Scattery Island
Inis Cathaigh

 

The holy island in the Shannon abeam
Kilrush where St Senan is believed
to have founded a monastic settlement
in the 6th century. There is a fine round
tower, a well and the ruins of a cathedral;
a church and burial place of Senan and
an ogham stone; the church of
Ard-na-nAingeal; the late medieval church
of Teampall na Marbh; and the remains
of an Elizabethan castle.
Also on the island:
the Scattery Island visitor centre,
a lighthouse, a gun battery from
napoleonic times as well
as an abundance of wildlife
Boats go there from the
Kilrush Marina. Prior bookingin essential.

Bunratty
is the most famous of them all - enjoy evening banquets  in medieval atmosphere on antique
furniture.The adjacent folk park  is worth a visit with its varied dwellings from rural Ireland at the turn of  the century and the reconstruction of life in earlier times.

Knappogue Castle
built  in 1497, now   nicely restored retaining its
unique medieval character. Like Bunratty it offers nightly medieval banquets

Dunguaire Castle
- another nicely restored castle in a very scenic area of North Clare/Galway also has medieval banquets
in the season

Carrigaholt Castle
- a 15th century tower house overlooking the Shannon

Gleninagh Castle
- 16th century tower house overlooking Galway Bay, 5 km west of Ballyvaughan off the coast road to Lisdoonvarna.

Lemaneagh Castle-
impressing ruins of a 16 th century castle on the south rim of the Burren, 5 kmeast of Kilfenora.

Newtown Castle
- 16th century tower house, restored as an exhibition centre for the Burren Art College, 2 km Southwest of Ballyvaughan

Mount Ievers
- well kept Court House from the 18th century in lush parklands, near Sixmilebridge

Cratloe Woods House
from the 17th century - an early example
of an Irish longhouse