Information about Ennis
Ennis is in the county town of Clare, Ireland. The Irish name is short for Inis Cluain Ramh Fhada ("island of the long rowing meadow"). The town is on the River Fergus, north of where it enters the Shannon Estuary, 19 km (12 mi) from Shannon Airport. The town itself is small and the visitor could walk around it in a day.
Image: River Fergus going through Ennis
What to see
Bunratty Castle is south east of Ennis. It is a great historical place with a small old village around it.
In the colonial period, a number of landmark structures were constructed, including the Mill and Courthouse. The town contains a number of old military barracks, most notably on the Kilrush road. Many locals served in the British Army in the First World War. The Clare Road and Clonroad areas contain terraced cottages built in the early 20th century to house soldiers. On Station Road, then called Jail Road, a gaol once stood.
Music & Culture
Ennis is a stronghold of traditional music with many musicians in residence and regularly playing locally. The Ennis Book Club Festival, in association with Clare County Library, runs annually on the first weekend in March. It attracts readers and authors from all over Ireland and beyond. Glór Theatre is a concert and events venue in the town centre. In 2016 Ennis hosted the Fleadh Cheoil music competition. It is the first time that the town has hosted the event since 1977.
Golf in Ireland
Ireland has over 400 golf clubs. Courses such as Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Portmarnock and Ballybunion Golf Course are renowned worldwide - Read more
Explore historic Ireland
Irish Castles, misty hills and ancient sites. In Ireland, history is everywhere. But in some places, there is a strong connection with the past - Read more
Food & drink
Ireland has long had the raw ingredients for world class cuisine, fresh fish and shellfish, dairy herds & hillside wild herbs for free-ranging lambs - Read more
Music & dance
Irish step dancing, popularised in 1994 by the world-famous show Riverdance, is notable for its rapid leg and foot movements, body and arms being kept largely stationary - Read more
Events
A holiday in Ireland offers something different with a variety of local and national events and festivals and major sporting events held in its many towns and cities throughout the year - Read more
The great outdoors
Climb Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain. Rock climb & abseil in the ice-carved Gap Of Dunloe or maybe kayak & canoe the deep sparkling Lakes of Killarney - Read more
City tourist attractions
There is more to Ireland than countryside and rocks, as any number of attractions in Dublin, such as Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin will confirm - Read more
Horse racing
With 26 racecourses to choose from, going racing in Ireland is a rather unique experience. For so many years, Ireland has been a dominant force on the world's racing stage - Read more