COUNTY CLARE - Loop Head Lighthouse & Bridges of Ross

The Loop Head Lighthouse sits at the southern tip of the peninsula that makes up County Clare, at the mouth of what becomes the Shannon River. We drove down from Lahinch on a spectacular day with blue skies and warm sunshine.

For a small fee you can enter the lighthouse grounds which has a small museum display, coffee shop and toilet facilities. You can pay a small amount extra to climb to the top of the lighthouse but we opted not to. Instead we did a walk beyond the walls of the light grounds to the edge of the cliffs.

The cliffs are extremely high, with no fencing at all. I’ll admit, as much as it is breathtakingly beautiful and exhilarating to see the coastline stretch out either side and the Atlantic Ocean stretch out to the horizon, it’s also quite anxiety inducing. Our girls are really sensible and cautious and they behaved themselves really well, but it’s hard to escape intrusive thoughts of someone going over the edge. Braino was surprising brave, being memorised by the crashing waves below. May times I felt compelled to tell him to get back from the edge. We even saw a local man with a fishing rod and tackle box climb down to a precarious ledge to fish over the edge. We could see all the way to the mountains of the Dingle Peninsula to the south, it was really magical.

We stopped off at the nearby Bridges of Ross, which is another section of the coastline that has unique naturally formed arched bridges that cross parts of the cliff. You can see in last photo on the right Braino and the girls siting on top of the bridge section over the water below.

COUNTY CLARE - Kilkee Beach & Kilkee Cliffs

Kilkee is a picturesque beachside town around an hour south of where we were staying in Lahinch with stunning, and somewhat underrated, sea cliffs.

We actually came here on two different occasions to enjoy the beach on sunny days. The beach is a lovely sandy cove with calm water and the main street just one block back. It felt very much like a hidden gem, somewhere that’s been kept off the tourist radar; a summer destination for Irish families.

We would recommend it over Lahinch, where we stayed, as a beach destination. Lahinch is a small town with a large beach that is considered more of a surf beach, but it has a huge rock wall reinforcing the store line. At high tide the waves crash against the rocks and it can feel pretty wild. Kilkee Beach, being in a cove, felt a bit more protected and the town felt more spread out and walkable.

On the headland either side of the beach are the stunning sea cliffs. We only did a drive by after our day at the beach, pulling over for me to take some photos but there is a dedicated walking track along the top of cliffs.

I’ve been reading various facebook groups for Travel Tips in Ireland and many people lament how ‘touristy and over run’ the Cliffs of Moher can feel, with the huge numbers of tour buses that arrive each day. Many people say that the Kilkee cliffs are a much more authentic, lesser known option. While they didn’t seem as high as the Cliffs of Moher, they are still spectacular. (and don’t come with any admission. prices)

But I would recommended that if you’re able to venture of the track to Kilkee, then keep going south to the Loop Head Lighthouse which has even more incredible coastline scenery (read more about it in the next blog post)

COUNTY CLARE - Bunratty Castle and Folk Village

Bunratty Castle and FolK Village was another wonderful family friendly, open air museum. Located in County Clare but only a short drive from the city of Limerick, Bunratty Castle and Folk Village allows visitors to walk through time with the incredibly preserved castle and the recreated folk village, containing buildings and farmhouses from Ireland’s last century.

The version of Bunratty Castle that stands today was built around 1425 by the powerful MacNamara family but by 1475 it had become the stronghold of the O’Briens, the largest clan in North Munster.

The castle was abandoned from 1804 to 1954 when it was then restored and opened to the public as a National Monument. Today, visitors are able to tour through the restored rooms of the castle and climb to the top of the towers.

Sprawling out from the castle grounds is the 26 acres of countyside that make up the Bunratty Folk Park. At the far end is Bunratty Manor, home to the Studdart family who abandoned the castle in 1804, in favour of living in the more comfortable Georgian manor house. The house has also been preserved and is open for visitors to wander through, including the lovely walled gardens.

The folk park contains examples of traditional Irish farmhouses from throughout the last century, from single room stone dwellings to the multiple room cottages, complete with whitewashed walls and thatched roofs. Many have been relocated and reconstruction from various parts of the County Clare and the Shannon region.

There is also the village street with relocated buildings including a school house, doctors house, shops and a pub, a church and a mill house. All of them are open and furnished with authentic pieces from that time so it really does feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

There are also staff that wander around in character or are stationed at particular building, answering any questions and doing short talks throughout the day. We made a point to say hello to Eoin, the carpenter in the castle courtyard, who, our friend Tina told us, has a huge following on TikTok, sharing his traditional skills live from Bunratty Castle.

The kids particularly loved the train ride, the playground with flying fox / zip line and spotting the various animals like pigs, baby goats, Irish Wolfhound Dogs and geese. Overall, it’s a great family day out where you can learn a lot about Ireland’s history and experience historic Irish architecture all in one location. Bunratty Castle is a popular tourist destination but I’d say its worth the visit, especially with kids.

COUNTY CLARE - Day Trip Through The Burren, A Unique Landscape Filled with History

The Burren located in County Clare, Ireland, is a unique and rugged landscape renowned for its limestone pavements and remarkable geological features. This barren yet beautiful region is steeped in history, with ancient monoliths, Neolithic tombs, and captivating Celtic sites dotting the landscape, offering a glimpse into Ireland's rich heritage

We were able to take in some of the main sites via a scenic drive through The Burren and into County Galway, which wasn’t far from where we were staying in Lahinch.

The first site was the Poulnabrone Dolman, one of Ireland’s most iconic archaeological monuments. This portal tomb dates back to between 5,200 and 5,800 years ago. It was excavated in 1980 by archaeologist Anne Lynch who revealed the remains of 33 people.

Next we visited Caherconnell Fort which is a ruins of an ancient settlement that dates back one thousand years. (Click here to see what it looks life from above, a far more impressive view). Also there is a sheep dog demonstration at the Caherconnell property but we just stopped by for a coffee and snacks at the cafe and a quick look around the fort.

We then continued north to the town of Kinvara (which is technically in County Galway) and walked along the shoreline to Dunguaire Castle. This restored 16th century tower house was built in 1520 by the O’Hynes clan and sits on a rocky outcrop on the shores of Galway Bay. The castle is temporarily closed to tours however visitors can still walk around the outside perimeter of the castle and enjoy the view out over the bay back to Kinvara. The girls loved walking through the narrow, bushy track that hugged the castle walls but at this point Braino had to run back into town, in urgent search of a toilet.

The last stop of the day was at Kilmacduagh Monastery and Round Tower near the town of Gort. (also in County Galway). The site was founded by St Colman in the 7th Century and has a number of ruined churches, a graveyard and one of the most well-preserved Round Towers in Ireland.

We’ve visited a number of round towers in Ireland, including Glendalough, The Rock of Cashel, and Clonmacnoise. The girls, especially Hallie, get quite excited about round towers. I guess they do look like something straight out of a fairy tale. Round Towers were used by the ancient monks as a lookout tower and as a safe haven during times of attacks and raids. The doors are set about 8 feet up, the monks used a ladder to climb up and then they hoisted the ladder into the tower, so the attackers could not enter.

The round tower at Kilmacduagh, while on a slight lend, is the tallest of its kind in the world! Which is why I would have to say that the Kilmacduagh monastic ruins are incredibly underrated. It was totally free of charge to enter and there was hardly anyone else there while we visited.

COUNTY CLARE - The Cliffs of Moher, A Breathtaking Natural Wonder

The Cliffs of Moher, towering majestically along the southwestern coast of Ireland, offer a breathtaking blend of natural beauty and rich history. Stretching over 5 miles and reaching heights of up to 702 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, these dramatic cliffs provide stunning panoramic views.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, with scenic walking paths, visitor center, and a touch of Irish folklore, the Cliffs of Moher are an unforgettable destination that captures the wild spirit of Ireland.

The Cliffs of Moher were only a short distance from where we were staying in Lahinch, in County Clare and we visited them one sunny, clear afternoon from 4pm - 6pm. I’m incredibly grateful that we had the option to wait for ideal weather to see them; there was only a mild breeze, blue skies and warm afternoon sunshine. The weather in Ireland is so unpredictable and extreme, many tourist with tight itineraries would have no choice but to visit the cliffs in rain and gale force wind. If you have the choice, I would recommended going later in the afternoon as it’s less crowded and slightly cheaper.

If you’re looking at a map of Ireland, the cliffs stretch from Lisconner in the south all the way to Doolin in the north and it has been possible to hike from one end to the other and it is free to do so. In the middle, near O’Briens Tower, is the visitors centre which includes a large designated carpark, a museum with informative displays, cafe and giftshops. It’s $12 Euro per adult to visit via the visitor centre (kids under 12 are free) and this area has paved pathways and stone barriers in place.

For us, with kids, the visiter centre was the most straighforward and safest way to visit. With the stone barriers, there was no way the girls could go close to the edge. Being close to the edge of cliffs this high does give you an intense feeling of anxiety and unfortunately people have ventured to close to the edge and fallen to their deaths.

The tracks that extend 1km both north and south of the visiter centre have stone barriers set along the paths but beyond that to Lisconnor and Doolin, the paths have no barrier and are fairly close to the edge.

Just recently, while we were staying in Lahinch, authorities have close off portions of the cliff walks that extend to Lisconnor and Doolin to set up more barriers and warning signs. As beautiful and awe inspiring as the cliffs are, it visitor centre felt like the safest and most practical way to visit them.