SIX of the best from Ireland’s Wild West

They call it the Wild West. But holdyour horses before you start thinking Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. No, we’re not talking about cowboy country in the US here, but a west discovered generations before the fi rst pioneers hit the North American continent the stunning west of Ireland and, in particular, the region of Shannon. Filled with history, spectacular scenery and culture, the counties of Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary and South Offaly provide a perfect, and alternative, summer trip. From clifftop walks to unique market towns, here are six stops you should make along the way.

1 Standing 700ft high, the Cliffs of Moher (pictured) stretch for 8km and are where Ireland literally drops into the Atlantic. You can admire the breathtaking views here, and take a walk around the new €31.5m interactive Moher Visitor Centre, which brings every aspect of this savage coastline to life. Watch a film that shows a bird’s perspective, as it soars above the dramatic cliffs, then walk down the safe, wide cliff-edge paths and take advantage of the remarkable bird-watching on offer.

Here you’ll fi nd the largest mainland colony of puffi ns in Ireland. Follow the cliffs to fi nd O’ Briens Tower, and a magical view of the Aran Islands. Then stop for a pint of Guinness at O’Connors in Doolin, before viewing a 7m, 10-tonne stalactite in Doolin Cave.

2 Heading inland, you’ll fi nd the historic market town of Ennis on the River Fergus. From the base of the Old Ground Hotel, you can access some of the west coast’s most spectacular scenery, including picturesque villages that have resisted the march towards commercialisation and retained their rustic charm.

The best way to sample the town’s history is to join one of Jane O’Brien’s walking tours, which are like a “journey through time”. Described with great warmth and wit, Ennis’ colourful past is brought alive – peppered with tales of famine, poverty, murder and rebellion.

And the town is well worth digging into, from the limestone-carved sculptures at the Franciscan Friary to illegally distilled poteen, and links with some of Ireland’s most powerful men, like Daniel O’Connell and Charles Stewart Parnell. You’ll also hear about old Biddy Early, who was tried for witchcraft and derived her supposedly supernatural powers from a dark blue bottle of mysterious liquid.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 16th, 2007 at 11:55 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.