From Kilkee the Loop Head Drive encompasses the Bridges of Ross (good fishing for pollock, bass and mackerel) Moveen, Cross, Feeard, Moneen, Loop Head, Kilbaha, Kilcloher,Failte Cottage, Carrigaholt, Doonaha, Querrin (bass and mackerel off the pier) and then on to Kilrush. Kilbaha village church has the "Little Ark". Years ago, when the celebration of mass was forbidden, the locals built the Ark and when the tide was out, brought it to the beach, where the priest celebrated Mass from the inside, with the people outside surrounding the ark. The beach was considered "no man's land", meaning the interruption of the celebration could not occur. Kilrush is the base for "Dolphin Watch" who run trips from May to September to look at the dolphins and seals . The Shannon estuary is the only place around the Irish coast where there is a resident group of bottle-nosed dolphins. It is estimated that there are over eighty and, as they are a breeding group, calves can often be seen, even from Failte Cottage
Other summer attractions include: The Carrigaholt Oyster Festival, Match Making at the Spa town of Lisdoonvarna in September/October and Horse Sales held in Kilrush Town.
West Clare must be one of the best kept secrets in Ireland, with the cleanest air in Europe and it has everything to make a holiday enjoyable. Golf courses at Lahinch, Ballybunion and Killarney, with smaller courses at Kilrush and Kilkee, Horse riding, Deep sea fishing charter is available at Doonbeg (Tel: +353659055105), Bicycle hire available at Mandies, Kilrush (Alan McNamara will deliver to the cottage Tel: 0659080840).
Surfing at Kilkee and Lahinch, Sailing at Kilrush and right outside Failte Cottage. Further north are the Cliffs of Moher (700ft above the Atlantic), the Burren (with it's lunar landscape) and Galway.
Ennis is the capital of Clare with narrow streets and quaint shopfronts. In the middle of the town stand the substantial ruins of the Ennis Friary. Founded around 1240 it is rich in sculptures, most notably the 15th century MacMahon tomb with it's alabaster carvings of the Passion.
If there are any questions you wish to ask regarding: accommodation, travel, prices, historical buildings, places of interest, the best beaches, boat hire, cycle hire, access to your e-mails while on holiday or anything else that you might be unsure of when you stay at Tig Failte Carrigaholt, West Clare. Please feel free to e-mail me using the link below and if I don't know the answer, I will find out prior to your arrival.
Always remember the golden rule when visiting Ireland, which is to bring a warm pullover and light raincoat as, even on summer days, you can sometimes get three sesons in one day.