MAP MAP MAP MAP B2 B4 C3 MAP C4 MAP D2 C3 EnnistYMon DroMolanD Castle Castle (Falls Hotel) SCatterY IslanD CraG Liath, Inis Cealtra Dromoland Castle, one of the Nestled in its wooded vale This beautiful island has a rich Greenanlaghna & Carrig Aoibheal Holy Island most famous baronial castles Clare MUseUM beside the tumbling waters of built heritage and its tranquil The hill of Crag Liath slopes Inis Cealtra / Holy Island on in Ireland, was the ancestral the River Inagh, the distinctive atmosphere belies its turbulent down to the road near Beal Lough Derg is one of the most Clare County Museum home of the O’Briens, Barons building known today as the history. St. Senan founded a Ború. On its south-eastern famous monastic sites in features the Riches of County of Inchiquin. Dromoland Castle Falls Hotel & Spa is regarded as monastic settlement on the TRACE THE slope lies Greenanlaghna, the Ireland. Its many attractions Clare. Enjoy an audio visual retains all the splendour of its one of the finest Clare Hotels. island in the 6th century. It was FOOTSTEPS OF remains of a fort associated include a well-preserved presentation on “The Powerful rich and storied history. Lavish Concealed within its walls a target for the Vikings from with Brian Ború’s family. On Round Tower, the ruins of O’Brien’s”, highlighting the interiors, fine food and wines are an 18th century mansion, the 9th century on and the the northern slope is a great six churches, a Holy Well, a history and achievements of the complement the luxurious guest a late medieval castle and a former King Ivar of Limerick projecting rock, 6 metres high unique graveyard with slabs O’Brien clan from the time of rooms. With a reputation built formidable history of four and was granted sanctuary there in BRIAN known as Carraig Aoibheal or dating from the 8th century. Brian Ború to the present day. It on traditional values and warm a half centuries. The original the 10th century. He continued Aoibheal’s Rock, home to the Guided tours of the Island are mentions many of the buildings hospitality, Dromoland Castle is 16th century castle is believed to antagonise Brian Ború who banshee Aoibheal. available. Access is by way of and personalities associated now a luxury 5 Star Resort. to have been built by Domhnall had taken Limerick and in 975, BORÚ Killaloe, (52.8390, -8.4672) a boat trip from the pier at with the family around the DroMolanD, (52.7834, -8.9055) O’Brien. Brian attacked the island killing www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/co Mountshannon. Brian Ború’s county. www.dromoland.ie EnnistyMon, Ivar and his two sons. Access & THE clare/places/kointerest.htm brother Marcan was Bishop- Free admission. (52.9357, -9.3316) is by ferry from Cappa Pier, Abbot on Inis Cealtra. Ennis, (52.8438, -8.9819) www.fallshotel.ie Kilrush. Ferry operator contact: MAP LouGH DerG, (52.9155, www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/ MAP +353 65 9051327 MAP O’BRIENS -8.4483) claremuseum C3 B2 RIVer Shannon, IN COUNTY CLARE C4 www.eastclareheritage.com/ (52.6122, -9.5194) holy-island Facebook search Scattery Island MAP Heritage and Development In the 10th century, Brian Ború - one of the most influential MAP C3 and colourful characters in Irish history - was born in Killaloe, B4 Co. Clare. A member of a powerful Dalcassian tribe he went BUnrattY Castle MAP WWW.KILLALOEBALLINA.IE on to become High King of Ireland and ruled from his palace at & Folk Park ST. BRIGID’S Well D1 O’Brien Monument & The European Kincora in Killaloe. He died in 1014 after an emphatic victory over Bunratty Castle is the most O’Brien Vault Every effort has been made to ensure Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: the Vikings in the Battle of Clontarf. His descendants became complete and authentic medieval the information in this guide is correct, Europe investing in TOUntinna This holy well is one of many Rural Areas. the mighty O’Brien clan - one of the greatest Gaelic clans whose The Graves of the Leinstermen LOUGH DerG/ fortress in Ireland. In 1475 it however the Brian Ború 2014 Steering became the stronghold of the sacred to the female saint of influence extends to this day. River Shannon Ennis FriarY Group cannot guarantee its accuracy and Tountinna is the highest peak O’Briens. Today Bunratty Folk Ireland, St. Brigid with links accept no responsibility for any error or of the Arra Mountain range. Lough Derg is the largest and This 13th century Franciscan Park features over thirty 19th back to the Celtic goddess CarriGaholt misrepresentation. Some images have been Trace the footsteps of Brian Ború and his descendants throughout County On the heathery slopes, beside Brigit. It was enclosed by a one of the most beautiful friary, founded by the O’Briens century buildings in a ‘living’ Castle provided by Clare County Council, Clare the road are the remains of a Clare. This map shows a selection of the important sites and buildings lakes on the River Shannon. of Thomond, has numerous village and rural setting. Meet stone wellhouse by Cornelius Library, Clare Tourism Forum, Scattery pre-historic chamber tomb, O’Brien in thanks for a cure by Built by the McMahon Clan at associated with Ború and the O’Briens. While you are here, why not visit the During his reign Brian Ború 15th/16th century sculptures and chat with the Bean an Tí Island Heritage & Development & Failte known as the Graves of the a vial of the well’s holy water. the end of the 15th century, this other important Brian Ború sites in Cashel, Clontarf and Armagh. kept one navy on the lake carved in the local hard and various street characters Ireland. Leinstermen. The Graves and a second on the Shannon limestone. The visitor can also who give the site its sparkle. The well is located in front of is a relatively well preserved consist of a line of small slate estuary. Today you can drive a graveyard that houses the tower house. It was occupied You can visit most of the sites, however, please note that those on private see the sacristy and the cloister Admission applies. T: 00353 65 6846222 slabs. There is a low earthen the Lough Derg trail which (52.6964, -8.8119) O’Brien family vault. by Tadhg Teige’Caech’ in 1588 property can only be viewed from public access points unless permission is area where part of the arcade BUNRATT Y, mound to the north of the starts and finishes in the twin has been reconstructed. The www.shannonheritage.com but was captured by Donagh E: [email protected] secured from the owner to visit. chief slab. These slabs are towns of Killaloe/Ballina. O’Brien Tomb, known as the MAP Adjacent to St. Brigid’s Well O’Brien the Fourth Earl of Bronze Age and date no later (52.8413, -8.8288) Inchiquin Tomb, is situated in B2 is a memorial column to the Thomond in 1590 and held by BRIAN BORÚ SITE than 1000BC. www.clare.ie the friary. Admission applies. same Cornelius O’Brien which the O’Briens until 1690 when WWW.CLAre.IE ENJOY THE JOURNEY! TOUNTINNA, (52.8514, -8.3992) was funded by subscriptions it was seized by the crown. O’BRIEN SITE Ennis, (52.8459, -8.9816) MAP www.heritageireland.ie/en/ from his tenants and friends The castle grounds are not C3 ShannonRegion/EnnisFriary following his death in 1857. accessible but the castle can be MAP PRIVATE “Corney’s Column” as it is viewed from the pier. C4 MAP PROPERTY MAP CarriGaholt, C3 known looks down over C4 Liscannor village and bay (52.5999, -9.6994) MAP PRIVATE www.irelandseden.ie/explore- MAP PROPERTY including the ruins of Cornelius’ C4 LEMenaGH Castle home, Birchfield House. eden/loop-head-peninsula-co- C4 clare/top-attractions The original tower house was Liscannor, (52.9521, -9.4223) FOO MAP E T probably built around 1480 by H S MaGH ADhair Toirdelbhach Donn MacTadhg B2 MAP T T O’BriensBriDGE Ó Briain but the manor house C2 E Magh Adhair was the E Inauguration Place of the was erected in 1648 by Conor P The village of O’Briensbridge C O’Brien and his wife Maire Rua. S in south east Clare on the Kings of Thomond. It contains Killone AbbeY ST. Flannan’S O’Brien was Maire Rua’s second A a large mound and other Shannon River gets its name O Cathedral & Oratory ToberMUrraGH earthworks including a & Lake husband. There are many legends from the first bridge built over R bullaun stone and a cairn over about her and one such legend F Built in the 13th century, St. These extensive ruins consist of T KinCora Tobermurragh or the river in 1506 by Turlough 3 metres high. These features has it that she actually had 25 Site of Brian Ború’s Palace Flannan’s Cathedral stands on Murrough’s Well, is situated O’Brien, First Earl of Thomond, of a church, crypt, and house BallinalaCken DoonbeG Castle the west bank of the Shannon. are partly enclosed by an around a cloister garth. The husbands. The impressive ruins Instead of taking his seat at near the Pier Head in and his brother, the Bishop of Castle This small castle or tower The Cathedral is home to a earthen bank in which stand adjoining lake is associated of both structures lie on private Tara or Cashel, Brian Ború ruled Killaloe. It is here that, Killaloe. house was built in the 16th number of stone features many stones.