Towns in County Clare.

 

 

Ennis.
 

( Inis)
(River meadow)

Ennis is situated on the River Fergus about 30 km (19 mi) north-west of Limerick.The town grew around a castle built in the late 13th century by a chief of the powerful O’Brien family, which established its headquarters at nearby Clonroad.

Nearby is Ennis Friary, founded by the O’Brien family in 1242 for the Franciscans, it stands on a site close to the River Fergus.

Ennis is the county’s administrative centre for commerce and industry. It is a market town, and the cathedral town of the diocese of Killaloe. Tourism is the main industry, there is some manufacturing industry. In 1997 the state telecommunications company, Telecom Éireann, invested £15 million to provide information and communication technologies for Ennis as part of its 'Information Age' program.

 

The county museum is housed in a converted church. Near the courthouse is a memorial to Eamon De Valera, the former Irish president who was a Member of Parliament for the county from 1917 to 1959. In the De Valera Library and Museum there is archive material in addition to archaeological and historical artifacts.
 

 

Ennistymon.
 

(Dioman's river meadow)

The little town of Ennistymon on the banks of the Cullenagh Riveris a very popular venue for fishing holidays. The Spa hotel in the town uses the power of the river to heat the premises in the winter.

The towns location would make it an ideal base to explore west County Clare and the southern shores of Galway bay and the Burren.

 

 
 

 

Feakle..
 

(Tooth)

Feakle lies in the remote hills of east Co Clare, the poet Brian Mac Giolla-Meidhre better known as Merriman (1757-1805) is buried in the churchyard. His most celebrated work The Midnight Court has been translated into English by the late Lord Longford, Arland Ussher, Frank O'Connor and Bowes Egan. Merryman was borne at Clondegad and was a schoolmaster at Kilclenin near Feakle.

Although his grave is not marked there is a plaque to him outside the graveyard, each year the county holds a Merriman summer and winter school.

 

The famous Irish healer Biddy Early is buried in the churchyard at Feakle although the exact location of her grave is unknown.