Essential Ireland > County Clare > Ennis

Ennis is the county town of County Clare and is situated between Limerick and Galway in the mid-west of Ireland. Known as the gateway to Clare, Ennis is just 30 minutes from Shannon Airport and it has its own train station at its heart also. Ennis takes its name from the Irish word ‘Inis’ which means island and it is clear why the town was given this name when you consider that it was formed where the River Fergus forked and an island was created.

The settlement is one of the larger towns in the country and throughout its history it has managed to punch above its weight having become a leader in certain fields. For example, over the years it has become clear that Ennis is a centre for traditional Irish music. From 1974 the Fleadh Nua traditional Irish music festival has been held in the town annually and it is the second largest traditional Irish music festival held in the country.

It has also gained a reputation as the boutique capital of Ireland too thanks to its series of quaint little shops and its narrow streets. Should you wish to explore the centre of Ennis there are walking tours that make sure you witness all the major sights and cover the best ground. One such place is the Franciscan Abbey while another is the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul.

A short distance to the north of Ennis is the Ballyallia Lough while to the south are the Ballybeg and the Killoue Loughs. Back in the town itself, Ennis has performed well in the Irish Tidy Town Competition in recent years, paying testament to its cleanliness effort. Hurling and Gaelic football are firm parts of the Irish culture here and the football takes place at Cusack Park in the town. In 1610 Ennis was given the opportunity to hold regular fairs and markets and it still holds markets to this day, although with a different focus so many years on.