From Quilty to Doolin
| The distance between Quilty on the south and Doolin on the north is about thirty miles. There are several towns and villages in that area.
Quilty is directly on the Atlantic. My favorite stop there is the Spanish Point is a few miles north. It is so named because of the Spaniards who were burried there after the wreck of their armada ships along this coast. One of the ships was wrecked on the reefs two miles off shore and can be visited by boat which may be hired in Quilty. More than one thousand men were lost, and many of their bodies were carried by the tide to Spanish Point. Miltown Malbay is just north of Spanish Point. It is noted for the many music venues in town. The "International Darlin' Girl From Clare" festival held annually in Miltown Malbay was founded in 1964 to promote the tourist attractions of Miltown Malbay and the surrounding area including beaches at Spanish Point. The festival was discontinued in 1972 but re-established in 1986 when it became international. Girls from around the world in addition to girls representing counties in Ireland participate. The festival usually runs from the last few days of July to the first few of August. Lahinch is at the head of Liscannor bay beside a two mile long sandy beach. It is the site of the renowned championship golf course known as the " Old Course" which is rated in Irelands top ten. It is frequently referred to as the St. Andrews of Ireland. My overnights in Lahinch were spent at the Aberdeen Arms Hotel. Ennistymon is an attractive holiday center about four miles east of Lahinch. The town is in a wooded valley beside a cascade on the River Cullenagh. There is good brown trout fishing on the river, The recently refurbished Falls Hotel offers in town accomodations.
On the road to Doolin you first pass thru Liscannor the birthplace of John P. Holland a school teacher who is credited with the invention of the first practical submarine in Paterson, NJ in 1898. His patent was promptly taken over by the United States Navy. Fishing season here is all year with the best between May and September. Bass, Flatfish, Dogfish and Mackerel are the most abundent. The Cliffs of Moher are just north of Liscannor. They rise from the Atlantic to over 700 feet in places and stretch for almost five miles. From the highest cliff you can view the Aran Islands and mountains as far away as County Kerry. The cliffs are one of the top tourist sites in Ireland. There is a gift shop with very reasonable prices and a snack bar. An exit fee of oneIP per car is charged. Just north of the cliffs is the village of Doolin, the center for traditional Irish music in Ireland. Music constantly pours from the pubs during the tourist season. The music schedule is cut back during the winter but will be found most evenings. The three pubs, McGanns, McDermotts and O'Connors Pub are open year round. I have no special preference but find that O'Connors offers a greater variety of pub food served all day long. During the summer season a ferry operates from Doolin to Inisheer on the Aran Islands starting with one round trip in April increasing to two later in the summer. There are a great many accomodations of all types from camping sites to a hotel. I prefer to stay for two or three days at Doolin. I highly recommend Cullinan's Guest House and Restaurant
I suggest that if traveling to Doolin during the peak summer months you make reservations, wherever you choose to stay, well in advance of your arrival. |
Quilty Tavern and B & B. I have had pleasant conversations with the owner, Pat Cooney. Pat hosts some great Irish music. I was was treated to The Dublin City Ramblers on one of my visits.
located on the main street midway between the local pubs. A walk of no more than ten minutes will get you to any of them. James and Carol Cullinan own and operate the guest house. There are six rooms each with private bath/shower. Direct dial phones are in each bedroom and there is a comfortable guest lounge with TV.
Breakfast is served in a spacious dining room which opens nightly for dinner starting Easter Sunday.MY FAVORITE PLACES
Corofin, County Clare| Easkey, County Sligo| Kilrush & Kilkee, County Clare| Charleville, County Cork|FAVORITE LINKS
|Four Lakes| |Jim McPhail & The Regals|
Music:The Spinning Wheel
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