Shannon is a new town in CountyClare, Ireland, situated on the estuary of the RiverShannon which gives it its name. Home toShannon Airport, it lies halfway between the cityof Limerick, in County Limerick, and Ennis, the county town of County Clare,and is thus conveniently located for visiting both counties.
Shannon is a new town,built in the 1960s on reclaimed marshland by the airport. Originally intendedas a home for the many workers at the airport and in the supporting industries,over the years it has developed into a thriving community with a growingpopulation and excellent facilities.
Sport in Shannon
County Clare is well known for its many golf courses,many less than an hour away from Shannon. County Limerick and County Kerry alsooffer excellent golf courses within easy, ahem, driving distance.
The River Shannon is thelongest in Ireland, and provides excellent opportunities for fishing,watersports and boating. Angling is extremely popular in the region, withsalmon, trout and eel in plentiful supply.
Shopping in Shannon
Shannon offers a widerange of shops, mostly based around the modern SkycourtShopping Centre, opened in 2004 and boasting over 55 shops. Inaddition, Shannon Airport houses the world’s firstduty free shop, established in 1947.
Attractions in and Around Shannon
Less than three miles fromShannon, BunrattyCastle was built in the early 1400s, and is the best preserved medieval castlein Ireland. The castle was restored in 1954, and is home to a collection offurniture, tapestries and works of art from the 15th and 16th centuries. It isfamous for its nightly medieval banquets, held in the Great Hall, where dinerscan enjoy food and wine while being entertained with ancient Irish songs fromthe Bunratty Singers.
Bunratty Folk Park adjoins the castle, and is a livingmuseum with over 30 buildings on a 26 acre site, which aims to give visitors ataste of 19th century Irish village life. The buildings are a selection oftypical period Irish houses and shops, and include a fully licensed pub whereyou can enjoy a pint while stepping back in time.
The stunning Cliffsof Moher are just 30 miles away, and offer spectacular views of the AranIsles and GalwayBay to the north, LoopHead to the south, and of course the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Thecliffs are also home to a vast seabird nesting colony, with many thousands ofpuffins, razorbills, choughs, guillemots and kittiwakes on display. In recentyears the cliffs have become a popular destination for surfers, enjoying thelarge waves rolling in from the Atlantic Ocean.
Visit Shannon
With its handy location between Ennis and Limerick andits excellent transport links, Shannon makes agreat base for exploring the west of Ireland. There is truly something foreveryone here, from historical and natural attractions, sports and leisureopportunities, great shopping, fine dining and of course a healthy selection ofpubs, where you can enjoy a pint and a traditional Irish evening’sentertainment.
