Castles & Houses in Clare
- Carrigaholt Castle
- a 15th century tower house overlooking the Shannon - Gleninagh Castle
- 16th century tower house overlooking Galway Bay, 5 km west of Ballyvaughan off the coast road to Lisdoonvarna. - Lemaneagh Castle
impressing ruins of a 16 th century castle on the south rim of the Burren, 5 kmeast of Kilfenora. - Newtown Castle
- 16th century tower house, restored as an exhibition centre for the Burren Art College, 2 km Southwest of Ballyvaughan - Bunratty
is the most famous of them all - enjoy evening banquets in medieval atmosphere on antique furniture.The adjacent folk park is worth a visit with its varied dwellings from rural Ireland at the turn of the century and the reconstruction of life in earlier times. Knappogue Castle built in 1497, now nicely restored retaining its unique medieval character. Like Bunratty it offers nightly medieval banquets - Dunguaire Castle
- another nicely restored castle in a very scenic area of North Clare/Galway also has medieval banquets in the season - Mount Ievers
- well kept Court House from the 18th century in lush parklands, near Sixmilebridge - Cratloe Woods House
from the 17th century - an early example of an Irish longhouse
Reminders of the Past
- Scattery Island Inis Cathaigh
The holy island in the Shannon abeam Kilrush where St Senan is believed to have founded a monastic settlement in the 6th century. There is a fine round tower, a well and the ruins of a cathedral; a church and burial place of Senan and an ogham stone; the church of Ard-na-nAingeal; the late medieval church of Teampall na Marbh; and the remains of an Elizabethan castle. Also on the island: the Scattery Island visitor centre, a lighthouse, a gun battery from napoleonic times as well as an abundance of wildlife. Boats go there from the Kilrush Marina from May to September.
- Craggaunowen, East Clare
- A reconstructed crannog (lake dwelling), a ring fort & moreexhibits give you an insight into pre-historic and early Christian life. The "Brendan" boat is also located there. - Lough Gur, North Limerick
pre-celtic settlement, Ireland's largest stone circle. Visitor centre, audio-visual shows. - East Clare Heritage centre
in St.Cronan's Church, East Clare; itself a fine example of the early Christian churches in Ireland. Brian Boru, the Irish High King who was born here 940, enlarged the church in 1007. The Killaloe Heritage centre gives an insight and an audovisual show on the life of Brian Boru. - Dysert O'Dea, Corofin
Castle & Battle ground; nearby is St.Tola's church and well with a beautifully sculpted circular door and a remarkable High Cross
Abbeys and Monasteries
- Kilmacduagh churches & round tower, near Gort Co.Galway
- is another fine example of monastery settling and an impressing round tower - Near Ennis: Clare Abbey, Quin Abbey, Ennis Cloister & Franciscan church, Killone Abbey
- In the Burren: Corcomroe Abbey is just one of the many medieval ruins in the area. The remains of the cistercian abbey dates from the 14th or 15th century.