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Ennis, Ireland Attractions

Ennis (Inis, "island"), county town of Clare Co. and an important road and railroad junction (N18, N68), lies on the River Fergus in the west of Ireland. The River Fergus flows in broad curves through the town, which has preserved something of a medieval aspect with its narrow winding streets.

Shannon International Airport is only 15mi/25km from Ennis, which, with its extensive hinterland and its light industries, is a considerable market and commercial center.
Clare Museum and Library
Near the Ennis abbey, in Harmony Row, is the De Valera Museum and Library, with material on Ennis and the surrounding area and the history of Ireland. Among the exhibits is the fountain pen with which Eamon de Valera and Neville Chamberlain signed the 1938 treaty on the handing over of the Irish naval bases occupied by Britain.
Address
Clare Museum and Library
Harmony Row
Ennis
Ireland
Hours
June 1 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:309:309:309:309:309:3014:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
October 1 to May 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed9:309:309:309:309:30Closed
Close 13:0013:0013:0013:0013:00
Open 14:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close 17:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Fleadh Nua Festival
This annual festival takes place in late May, bringing together traditional Irish music and dance. Performers are invited from throughout Ireland to showcase local traditions and customs.
Address
Fleadh Nua Festival
Arthur's Row, O'Connell Street
Ennis
Ireland

Ennis Surroundings

Picture of Bunratty Castle
Read More Bunratty Castle
The 15th C Bunratty Castle has been marvelously restored, with many rooms furnished in period. On occasion, the banqueting hall hosts traditional banquets for guests.
Read More Craggaunowen Project
The open air Craggaunowen Project includes the 16th C Craggaunowen Castle, as well as other reconstructed buildings from early settlements.
Read More Dysert O'Dea
At Dysert O'Dea can be seen a 17th C church, based on the original 12th to 13th C church, and the remains of a round tower, and a high cross with a figure of Christ.
Quin Abbey
6mi/10km east of Ennis on the R469 is Quin, with Quin Abbey (1402: National Monument), the well-preserved ruins of a Franciscan friary built on the foundations of an earlier castle, the bastions of which can still be seen. The church has tombstones of the 15th to 19th C.; well-preserved cloister. On the other side of the little river stands St Finghin's Church (13th C.: National Monument); the tower is a later addition.
Clare Abbey
2mi/3km south of Ennis on the N18 are the ruins of Clare Abbey (National Monument), founded in the 12th C. and extended at various times down to the 15th C.
Clarecastle
Between Ennis and Newmarket lies Clarecastle with the ruined castle of the same name in the River Fergus. The county of Clare was possibly named after this castle.
Cratloe Woods House
At Cratloe, a short distance east of Bunratty Castle south of Ennis, stands Cratloe Woods House, a 19th C. mansion.
Hours
June 1 to September 15
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00Closed
Close18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
Dromore Wood
The Dromore Wood reserve is a semi-natural woodland with a variety of inhabitants, particularly the pine marten. Near the lake edge stands the 17th C. O'Brien castle and Kilakee church. The information center is open during the summer months.
Address
Dromore Wood
Ruan
Ennis
Ireland
Hours
June 15 to September 15
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
Tips
Last admission 45 minutes before closing.
Guides
Interpretive sessions sometimes available.
Killone Abbey
3mi/5km southwest of Ennis on the N68, in a beautiful setting on a lough, are the remains of Killone Abbey (12th C.; National Monument), one of Ireland's few nunneries.
Knappogue Castle
Southeast of Quin Abbey on the R469 we come to Knappogue Castle, a 16th C. tower house furnished in period style. In summer "medieval banquets" are held in the 19th C. annex.
Address
Knappogue Castle
Knappogue
Ireland
Hours
April 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:309:309:309:309:309:309:30
Close17:3017:3017:3017:3017:3017:3017:30
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Newmarket on Fergus - Dromoland Castle, Ireland
Beyond Urlanmore Castle we come to Newmarket on Fergus where Dromoland Castle, a mansion of 1830, now a hotel, has lovely gardens, an old tower and a large stone fort within the grounds.
Address
Dromoland Castle
Newmarket on Fergus
Ireland
Facilities
On-site accomodations
Shannon International Airport
Bunratty attracts large numbers of tourists, being only 7mi/11km from Shannon International Airport. The airport, the most westerly in Europe, was opened in 1945, with the world's first duty-free shop. Since it lost its importance as a port of call for transatlantic flights, a development company, Shannon Free Airport Development Ltd. has established a variety of industries here (precision tools, electronic apparatus, industrial diamonds, etc.). The town of Shannon has a population of 7,000.
Address
Shannon Tourist Office
Shannon International Airport
Shannon
Ireland
Sixmilebridge, Ireland
The R462 leads south from Craggaunowen Project to Sixmilebridge, a pretty little village with what has been called a "Georgian doll's house," Mount Ievers (1736). From here a minor road runs southwest to the village of Bunratty where, on the banks of a stands Bunratty Castle.
Urlanmore Castle
From Shannon Airport the N18 runs north to Ennis. On the left of the road can be seen the fine ruin of Urlanmore Castle. On the wall of an upper room in the keep are medieval outline drawings of animals.
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