Sunday, July 5, 2009
Beautiful County Clare
Below is my list in no particular order of the most beautiful tourist attractions in county Clare
1. Corcomroe Abbey Corcomroe Abbey is an early 13th-century Cistercian monastery reportedly founded by Dónal O Brien, King of Limerick, in 1194 and is located near Ballyvaughan. The abbey is noted for its detailed carvings and other rich ornamentation, which are not commonly found in structures from this period
2. Bunratty Folk Park mill This beautiful replica of a 19th century Irish mill is located in Bunratty Folk Park
3. Dysert o Dea celtic cross This is a very well preserved Celtic high cross dating to the 12th century. It is very unique not using the circle of the Celtic cross and has carvings of Christ and a bishop on one side and on the other depicts the temptation of Adam and Eve
4. Poulnabrone Dolmen Dating to the Neolithic period, (4200 BC to 2900 BC) this portal tomb in the Burren consists of a twelve foot tabular capstone supported by two slender portal stones, and bordered by a nearby cairn. Excavations in 1985 discovered the remains of at least 22 adults and children buried in the tomb. It is located between Corofin and Ballvaughan villages
5. Muckinish castle Muckinish castle is an early 16th century tower house built by the O’Loughlin clan and is located near Ballyvaughan
6. Doonagore Castle Doonagore Castle is a round 16th-century tower house with a small walled enclosure and is located about 1Km above the coastal village of Doolin in County Clare. It was constructed in the 16th century for for Sir Turlough O’Brien of Ennistymon (a neighboring town). The castle gained infamy during the retreat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 from its failed attempt to invade England when 150 survivors of the shipwreck were captured by the higth sheriff of Clare Boetius MacClancy and were hanged in the castle grounds. It is presently a private holiday home and is inaccessible to the public
7. Finavarra Martello Tower. Finavarra Martello tower in north county Clare near Ballyvaughan was constructed in 1816. Built during the Napoleanic wars, and situated on Finavarra Point, the tower was designed to protect the north-eastern side of Ballyvaughan Bay and the south-western entrance of New Quay harbour from possible attack from France. British military engineers built many such fortifications as signal towers to protect the coast against a French invasion
8. Dysert o Dea castle Situated in a beautiful rural setting between Ennis and Corofin this castle was constructed between 1470 and 1490 by local lord Diarmuid o Dea. It was was occupied until 1651 when it was sacked by Cromwellian forces
9. Newtown castle Newtown Castle, one of the great landmarks of the Burren, was constructed in the 16th century and is located near Ballyvaughan. Its now part of the Burren college of Art and provides a unique venue for projects, installations and performance. Restored in 1994 the four-storey building includes minstrel’s gallery and large open fireplaces
10. Craggaunowen Castle This beautiful castle near Quin village was build by John MacSheeda McNamara in the mid 16th century and is a typical example of a fortified dwelling know as a tower house
11. Cliffs of Moher The cliffs rise high above the Atlantic ocean and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O’Brien’s Tower. They boast one of Ireland’s most spectacular views. The Aran Islands, Galway Bay and Connemara are visible on a clear day.
12. Nouvghal church Constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries this historic site located near Kilfenora is dedicated to St. Mogua.
13. Mullaghmore mountain Beautiful rugged stone mountain of Mullaghmore in The Burren County Clare during a thunderstorm
14. Lemenagh Castle Lemenagh Castle is both a castle (constructed in 1480) and fortified house (constructed in 1640) and was one of the principal strongholds of the O’ Brien clan. The fortified house was built by Conor O’Brien who was married to Maura Rua or Red Mary. Shortly after its consturction Conor O Brien was wounded in battle and died shortly afer returning to the castle allegedly by his wifes hand. It is located between Corofin and Kilfenora
15. Bunratty Thatched cottage Scenic traditional thatched cottage in Bunratty folk park in spring
16. Bunratty Castle This beautiful castle was constructed in the early 15th century on the site of an older castle was a major stronghold of the O’Briens
17. Quin Abbey Quin Abbey located in Quin village was built on the ruins of a Norman castle fortress that stood there in the late 13th Century. Building on the abbey itself began in 1402 and was finished in 1433. The graveyard surrounding the abbey is still in use. The Abbey has had lighting installed recently which produces a spectacular sight at night
18. Loop Head Lighthouse This beautiful lighthouse is situated on the tip of the Loop Head peninsula, county Clares most westerly point. Constructed in 1854 on the site of a former lighthouse which dates to 1670 it was fully automated in 1991
19. Knockalough Lake Knockalough Lake near Kilmihil on a frosty winters morning
20. Bunratty Folk Park Bunratty Folk Park on March morning
21. Inchiquin Thatched cottages Thatched cottages overlooking Inchiquin lake near Corofin village
22. O'Briens Tower O’Brien’s Tower marks the highest point of the Cliffs of Moher, Irelands number 1 tourist destination located in county Clare. The tower was constructed in 1835 by local landlord Sir Cornellius O’Brien as an observation tower for the hundreds of Victorian tourists that frequented the cliffs during the time. O’Brien was a man ahead of his time and believed that developing tourism would benefit the local economy and bring people out of poverty. He also built the wall of Moher flagstones along the Cliffs
23. Mullaghmore mountain view Stone wall going through The Burren in north county Clare near Corofin. The barren limestone landscape was carved out by the last ice age
24. Ballyvaughan/Fanore road Beautiful coast road between Ballyvaughan and Fanore in North County Clare
25. Cascades at Ennistymon Beautiful cascades in the town of Ennistymon on the Inagh river
26. Kilfenora Celtic cross Celtic cross at Kilfenora dating to the 10th or 11th centuries
27. Ennis Abbey This 13th century Franciscan friary located in Ennis county Clare was founded by the O’Briens, of Thomond who once ruled much of north Munster. It boasts numerous 15th/16th century sculptures carved in the local hard limestone
1. Corcomroe Abbey Corcomroe Abbey is an early 13th-century Cistercian monastery reportedly founded by Dónal O Brien, King of Limerick, in 1194 and is located near Ballyvaughan. The abbey is noted for its detailed carvings and other rich ornamentation, which are not commonly found in structures from this period
2. Bunratty Folk Park mill This beautiful replica of a 19th century Irish mill is located in Bunratty Folk Park
3. Dysert o Dea celtic cross This is a very well preserved Celtic high cross dating to the 12th century. It is very unique not using the circle of the Celtic cross and has carvings of Christ and a bishop on one side and on the other depicts the temptation of Adam and Eve
4. Poulnabrone Dolmen Dating to the Neolithic period, (4200 BC to 2900 BC) this portal tomb in the Burren consists of a twelve foot tabular capstone supported by two slender portal stones, and bordered by a nearby cairn. Excavations in 1985 discovered the remains of at least 22 adults and children buried in the tomb. It is located between Corofin and Ballvaughan villages
5. Muckinish castle Muckinish castle is an early 16th century tower house built by the O’Loughlin clan and is located near Ballyvaughan
6. Doonagore Castle Doonagore Castle is a round 16th-century tower house with a small walled enclosure and is located about 1Km above the coastal village of Doolin in County Clare. It was constructed in the 16th century for for Sir Turlough O’Brien of Ennistymon (a neighboring town). The castle gained infamy during the retreat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 from its failed attempt to invade England when 150 survivors of the shipwreck were captured by the higth sheriff of Clare Boetius MacClancy and were hanged in the castle grounds. It is presently a private holiday home and is inaccessible to the public
7. Finavarra Martello Tower. Finavarra Martello tower in north county Clare near Ballyvaughan was constructed in 1816. Built during the Napoleanic wars, and situated on Finavarra Point, the tower was designed to protect the north-eastern side of Ballyvaughan Bay and the south-western entrance of New Quay harbour from possible attack from France. British military engineers built many such fortifications as signal towers to protect the coast against a French invasion
8. Dysert o Dea castle Situated in a beautiful rural setting between Ennis and Corofin this castle was constructed between 1470 and 1490 by local lord Diarmuid o Dea. It was was occupied until 1651 when it was sacked by Cromwellian forces
9. Newtown castle Newtown Castle, one of the great landmarks of the Burren, was constructed in the 16th century and is located near Ballyvaughan. Its now part of the Burren college of Art and provides a unique venue for projects, installations and performance. Restored in 1994 the four-storey building includes minstrel’s gallery and large open fireplaces
10. Craggaunowen Castle This beautiful castle near Quin village was build by John MacSheeda McNamara in the mid 16th century and is a typical example of a fortified dwelling know as a tower house
11. Cliffs of Moher The cliffs rise high above the Atlantic ocean and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O’Brien’s Tower. They boast one of Ireland’s most spectacular views. The Aran Islands, Galway Bay and Connemara are visible on a clear day.
12. Nouvghal church Constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries this historic site located near Kilfenora is dedicated to St. Mogua.
13. Mullaghmore mountain Beautiful rugged stone mountain of Mullaghmore in The Burren County Clare during a thunderstorm
14. Lemenagh Castle Lemenagh Castle is both a castle (constructed in 1480) and fortified house (constructed in 1640) and was one of the principal strongholds of the O’ Brien clan. The fortified house was built by Conor O’Brien who was married to Maura Rua or Red Mary. Shortly after its consturction Conor O Brien was wounded in battle and died shortly afer returning to the castle allegedly by his wifes hand. It is located between Corofin and Kilfenora
15. Bunratty Thatched cottage Scenic traditional thatched cottage in Bunratty folk park in spring
16. Bunratty Castle This beautiful castle was constructed in the early 15th century on the site of an older castle was a major stronghold of the O’Briens
17. Quin Abbey Quin Abbey located in Quin village was built on the ruins of a Norman castle fortress that stood there in the late 13th Century. Building on the abbey itself began in 1402 and was finished in 1433. The graveyard surrounding the abbey is still in use. The Abbey has had lighting installed recently which produces a spectacular sight at night
18. Loop Head Lighthouse This beautiful lighthouse is situated on the tip of the Loop Head peninsula, county Clares most westerly point. Constructed in 1854 on the site of a former lighthouse which dates to 1670 it was fully automated in 1991
19. Knockalough Lake Knockalough Lake near Kilmihil on a frosty winters morning
20. Bunratty Folk Park Bunratty Folk Park on March morning
21. Inchiquin Thatched cottages Thatched cottages overlooking Inchiquin lake near Corofin village
22. O'Briens Tower O’Brien’s Tower marks the highest point of the Cliffs of Moher, Irelands number 1 tourist destination located in county Clare. The tower was constructed in 1835 by local landlord Sir Cornellius O’Brien as an observation tower for the hundreds of Victorian tourists that frequented the cliffs during the time. O’Brien was a man ahead of his time and believed that developing tourism would benefit the local economy and bring people out of poverty. He also built the wall of Moher flagstones along the Cliffs
23. Mullaghmore mountain view Stone wall going through The Burren in north county Clare near Corofin. The barren limestone landscape was carved out by the last ice age
24. Ballyvaughan/Fanore road Beautiful coast road between Ballyvaughan and Fanore in North County Clare
25. Cascades at Ennistymon Beautiful cascades in the town of Ennistymon on the Inagh river
26. Kilfenora Celtic cross Celtic cross at Kilfenora dating to the 10th or 11th centuries
27. Ennis Abbey This 13th century Franciscan friary located in Ennis county Clare was founded by the O’Briens, of Thomond who once ruled much of north Munster. It boasts numerous 15th/16th century sculptures carved in the local hard limestone
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