Location
The Old Ground Hotel is located:
20 minutes from Shannon International Airport.
Just under a 2-hour drive from Knock & Cork Airport.
Just over a 2 hour 30-minute drive from Dublin International Airport
Limerick city is just over a 30 minute drive from Ennis Town
Dublin Coach provide an hourly service from Dublin city centre and Dublin airport direct to Ennis town centre - dropping guests a mere 5-minute walk from the hotel.
Ennis Bus & Rail Station is located just 5 minutes from the hotel.
Irish Rail website | Bus Eireann website
Ennis – the friendliest town in Ireland
One of Ireland’s most characterful and picturesque towns, situated at the heart of the county on a bend in the River Fergus, Ennis is the capital town of Co. Clare. The name Ennis comes from the Irish word “Inis”, meaning island, relating to an island formed between two courses of the River Fergus on which the Franciscan Friary was built. The town developed around the Friary, which was founded by O’Brien King of Thomond in 1240, and over the years became a thriving market town, a characteristic which continues to this day. The town centre consists of narrow winding streets and laneways, overshadowed by structures built over the last thousand years, and is associated with some of the great political leaders of the past.
Ennis has an array of unique fashion, gift, book, music, and jewellery shops and is the recipient of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre 2018 Award. It is a stronghold of traditional Irish music, with many musicians in residence and regularly playing locally in the evenings. A perfect place to stroll around, day or evening, Ennis is a town that treasures it’s history and culture and is proud to share it’s past and it’s present with visitors.
WILD ATLANTIC WAY
The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s first long-distance touring route stretches from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork. It’s the world’s longest touring route through some of Ireland’s most beautiful places.
Stretching along the western tip of County Clare, where peaceful roads and deserted beaches stretch out along the Loop Head Drive – an off-the-beaten-track alternative to the popular Cliffs of Moher. This narrow peninsula at the mouth of the Shannon offers an elemental experience: huge Atlantic swells smash into miles of sheer granite cliffs, kicking surf high into the air. Then comes the sun – catching the airborne spray and forming rainbows. Approximately 160 bottlenose dolphins live in the mouth of the Shannon River, where it joins the Wild Atlantic off County Clare’s Loop Head Peninsula. You can follow the road from Kilrush to Aylevarro Point, to see them playing just offshore. The Wild Atlantic Way is going to delight you at every bend and turn in the road and the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis offers a perfect resting place after the excitement of a full day touring.
BURREN & AILWEE CAVES
The limestone region of the Burren is a Unesco World Heritage site and is world-renowned for its stunning and unique beauty.
Stone walls criss-cross bare and rugged stretches of limestone rock. Visit the ancient dolmen of Poulnabrone and other ancient monuments dotted throughout this special landscape. Ballyvaughan village lies at the heart of the Burren and enjoys spectacular views over Galway Bay. Tours of the Aillwee Caves, an extensive cave system, are loved by old and young alike.
See the Aillwee Cave website for more details.
SEASCAPES & THE CLIFFS OF MOHER
The Cliffs of Moher stand majestically over the Atlantic Ocean, looking out to the Aran Islands and the hills of Connemara across Galway Bay. The Bridges of Ross sea-arches and stacks and the gentler cliffs towards Loop Head in West Clare are also well worth a visit. The seascapes, seen from either land or sea, are truly beautiful.
For further information on the Cliffs of Moher take a look at the Cliffs of Moher website