Ireland Guide
Limerick and Clare
Limerick is the least attractive county on Ireland's west coast. Limerick city, however, does have a lure in the superb Hunt Museum, housing the Republic's richest art and antiquities collection outside Dublin. Away from here, the dramatic area around Lough Gur is riddled with major prehistoric remains.
In utter contrast, the neighbouring county of Clare, across the broad River Shannon, has a wealth of scenic attractions. Its coastline is dotted with golden beaches, sometimes of breathtaking quality. Near the village of Doolin stand the awesome Cliffs of Moher, while the county's northern interior is characterized by the craggy, barren landscape of The Burren, home to numerous prehistoric sites. The county town, Ennis, is a true hotbed of traditional music, with fabulous sessions year-round.
Highlights
1 Hunt Museum Limerick's finest attraction, a diverse, personal collection of beautiful art and antiquities.
2 Lough Gur Atmospheric rural lake surrounded by fine Neolithic remains.
3 Quin Abbey Evocative monastic remains in an utterly idyllic setting.
4 Ennis The county town offers numerous opportunities to experience Clare's lively traditional-music scene.
5 Scattery Island Deserted for more than thirty years, this tranquil island in the middle of the Shannon estuary was once a major ecclesiastical settlement.
6 The Cliffs of Moher Massive sea-battered cliffs, providing exhilarating views of the Atlantic Ocean.
7 The Burren A desolate rock-scape peppered by numerous Neolithic and Iron Age remains.