Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bus Tours: Barratt Tours
runs bus tours of the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren (€27,
May-Sept daily, Oct-April Sat only, departing from the TI at 10:45 and returning
by 18:15, call to confirm schedule, tel. 061/333-100, mobile 087-237-5986,
Clare Museum
This worthwhile museum, housed in the large TI building, has eclectic displays about
ancient ax heads, submarine development, and local boys who made good—from 10th-
century High King Brian Boru to 20th-century statesman Eamon de Valera. Coverage in-
cludestheBattle ofDysertO'Deain1318.OneofthefewIrishvictoriesovertheinvading
Normans, it delayed English domination of most of County Clare for another 200 years.
Cost and Hours:
Free, Tue-Sat 9:30-12:30 & 14:00-16:30, closed Sun-Mon, tel. 065/
682-3382,
www.clarelibrary.ie
.
Ennis Friary
The Franciscan monks arrived here in the 13th century, and the town grew up around their
friary (like a monastery). Today, it's still worth a look, with some fine limestone carvings
in its ruined walls. Ask the guide to fully explain the crucifixion symbolism in the 15th-
century
Ecce Homo
carving.
Cost and Hours:
€3, sometimes includes tour—depends on staffing, April-Sept daily
10:00-17:30, closed Oct-March, tel. 065/682-9100.
Near Ennis
▲
Craggaunowen
This open-air folk museum nestles in a pretty forest, an easy 20-minute drive east of En-
nis. All the structures are replicas, except for the small 16th-century castle (Tower House),
which the park was built around. A friendly weaver, spinning her wool on the castle's
ground floor, is glad to tell you the tricks of her fuzzy trade. A highlight is the Crannog,
a fortified Iron Age thatchroofed dwelling built on a small man-made island, which gives
you a grubby idea of how clans lived 2,000 years ago. A modern surprise hides in a corner
of the park under a large glass teepee: the
Brendan,
the original humble boat that schol-
ar Tim Severin sailed from Ireland to North America in 1976 (via frosty stepping stones
like Iceland and Greenland). He built this boat out of tanned hides, sewn together using
primitive methods, to prove that Ireland's St. Brendan may indeed have been the first to
