Not such a long way to Clare

32 Counties in 32 Months

WHAT do you think of when you think of Clare? The Cliffs of Moher? Doolin? The Poulnabrone dolmen? The Burren? Biddy Earley’s magic bottle? Matchmaking in Lisdoonvarna?

If that’s your list, it was ours too — and because most of us have already seen the Cliffs, visited O’Connor’s pub and driven across, around or over the Burren, they did not qualify for this episode of our 32 Counties in 32 Months project.

Instead of heading to West Clare, we went east, to the part of Clare many people forget – the shores of Lough Derg, the largest lake on the Shannon and the most developed in terms of amenities.

Because the Shannon was navigable, all through the 19th century small ports were developed along its course.

In last month’s trip to Tipp, we visited Terryglass and Dromineer on the Tipperary side. This time we took in Mountshannon, just a few miles south of the county boundary with Galway.

For more, pick up this week’s Tuam Herald or log onto our digital edition HERE