County Spotlight: Clare

Clare is the main destination on our Cliffs of Moher tour and has tons to offer!

County Clare is situated on Ireland’s west coast and is the main destination on our Cliffs of Moher tour. Clare is particularly well known for its rugged and varied landscape. It ranges from the rugged Atlantic coastline to rolling country hills and of course the limestone phenomenon that is The Burren. Clare is the 7^th largest of Ireland’s counties in terms of size.

 Clare’s nickname is the Banner County. In a nutshell the reason Clare got this nickname is because the custom of carrying banners goes back a long time in County Clare. They were carried in battles, they were displayed at political meetings and most trade guilds had their own banners. Clare had a particular reputation for greeting politicians with Banners and so the name stuck.

Nowadays Clare is part of the province of Munster but back in the Early Middle Ages it was actually part of the Kingdom of Connacht until it was annexed to the Kingdom of Munster in the mid-10^th Century.

County Clare has a strong history of Traditional Music. It is the home of the Kilfenora Céilí Band and the Legendary Russell brothers who helped the village of Doolin acquire its reputation as the Traditional music capital of Ireland.

Clare’s rugged coast has made it a highlight on the Wild Atlantic Way, a tourism trail that runs along the West Coast of Ireland. The county’s most famed attraction is of course the Cliffs of Moher. Towering at 702 feet at their highest point the sight of these cliffs is guaranteed to make your jaw drop every time. Nothing will make you feel smaller than standing on top and staring out into the vast Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day you can see the Aran Islands off the coast of Galway Bay. Some also like to joke that you can nearly see the Statue of Liberty. The cliffs stretch for 8km as the crow flies and they are Ireland’s most popular natural attraction. They are Ireland at its most rugged, natural and breath-taking & provide a photo opportunity like no other.