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A busy seaside town in County Clare, Lahinch is situated on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean eight miles north of Spanish Point and three miles west of the market town of Ennistymon. Popular with the Clare people in particular, Lahinch became a favourite holiday resort originally due to the Old West Clare railway system which in years gone by used to transport people from Ennis during the summer holidays. Today whilst the railway system no longer runs thousands of people continue to flock to the unspoilt resort of Lahinch during the summer months.

Traditional Irish music session

Lahinch has been a popular tourist resort since the end of the last century. However, it has been inhabited long before this with evidence of prehistoric activity surrounding the area. Numerous earthen forts are to be found in the area and of these the most important is on the northern side of the town on the road to Ennistymon. The Kilmacreehy Church dates back to the 12th century and the remains of Dough Castle can also be found in the area. This Castle was built by the O’Connor Clan in 1306 and it was occupied by the family until the O’Briens took it over sometime during the 15th century. The last recorded entry of the castle standing in full flight was in 1675 before it began to collapse during the 19th century, however this was probably due to poor foundations rather then anything else.

Salmon angling on the Shannon Castleconnell, Co. Limerick

The scenic villages of Killaloe and Ballina are divided by the Majestic River Shannon at the southern end of the 32,000 acre mighty Lough Derg. These villages are 25 kms from Limerick City and approximately 50 kms from Shannon Airport.

Shore Angling

Killaloe is a well established Pike Angling Centre with all supporting services available. Twomilegate nearby offers excellent shore fishing for the coarse angler, especially for the Bream and Roach fisher.

A pint by Galway bay

Galway Bay, on west coast of Ireland; reaches 30 mi (50 km) inland, between counties Galway and Clare; entrance sheltered by Aran Islands.

The Burren, Co. Clare

Poul na Brone Dolmen is regarded as the finest example of Megalithic tombs in Ireland. In fact there is a wealth of remains from ancient civilisations in the Burren that excites the historian and archaeologist - Poulnabrone Dolmen Gleninsheen, Poulawack Cairn are fine examples of burial tombs. Forts at Cahercommaun, Caherconnell and Caheraballykinvarga take you back to a time long past. Ancient monastic sites, Holy wells, castles, high crosses, round towers form a myriad of stopping places.

Walking in the Burren Co. Clare

There are over seventy great stone tombs, including 6,000 year-old portal dolmens and court tombs and neolithic cairns. There are also many fulachta fiadh (cooking or sauna sites) dating back to the Bronze Age, some three hundred of them.

Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare

The Cliffs of Moher, on the western coast of Ireland, are six miles of limestone cliffs, in some places nearly seven hundred feet high. The cliffs provide spectacular views of the ocean and the coast, and nesting areas for many varieties of seabirds. The Cliffs of Moher are among the highest in the British Isles and all the more impressive because they full sheer for nearly 700 feet. The extend from Hag's Head west of Liscannor, for about 5 miles to the north. The highest point is marked by O'Brien's Tower, a derelict 19th Century tea-room made to look like a castle and built by a modest gentleman commemorated at Derreen. The Cliffs are named after a promontory fort that stood near Hag's Head - mothar means a ruin. An access road has been made from the L54 to the edge of The Cliffs at a point below O'Brien's tower. The view from the cliff-tops is superb. From the tower there is a view over the Aran Islands, which from this point are seen end-on as though they were one: the first is Inisheer, the next Inishmaan, and beyond is Inishmore, "the great island". To the north is the Galway coast across Galway Bay, with the Twelve Bens of Connemara hazy on the skyline. To the Northeast is the wild grey country of the Burren.

Picnic on the rocks, the Burren Co. Clare

The Celtic iron Age saw the arrival of ring barrows and some five hundred ringfort and hillforts and the mysterious "fairy forts".

Village Street, Bunratty folk park

The present castle is the fourth or fifth structure to occupy the location beside the River Ratty. The castle was built in the early 1400's by the McNamara family, but fell shortly afterwards to the O'Briens, kings of Thomond, who controlled the castle until the 17th century. Admiral Penn, father of William Penn, resided here for a short time. Today, the castle's Great Hall hold a very fine collection of 14th to 18th century furniture, paintings, and wall hangings. The Great Hall also hosts "medieval banquets" complete with maids playing the harp, court jesters, food a la the middle ages, and mead (a honey wine favored by the Irish in the middle ages).

Cruising on the Shannon

The twin towns of Killaloe/Ballina, one of Irelands most unique attractions, about 40 miles from Lahinch. Nestled in a valley on the shores of Lough Derg, the towns are surrounded by beauty. They are linked by a bridge across the Shannon. This bridge not only links two towns but two counties as Killaloe is in Clare and Ballina is in Tipperary. This makes for a great combination of two different backgrounds, different heritages in one beautiful area.

The hills around the area are covered in forestry containing many walks and picnic areas. Just outside the town of Killaloe is the site of Brian Boru’s castle Kincora which was the seat of the king from 1002 - 1014. On the lake there is a wide range of water activities, wind-surfing, jet-skiing, fishing etc. in Ballina there is also the facility to hire a cruiser and explore a little more of Irelands longest river. All in easy reach of Lahinch Golf Club.