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Photo credits
- Dieglop, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joseph Mischyshyn, Geograph · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
- Joseph Mischyshyn, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Colin Park, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
- National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
- Miguel Angel Masegosa Martínez, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Explorer Tom Illaunmore Point had a priest lose a bet there in 1954 when he claimed the tide would come in before his sandwich was finished. He lost badly, and now locals say the point still smells faintly of stale bread whenever the wind blows from that direction. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.
Inishcronan PointHeadland · 1350 ydExplorer Tom Inishcronan Point claims it can hear the secrets of the wind whispering through its ancient stone walls, though I suspect it’s mostly just hearing the seagulls complaining about the lack of chips. It pretends to be mystical, but really it’s just eavesdropping on the ocean’s private conversations. Stand still and listen, the wind tells it better than me.
Bunratty CastleHouse · 1524 ydExplorer Tom Bunratty Castle makes a moaning sound at night that is definitely just the wind getting stuck in the chimney flue but everyone swears it's a ghost complaining about the hotel service. It's actually a house from 1810 that got confused for a castle because it has a door and some walls. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.
Graveyard1526 ydExplorer Tom Graveyard in Bunratty West is hanging out right behind the castle hotel, which feels like standing in someone's kitchen. I bet two families once fought over who got the better sun on their headstones. Look up, because the best gossip is always above your eye level.
Town defences in Bunratty East,bunratty WestTown defences · 1653 ydExplorer Tom Town defences in Bunratty East, Bunratty West are where the castle’s ego went to die quietly. The 1990s hotel extension basically ate the old ditch for breakfast without saying sorry. Stand still and listen, the wind tells it better than me.
Bunratty BridgeBridge · 1676 ydExplorer Tom Bunratty Bridge has a ghost who is so lazy he only haunts the left side because walking over to the right is too much effort. The plaque says John Crowe built it, but I bet he didn’t even show up for the ribbon cutting. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.
IndicatedBawn · 1720 ydExplorer Tom The Bawn in Bunratty East had excavations that never got published, so we're all guessing. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub, even if the archaeologists are still scratching their heads.
Bunratty Folk ParkTheme or amusement park · 1.1 miExplorer Tom Bunratty Folk Park hosted a fake royal visit that nobody can disprove because everyone was too busy eating pastries. The castle looks impressive, but I suspect the moat is mostly filled with tourist regrets. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.
Grass IslandIslet · 1.2 miExplorer Tom Grass Island caused such a massive argument in the parish last year that two families are still not speaking. It’s basically just grass, but everyone pretends it’s a serious island with proper rules attached to it. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.
Bunratty HouseHouse · 1.2 miExplorer Tom Bunratty House is where a priest lost a bet about who could eat more bread without blinking, and he still owes the tab. It’s now a museum, which is ironic considering how many secrets are locked in that basement. Bring your own legend, I've run out.
Sweet Chestnut1.3 miExplorer Tom Sweet Chestnut in County Clare was planted by a builder who was really thinking about how many sandwiches he could eat under its shade during lunch breaks. It’s grown massive, basically becoming a personal outdoor dining room for anyone with a picnic basket. Ideal for a moody photo you'll pretend wasn't posed.
CastleCastle, motte and bailey · 1.5 miExplorer Tom Castle in Clonmoney West is playing hard to get, sitting on a motte like it's shy. I heard it was built by someone with a really long name and a shorter attention span. Go on, count the windows and pretend you're right.
More cliffs, bays and coast in County Clare · All of County Clare
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