
The town of Ennis in County Clare is guaranteed to ignite your interest if you are inclined toward historical exploration.
Scattered across the region are the weathered remnants of Medieval abbeys, friaries, and castles, all accessible to the public and available for examination.
Most of these structures have gradually deteriorated since the 16th century; however, Ennis Friary in the town has undergone restoration and features an intriguing exhibition of 15th-century religious sculpture.
The Clare Museum is located in a former convent and chronicles 6,000 years of history in County Clare.
Situated north of Ennis is the Burren, a unique karst landscape adorned with extensive limestone pavements and a habitat for approximately 70% of all plant species found in Ireland.
Now, let us delve into the premier attractions in Ennis:
1. Clare Museum
Located within the evocative confines of the former Sisters of Mercy Convent, this museum illustrates six millennia of history in County Clare.
This complimentary museum opened in 2000 and features numerous artefacts on loan from the National Museum of Ireland.
The primary exhibition is themed “Riches of Clare” and is divided into categories including Earth, Power, Faith, Water, and Energy.
Noteworthy items include artifacts from Clare’s numerous castles and monastic locations, memorabilia from the former president Éamon de Valera, historical insights into navigation on the Shannon Estuary, anecdotes from the old West Clare Railway, and items from the Spanish Armada.
One of the most compelling displays is a primary source from the Irish War of Independence and Civil War, showcased through the journal of Irish Republican Leader Patrick Brennan, who was interned in 1916.
2. The Burren
Travel to the north of Ennis, and within 15 minutes you will encounter one of the most stunning glaciated karst landscapes globally.
The landscape most commonly associated with the Burren is the expansive limestone pavements, which possess an almost extraterrestrial quality, characterized by “grikes,” or fissures.
This area is also noted for its remarkable botanical diversity.
More than 70% of Ireland’s plant species thrive on the grasslands and in these grikes, including Arctic and Alpine plants that flourish where the limestone pavement has fragmented into gravel.
The Burren National Park features five waymarked trails inviting exploration across the limestone pavement, through vibrant limestone grasslands, and into hazel and ash forests.
3. Ennis Friary
A short distance from the Clare Museum lies the venerable Ennis Friary.
Established by the O’Brien clan in the mid-13th century, Ennis Friary stands out as it continued its religious functions even after Henry VIII’s suppression of monasteries in the 16th century.
In the 1600s, it became a Church of Ireland temple, only beginning to decline once abandoned at the end of the 1800s.
Currently, Ennis Friary is once again under the stewardship of the Franciscan order and is open for public exploration.
Notably, due to its prolonged maintenance after its dissolution, many Medieval fixtures remain, visible within the re-roofed nave.
Highlights include an exquisite cycle of 15th-century carvings illustrating the Passion and Resurrection, a damaged yet beautiful pietà (Mary cradling the body of Christ), and the MacMahon-Creagh tomb from 1470, which depicts scenes of the Passion.
4. Dysert O’Dea Castle
Previously the stronghold of the O’Dea clan, O’Dea Castle is a fortified tower house constructed at the end of the 15th century.
The tower stands 15 meters high, overseeing the surrounding countryside from its limestone outcrop.
Visitors can ascend to the roof for expansive views from the battlements, while the ten rooms below serve as a museum containing local artefacts dating from 1000 BC to 1700 AD. The castle also presents an audiovisual display and provides access to the Dysert O’Dea Archaeology Trail, which leads to the 12th-century Dysert O’Dea Monastery.
Here, the ruins of a round tower and the intriguing St Tola’s Cross can be explored.
The most significant remnant is the Romanesque portal of St Tola’s Church, featuring solemn carvings of human and animal faces in its upper archivolt.
5. Clare Abbey
Perched by the west bank of the River Fergus, Clare Abbey was a significant Augustinian Abbey established in 1189, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Almost five centuries after its suppression in 1543, a surprising amount of architecture remains intact.
The tower and the basic structure of the church are still present, and in the chancel, an intact window opening with tracery from the 15th century can be viewed.
Several domestic buildings can still be identified, and on the southeast corner of the complex, a remarkable floral window—a rare discovery in a 500-year-old ruin—can be appreciated.
In 1278, this location became the scene of a massacre following a conflict between two factions of the O’Brien clan.
6. Ennis Cathedral
The narrative of this Gothic Revival structure intertwines with two of the darker eras in Irish history.
Ennis Cathedral was established as a parish church in 1828 after the Penal Laws, instituted at the end of the 17th century, prohibited Catholics from constructing places of worship in urban Irish areas.
Moreover, construction faced delays during the mid-19th century due to the Great Famine.
The tower and spire were completed in 1874, while the main portal was finalized in 1894. The seat of the Killaloe Diocese was relocated to Ennis in 1890, culminating in the church’s elevation to full cathedral status in 1990. One of the cathedral’s most striking features is a series of fluted timber columns, adorned with delightful tracery in the arch spandrels above.
7. Quin Abbey
Amongst the monastic sites scattered throughout the Clare countryside near Ennis, Quin Abbey emerges as one of the most remarkable. Presently, it dates back to the early 15th century.
The monastery was founded by the MacNamaras, who eventually regained control a few decades after the abbey was dissolved during the Reformation.
This shift drew the attention of Oliver Cromwell, as it was sacked in 1650, leading to the murder of its friars.
The abbey was restored shortly thereafter, and although it was closed under the Penal Laws, its final friar resided there until 1820. The ruins are open to exploration every day of the week except Monday, demonstrating a state of preservation that allows visitors to ascend the tower 200 years after the last friar departed.
Most captivating of all are the cloisters and their shadowy walkways, which remain in excellent condition.
8. Glór Theatre
Ennis boasts County Clare’s premier cultural destination within a contemporary structure that opened its doors in 2001. Glór Theatre stages theatrical performances, comedy shows, and live music events, in addition to organizing exhibitions by prominent Irish visual artists.
To provide a glimpse of its offerings, in spring 2018, there was an exhibition by the renowned printmaker Gráinne Cuffe, a night of traditional Irish music featuring Shaskeen and the Wingers, a yarn-spinning workshop, a lecture focused on German-Danish artist Emil Nolde, and a screening of the British black comedy “The Party” (2017). This sampling indicates a diverse program catering to various interests and age groups.
9. Killone Abbey
Ennis serves as an optimal location for those eager to uncover abandoned monuments, particularly with remnants of another abbey situated in a serene valley just south of the town.
Founded in 1190, Killone Abbey was an Augustinian nunnery established concurrently with Clare Abbey.
It was dissolved in 1584 and was already in decline by the 1610s.
Nevertheless, 400 years later, there remains much for amateur archaeologists to discover: notably, Killone Abbey stands as one of only three cloistered nunneries remaining in Ireland.
Among its features, visitors can observe a stunning late-Romanesque window on the church wall and an ornate quoin on the southeastern corner carved in the likeness of a woman’s head.
To the northeast of the abbey is St John’s Well, which bears an inscription indicating it was last repaired in 1731 by Anthony Roche, a merchant from Ennis.
10. Dromore Woodland Reserve
Located at the southeastern border of the Burren, the Dromore Woodland Reserve encompasses 400 hectares of forest, grassland, rivers, and lakes, acquired by the Irish government in the 1940s.
Dromore serves as a habitat for eight of the nine Irish bat species, along with the endangered pine marten and the elusive red squirrel, which is becoming increasingly rare in other regions of the country.
There is also substantial archaeological interest: during a visit, you will encounter the ruins of O’Brien Castle on the lakeshore, a decaying limekiln, the earthworks of two ring forts, and the tower of Cahermacrea Castle.
11. Bunratty Castle
A must-visit destination, this 15th-century tower house is located on the N18, en route to Limerick.
Bunratty Castle is recognized as a National Monument of Ireland, positioned at the confluence of the Ratty River and Shannon Estuary.
The current castle is the fourth structure built on this site and was commenced in 1425 by chieftain Maccon Sioda MacNamara.
By the late 19th century, the building had fallen into disrepair until it was acquired and restored in 1956 by the 7th Viscount Gort.
To recapture the essence of its glorious past, the interior is adorned with art, tapestries, and furnishings from the 1500s and 1600s.
Encompassing the 10-hectare grounds is a folk park featuring 30 historic buildings relocated to offer a glimpse into 19th-century Irish village life.
Visitors can find a school, post office, grocery, printworks, hardware shop, drapery shop, pub, and even the old Ardcroney Church, which was moved here in 1998.
12. Presidential Car
Adjacent to Ennis’s public library lies a piece of Irish 20th-century history.
This vehicle served as the presidential limousine for Éamon de Valera, who led the Irish government during three separate terms in the mid-20th century and subsequently assumed the ceremonial role of President of Ireland.
The car, a 1947 Dodge Plymouth, was meticulously restored by mechanic and Clare County Councillor P.J. Ryan, who sourced parts such as the battery and tires from overseas.
The car accommodates eight passengers and bears the Irish tricolor and the presidential flag on its bonnet.
13. Golf
A delightful way to engage with the gently rolling countryside surrounding Ennis is by playing on one of the two well-maintained parkland courses situated nearby.
These include Ennis Golf Club, founded in 1907, and Woodstock Golf & Country Club, both of which welcome visitors.
Both courses harmoniously integrate with the natural contours, landforms, and vegetation of the Clare landscape: Woodstock rests along the banks of the Inch River, where the challenging 7th and 8th holes present a natural lake as a water hazard.
At Ennis Golf Club, the forgiving fairways accommodate players who may not have swung a club recently, provided they avoid the dense foliage in the rough.
14. Horse Riding
For families vacationing in Ennis, there’s an opportunity for children to realize their dreams at one of the equestrian centers located in the nearby countryside.
At Ballyhannon House, Drumcliffe Equestrian, and Castlefergus Equestrian, individuals can enroll in beginner lessons or guided treks on Irish-bred horses and ponies.
All three establishments cater to complete novices as well as advanced riders.
Castlefergus, for example, spans 40 hectares of land alongside the River Rine, allowing equestrians to ride through rolling meadows and farmland or along ancient forest trails, all under the supervision of experienced guides.
15. Wild Atlantic Way
To the west, a scenic tourist trail meanders along the entire west coast of Ireland, extending for 2,500 kilometers.
However, it is not necessary to travel that far, as there are unique sites within an hour’s drive.
First, the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher stretch northwest for 14 kilometers, rising to 214 meters.
From their pinnacle, one can gaze over the Aran Islands in Galway Bay and view the Twelve Bens Mountain Range to the north.
Further south in Kilkee, visitors will find additional dark sandstone cliffs and a charming sandy bay.
Loop Head is a striking promontory topped with a lighthouse at the northern edge of the Shannon Estuary.
Additionally, just a few kilometers along the estuary at Carrigaholt, one can embark on a boat tour to search for one of Europe’s largest pods of bottlenose dolphins.
