Kilrush is the largest town in West Clare. Positioned at the estuary of the Shannon River, Kilrush lies 45km southwest of Ennis. Kilrush was once a Shannon port of some significance; a regular traffic of boats from Limerick, some 60 miles up- significance; a regular traffic of boats from Limerick, some 60 miles up-river, as well as coastal steamers, called to the little jetty with a variety of goods and occasional passengers.

Kilrush now has a new Marina and Heritage Centre – which houses an exhibition of the Great Famine and the landlord evictions of 1888, a Vandeleur Walled Garden revived and restored to former days and is now stocked with tropical plants.

Today, from Kilrush Creek Marina, you can join one of the Eco-cruises which sails out of the marina into the Shannon Estuary. The 2.5 hour cruise will enable you to watch the resident population of bottle-nosed dolphins. You can also take a ferry to Scattery Island which is just 2km from Kilrush. This 6th century monastic island offers many treasures for you to discover.

There are remains of the ruins of at least 7 churches founded by St Senan, an unique 10th century round tower with an entrance at ground level; a well and burial place of St Senan and an ogham stone and the remains of an Elizabehian castle