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MID-CLARE

Visit the old-world villages of Quin, Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus or spend an evening at a medieval banquet at Knappogue or Bunratty Castles.
Other local places of interest include 12th century Ennis Abbey and mediaeval Quin Abbey. The Craggaunowen project portrays life in Ireland, from the Bronze Age to mediaeval times, whilst Bunratty Folk Park brings 19th century Ireland vividly to life.
Ennis is a the Traditional music Capital of Ireland and music resounds from many centres, particularly from within its famous character pubs and the newly opened Glór, International Folk Music Centre.

WEST CLARE

Wedged between the Shannon Estuary and the Atlantic, the traditions and culture of West Clare are woven from a life of seafaring.
Experience dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, Victorianesque holiday resorts and old-world fishing villages alive with traditional music. A drive around the Loop Head Peninsula takes in the dramatic Bridges of Ross. The Lighthouse marks the western-most point on the Clare mainland and is surrounded by dramatic looking cliffs rich in bird-life.
There is a spectacular panoramic view of the Kerry mountains, Limerick on the other side of the Shannon estuary, the Aran Islands and the Twelve Bens of Connemara.
Boat trips run to Scattery Island, an ancient monastic settlement in the Shannon Estuary, passing the home of over 100 Bottlenose Dolphins

EAST CLARE

East Clare, land of the great king Brian Boru, is a beautiful landscape of rugged hills, picturesque valleys and meandering rivers, dotted with woodlands and bog lands.
Scattered with almost 40 lakes, East Clare boast unrivalled facilities for water skiing, cruising, sail boarding, canoeing, windsurfing and game and coarse angling.
The Slieve Aughty and Slieve Bearnagh mountains provide excellent walking or cycling, whilst the many forest trails add to the pleasure of horse riding.
The wealth of traditional culture, is celebrated in summertime festivals in Mountshannon, Scarriff, Killaloe, Tulla, and Feakle. Although spontaneous Irish music, song and dance sessions occur all year round.
Experience the tranquillity of Lough Graney where Brian Merriman wrote the epic poem "The Midnight Court" and hear the stories of Biddy Early, a local woman with miraculous powers to heal illness. One of the most pleasurable areas to visit in the Shannon Region is Lough Derg. This is one of Ireland's largest lakes (32,000 acres) and is aptly named 'Ireland's pleasure lake'. It is navigable over its total length of just under 40 kms, from Portumna at its northern tip to Killaloe and Ballina in the south.
There is a wonderful scenic drive around Lough Derg through an area steeped in myth and history. Its shores have been settled since prehistoric times. Its channel has been part of one of Ireland's oldest routes. In early medieval times hermits, heroes, soldiers, raiders, students and pilgrims, all travelled along this 'highway' from the Atlantic ocean to the Irish midlands.

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