Before you go

Your trip to Ennis.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Ennis – Clare Destination Clare and the Falésias de Moher Capital

How to get there

Aeroporto de Shannon (Shannon Airport) (SNN) Shannon · 25 km
Estação de Ennis (Ennis Station) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before booking. Shannon Airport is 25 km away, with buses to Ennis. The train station has links to Limerick and Galway, and to Dublin by changing at Limerick Junction or Limerick. By car, Ennis lies on the M18 motorway, between Galway (70 km) and Limerick (40 km).

How many days

Half a day for the centre and the Ennis Friary and half a day for the Castelo de Bunratty. One night in Ennis works well for those arriving at or departing from Shannon Airport.

When to go

From April to October, when the Ennis Friary is usually open and Bunratty operates full hours. The town has traditional music year-round, and in spring it usually hosts the Fleadh Nua festival. In winter it gets dark around 17:00.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Not for the centre, which is explored on foot. For Bunratty there are buses on the Shannon–Limerick route. A car helps for the Burren and the cliffs, about an hour away. In Ireland you drive on the left.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Ennis

Morning
Ennis Friary and the centre
Visit the Ennis Friary and follow Abbey Street to O'Connell Square and the narrow streets of the centre.
Afternoon
Castelo de Bunratty
Head to the Castelo de Bunratty, 20 km away, and the 19th-century village park beside it.
Late afternoon
Rio Fergus
Return to Ennis and walk along the banks of the Rio Fergus, near the convent.
Evening
Music in Ennis
Dine in the centre and look for a pub with a traditional music session, common on the town's evenings.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is Ennis worth a visit?

It's worth half a day or one night, especially for those passing through Shannon Airport or travelling by train between Galway and Limerick. The centre is small and has traditional music in the pubs.

Who is the man in the statue on the square?

Daniel O'Connell, an Irish political leader elected MP for Clare in 1828, an election that led to the emancipation of Catholics in the United Kingdom.

Is Ennis a good base for those arriving via Shannon?

Yes. The airport is 25 km away, with buses, and trains to Galway and Limerick and buses to the cliffs depart from Ennis. It's a good first or last night of the trip.

Can you go from Ennis to the Falésias de Moher?

Yes. It's about 40 km, roughly 50 minutes by car, and there are regular buses that leave Ennis and stop at the falésias and Doolin.

Back to Ennis