Best bits of Co. Clare - nature, history and fun things to do
By Niamh Wallace
Located on the rugged West coast, Co. Clare is a great staycation site, or a great place to stop on an epic tour of the Wild Atlantic Way. Boasting some of the most iconic features of Ireland, here are our best bits of Co. Clare when planning a visit:
Cliffs of Moher
The iconic Cliffs of Moher are definitely one for the bucket-list. They have one of the most majestic views in Ireland, with their chiselled cliff faces standing at 700ft that are constantly at war with the icy tyranny of the Atlantic waves. Visit one of Ireland's most visited tourist attractions now it is quieter than usual, with reduced capacity and online bookings required (less pesky people ruining your Instagram pictures!). The Cliffs of Moher are recognised worldwide for their beauty, and are synonymous with Ireland.
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
Bunratty Castle is a 15th century tower house, known to be the chief seat of the O'Briens, one of the most powerful clans in Munster. A visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is perfect to get a visual sense of Ireland's history, with the Folk Park showing rural village life in the 19th Century. Visit Pa's Pet Farm, and visit the friendly ducks, pigs and chickens. Amble up the Village Street, see the school, post office and visit the Public House. Explore the fairy trail and keep an eye out for the winged creatures for a chance of good luck. Sip a coffee at Mr O'Regan's cafe, and meet the local characters: the Bean an Ti, the policeman and the local musician. Bunratty Castle is an unforgettable experience for learning about Irish history, and has reopened to the public with COVID guidelines firmly in place.
Father Ted's House
Careful now. A visit to Glanquin Farm House, better know as the house of Ireland's most famous priest, is on every bucket-list of Ireland. Sadly, Craggy Island is fictional, but the good news is that the house is located on the Irish mainland in Lackareagh that makes a visit all the more convenient on a trip to Co. Clare. The inside of the house is currently closed due to the pandemic, but you can still pose for a photo in front of the iconic house and have those memories for life. Watching a few episodes of the show before visiting is recommended to refresh your memory of one of the most famous shows to come from Ireland.
The Burren Landscapes
Visiting the Burren landscapes is like walking on the moon. The unique, glaciated karst landscape is alien to the lush green fields that are typical of Ireland's landscape and see the array of Artic and Alpine plants that grow in the rock fissures. Co. Clare is famous for recently being discovered as the site of evidence for the earliest humans in Ireland, and evidence of human life on the Burren dates back to before 4,000BC. A visit here is vital to those who are interested in archaeology, biodiversity, or those who want to see the diversity of the Irish landscape in its glory.
Visiting these sites will make any trip to Co. Clare a special one.
