Location

Ennis is a great location if you want to bring people together.

History

Ennis has a history going back to the Vikings in 970

Activities

Shopping

Ennis has a unique blend of quirky independent shops, traditional Irish stores and larger retail branches

Events

Ennis hosts several events in the annual calendar

Hotels & Restaurants

Ennis offers some fabulous restaurants and hotels

Ennis, with an urban population of over 25,000 people (2016 figures) is situated on the banks of the River Fergus. It is the capital of County Clare and the centre of administration and commerce in the region. Ennis is 37 kilometres from Limerick and 67 kilometres from Galway and with road improvements is a 2.5-hour drive to Dublin. Shannon International Airport is 24 kilometres south of Ennis, a simple 20-minute drive from the centre of town.


Location

Ennis (Inis), sits on the banks of the River Fergus, which flows east, then south into the Shannon Estuary. The town’s narrow, pedestrian-friendly streets, make for an enjoyable wander whilst it is also an ideal base for exploring the county, since you can reach any part of Clare in under two hours from here.

Ennis is just 30 minutes from the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher to wind swept Loop Head Peninsula. Ennis is also a great spot from which to visit coastal Lahinch, Kilrush and Kilkee as well as historic places like Bunratty.

Ennis is a great location if you want to bring people together from different geographical location because transport links are so good. This makes it an ideal wedding location or a hen night at Queens Nightclub.

  • Transport

  • Local Attractions

History

Ennis has a history going back to the Vikings in 970, followed by the building of four castles on the same land, the remains of the fourth can still be seen. The area hosted a Franciscan monastery which was built in 1240. This friary survived Henry VIII’s attempts to rid the country of all monasteries during his reign in 1540, until it eventually closed in 1690. The impact of religious orders remains in the town today with a number of religious schools, though these have recently appointed lay principals.

In more recent Ennis history, Ennis has played host to two famous parliamentarians of the nineteenth and twentieth century. In 1828, O’Connell was returned to parliament in the Clare Elections, an historic event which led to the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829. In 1917 Éamon de Valera was selected by Sinn Féin to contest the East Clare by-election and so began his long association with the town and county before he became President of Ireland.

Activities

The hospitality of its people, the traditions of Irish music and dance, colourful small shops and cozy pubs, traditional cottages and houses are just a few of the attributes of this area. The area also has plenty of walking trails for you to try, sandy beaches to walk on, surfing on the Atlantic coastal waters or perhaps a chance to try one of several golf courses, including two championship courses just a 30-minute drive from Ennis.

If you prefer, you can watch the activities as a spectator at the Ennis Rugby Football Club, place a bet on it with the best Irish betting sites or perhaps watch a game of hurling from the GAA. More things to do in Ennis »

Shops and local business

A strong merchant history that helped Ennis become one of Ireland’s largest towns, can still be seen in town, with several independent, family-run businesses that have been running for generations and survived both the highs in the years of the Celtic Tiger of the 1990s, followed by the global recession around 2008. Today, Irish arts and crafts are being celebrated and nurtured, whilst traders are also successful selling international brands, particularly in clothing.

Ennis has a unique blend of quirky independent shops, traditional Irish stores and larger retail branches. Ennis is unusual in that it is far from the same-old, high street chain store experience. Ladies are spoiled for choice with quality and service that reach a high standard whether you are off to the races, just appreciate good style or you are the mother of the bride, you will find your outfit.

Gentlemen are equally well catered for, with international menswear labels from Hugo Boss and Ted Baker, to Superdry all available. If you want tradition, the Ennis Cash Company has been Ireland’s premium men’s outfitters since 1880. Inside, you’ll feel the tradition and heritage – reminiscent of an age of style and elegance and captured in iconic brands such as Harris Tweed and Barbour.

If you’re looking for jewellery in Ennis, you can purchase everything from Celtic jewellery to international designer watches to antique pieces, and if you want to order something really unique, you will be amazed by these rose gifts.

With a couple of independent bookshops and a music store that sells traditional Irish instruments like the fiddle, the pipes and the Bodhran these are the best places to chat with the staff to find recommendations for the latest best read or listen. They may also be able to direct you to events happening whilst you are in town that might be of interest. Thanks to the many of the local family businesses, Ennis has quickly become one of the top tourist destinations in Ireland. It is now one of the most desirable destinations to indulge in gambling, with a diverse offering of popular casino games. Ennis has customized its experience by giving patrons access to some of the best real money online casinos in the world, providing an exciting and authentic casino experience, even though it has a small population of only 25,000 people.

Events

Ennis hosts several events in the annual calendar, including the Ennis Trad Festival that brings together Irish traditional musicians, singers and dancers for five days of celebration of the country’s culture. Should you choose to stay indoors and relax in your room - there's a rich choise of real money online casinos to have a play at. Also the Glór Theatre hosts a number of events from comedy, drama performances, art exhibitions and concerts.

Ennis has also hosted the second largest traditional music festival in Ireland - Fleadh Nua, which is held in May each year and hosts more than 120 events of music, song and dance. The County Show in Ennis in early July celebrates the agricultural heritage of County Clare, showcasing the best and offering classes to encourage all to continue to improve the environment.

Other events are held throughout the year at pubs and clubs as well as at the Clare Museum in Ennis.. View All Events»

Hotels

From 4-star hotels through to hostels, you can guarantee you will be offered a hearty Irish welcome. Hotels can be a beautifully restored eighteenth-century manor house, or a country located in the centre of Ennis, through to conference and leisure facilities a short walk out of town.

Some of the hotels in Ennis also have restaurants and bars that are popular with locals as well as visitors and all offer complimentary Wi-Fi, tea- and coffee-making facilities are included as standard. Leisure facilities including a sauna, steam-room, state of the art gym, beauty salon and more.

Ennis Hotels are able to host events from brand launches, family gatherings, conferences to weddings. At the geographic centre of County Clare, it is an ideal spot for regional gatherings, but also has excellent transport links to the rest of Ireland.View All Hotels »

Restaurants

Ennis offers some fabulous food across a range of restaurants, from Italian to Indian. Using fresh ingredients sourced locally, including fish caught in the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Curried mackerel is a special dish that works well when the food is caught fresh. Restaurants also offer a comprehensive wine list, craft beers and of course Guinness and other Irish beverages like whiskey, known in Gaelic as uisce beatha, meaning "water of life"

If you want a real Irish meal whilst watching a sporting event on a big screen, you can do so. Try the black pudding and the white pudding too. Try the Eton Mess for dessert, as well as the Irish coffee for a taste of the Emerald Isle. It is also likely that you’ll be entertained by some Irish music whilst you eat. This could be a scheduled performance, but in many cases may just be a spontaneous concert, particularly for combined pub-restaurants.

View All Restaurants »

Latest News