Ennis

Ennis is a destination in Munster, Ireland.

Ennis (Inis) is the county town of Clare, a lively market town on the River Fergus. Its medieval streets are lined with traditional pubs renowned for nightly live music — Ennis has a strong claim to being one of Ireland's best towns for traditional music sessions. The town has a compact historic centre, a restored friary, and serves as a good base for exploring the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.

Ennis is well connected by rail — the train from Dublin Heuston to Ennis runs several times daily (about 2.5 hours via Limerick). Bus Éireann operates from Limerick, Galway, and other towns. The N18 road connects to Limerick and Galway. Shannon Airport (SNN) is 25 km south. The town centre is compact and walkable.

Ennis is compact enough to explore on foot. For exploring the surrounding countryside and nearby attractions, a car or bicycle is recommended.

Clare Museum ,

Arthur's Row V95 EC92

( 50 yards east of O'Connell monument ),

☏

+353 65 682 3382 .

Daily 9:30AM-1PM, 2-5PM .

Small museum of local history.

Free .   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Ennis Friary ,

Lower Abbey St V95 AN28 .

Apr-Oct daily 10AM-6PM .

Ruin of a 13th-century Franciscan Friary. The Franciscans were ejected after the Dissolution but they maintained a secret presence in the area and the church has been returned to them, though they now use the nearby Church of the Immaculate Conception. The nave has been re-roofed and displays a selection of 15th- to 16th-century limestone carvings.

Adult €5, conc €4, child €3 .   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Daniel O'Connell monument commemorates his by-election victory here in 1828. As a Catholic he was unable to take his seat in the British Parliament. Prime Minister the Duke of Wellington (himself a Dubliner) had little time for Catholics but realised that this could provoke an uprising, so the Catholic Relief Act was passed in 1829. This Act wasn't retrospective so O'Connell had to seek re-election, which was unopposed. It was used as a model to end similar discrimination against Jews.

Ennis Cathedral ,

O

What's on? Listen to Clare FM on 95.2-96.6 MHz, or read Clare Champion , Clare Echo or Clare People .

Arc Cinema (formerly Empire) is at 36 Parnell St V95 YX8F.

glór is an event space on Causeway Link V95 VHP0.

Gaelic games:

Clare County GAA play Gaelic football and hurling at Cusack Park V95 YP98 (Páirc Uí Chíosóg, capacity 14,864), on the riverbank east of town centre.

Golf:

Ennis GC is west side of town at Drumbiggil V95 D2YX. White tees 5706 yards, par 70.

Other courses are at Woodstock Hotel and Dromoland Castle.

Clare Garden Festival is a garden, plant and food market held at Ennis Showgrounds on the last Sunday in April.

Flead Nua is a traditional music festival held over 10 days late May to early June.

Clare Food & Drink Fleadh

is in early October.

Ennis Trad Fest is held in November.

Town centre: lots. They include Forty One within Queen's Hotel (below), Storehouse on Abbey St, Brogan's (below), Market Bar on Merchants Square, La Strada on Parnell St, Tulsi on Carmody St, Milano on O'Connell St, Passatempo on Barrack St, and Coco on Barrack St.

Brogan's ,

24 O'Connell St V95 XRW8 ,

☏

+353 65 684 4365 .

M-Th noon-11:30PM, F-Su noon-1AM .

Great traditional pub with live music every night, but it's the food that earns the great reviews.   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Poet's Corner and Town Hall Bistro are within Old Ground Hotel at 58 O'Connell St, see below.

This is Ireland, you'll go dizzy just tallying all the pubs, let alone sampling them.

Knox's Pub ,

18 Abbey St V95 AX83 ,

☏

+353 65 682 2871 .

Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-2AM .

Friendly traditional pub, great atmosphere. With Storehouse Restaurant.   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Ciarán's Bar ,

2 Francis St V95 V96W ,

☏

+353 86 867 4695 .

M-F 4-11:30PM, Sa 2PM-1AM, Su 2-11PM .

Great traditional pub with live music.   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Queen's Hotel (below) is a mid-range hotel, but the bar and nightclub are open late so it's maybe one for drinking in rather than sleeping.

Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey is a single malt, still uncommon in Ireland though this one's been on the market since 1998. It's produced by Castle Brands, now part of Pernod Ricard, and they're coy about where it's actually distilled. Cooley Distillery in Dundalk is the best guess, but "somewhere in Ireland" is all that the law requires.

Queens Hotel is central at 41 Abbey St V95 XFX4, but basic and above a noisy disco.

Old Ground Hotel ,

Station Rd V95 WDX2

( corner of O'Connell St ),

☏

+353 65 682 8127 .

Clean friendly efficient hotel right in town centre.

B&B double €250 .   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Temple Gate Hotel ,

The Square V95 HOXK

( off O'Connell St ),

☏

+353 65 682 3300 .

Pleasant modern hotel.

B&B double €200 .   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Treacy's West County Hotel ,

Limerick Rd V95 C9CT ,

☏

+353 65 686 9600 .

Run down decor, cleaning, service and maintenance poor, but friendly staff.

B&B double €150 .   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Knockaderry House ,

Knockaderry Grove, Tulla Rd V95 YX2W ,

☏

+353 85 141 9518 .

Charming B&B in a former dairy farm.

B&B double €100 .   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Hotel Woodstock ,

Shanaway Rd, Ballylannidy V95 TR25 ,

☏

+353 65 689 9800 ,

[email protected] .

Pleasant upscale country house hotel with pool, sauna and jacuzzi.

B&B double €140 .   ( updated Mar 2025 )

Splurge at

Dromoland Castle Hotel ,

Dromoland, Newmarket-on-Fergus V95 ATD3

( 10 km south of Ennis ),

☏

+353 61 368 144 .

Baronial-style "cast

Supermarkets: Francis St north of town centre near the GAA ground has Tesco and Aldi, both open daily 8AM-10PM.

Farmers Market is on Friday 8AM-1PM in Roslevan Shopping Centre V95 FC04 on Tulla Road.

Chapel Lane Market is on Saturday 10AM-4PM. All the stall goods are hand-crafted, hand-grown or home-baked.

The coast is dramatic to the northwest around Doolin , with the Cliffs of Moher, a

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