Recommendations for the Burren?

TLF

An American colleague has emailed me asking about recommendations for a day in the Burren and especially if there are any good pubs?

I'm ashamed to say I haven't been to the Burren since my schooldays .

Can anyone give me some tips I can pass on? I will certainly read the stickies but some personal recommendations from you good folk would be great.

Clareman

There's some great information on the Burren Centre website they mightn't be running tours when your visitors arrive but they should be able to make their way around thanks to the info on there.

As per pubs, the Burren is fairly barren but there's some great spots in Lisdoonvarna, Doolin, Kilfenora and places around, I would tell them to plan a "rambling" tour rather than just going from a-b-c

Akrasia

Cassidy's bar and restaurant in Carron is my recommendation. Carron right smack in the middle of the burren and Cassidys always has a great atmosphere

Balagan

No pub to recommend but Hylands Hotel in Ballyvaughan has a lovely fire down and lovely chowder.
And they might want to pop in to the tea rooms in Ballyvaughan favoured by a noted international celebrity
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0808/1224302023815.html

Shapey Fiend

Here's another vote for the tea rooms.

That really tiny pub in Ballyvaughan is wonderful as well. The name escapes me. It's like stepping into another era.

Hawk Wing 2

Akrasia wrote: »

Cassidy's bar and restaurant in Carron is my recommendation. Carron right smack in the middle of the burren and Cassidys always has a great atmosphere

it has only limited opening hours, especially in winter

Clareboy

The village of Kilfenora has the pubs, hostel, visitor centre and historic monuments and is on a bus route.

Scar001

My favourite. Food and music some nights I think.

Carazy

The Burren
Poulnabrone Dolmen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poulnabrone_dolmen

Mullaghmore
http://www.mullaghmore-burren.com/

Leamaneh Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leamaneh_Castle

Kilfenora Visitor Centre
http://www.theburrencentre.ie/

Aillawee Cave
http://www.aillweecave.ie/


Best trip in my opinion is to travel in this order Ennis-Corofin-Kilfenora-Ballyvaughan(Monks Pub for chowder and Pints)-Fanore-Doolin-Cliffs of Moher-Liscannor-Lahinch-Ennis

Time permitting of course but the car drive is one of the best in Clare, geting in the sights of Burren, Galway Bay,Black Head, Doolin (View of Aran Islands), Cliffs of Moher etc.

Pubs on route to reccomend Vaughans (Kilfenora), Monks(Ballyvaughan), McDermots(Doolin), O'Looneys (Lahinch). No need to drink in all, but along the way I would recommend these few

Links if you decide to travel on towards Doolin-Cliffs

Doolin
http://www.doolin-tourism.com/

Cliffs Of Moher
http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/

Pubs:
Kilfenora
http://www.vaughanspub.ie/

Ballyvaughan
http://www.clare.ie/pubs_dining/view/pubs_amp_bar_food-66/monks_bar_amp_restaurant-162.html

Fanore
http://www.irelandwhiskeytrail.com/?pg=ODonohues_Irish_pub_fanore.php

Doolin
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Ireland/County_Clare/Doolin-296107/Restaurants-Doolin-McDermotts_Pub-BR-1.html

Liscannor
http://www.pubrepublik.com/index.cfm/page/pub/pubId/90

Lahinch
http://www.olooneys.ie/

TLF

Thanks everyone so much - I'll be sure to pass all this on and I'll try to find out how their trip goes. We need all the tourists we can get!!!!

Aglomerado

Monks' Ballyvaughan! (mentioned already I know but deserves another)

Another good chowder place, also has lovely fireplace.

Nice good-value pub food at the Corner Stone, Lahinch as well.

redzerologhlen

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

Here's another vote for the tea rooms.

That really tiny pub in Ballyvaughan is wonderful as well. The name escapes me. It's like stepping into another era.

Its either O Loghlen's or greens your talking about. O Donohues in Fanore is a nice traditonal country pub too which always has a fire down in a small bar with a few locals around. Meant to do good food too...Its only a few miles down the road from me but I have never eat there:o I would recommend a drive over around coisceim in carron too. Its probably one of the most remote parts of the burren and theres a lovely views over there with no houses in sight. Then theres all the usual spots Poulnabrone, Caherchonaill fort, Cahercomman fort, Mullaghmore or go for a walk along a part of the burren way. Loads to see, Coisceim is my favorite though:)

Mr. G

Clareman wrote: »

There's some great information on the Burren Centre website they mightn't be running tours when your visitors arrive but they should be able to make their way around thanks to the info on there.

As per pubs, the Burren is fairly barren but there's some great spots in Lisdoonvarna, Doolin, Kilfenora and places around, I would tell them to plan a "rambling" tour rather than just going from a-b-c

+1 for Casidies pub but I'm not sure if they are open in the winter, last year we arrived but they were closed, maybe in spring I'm not sure.
The centre is closed in the winter, but there is some information about pubs and the area on this website: http://www.kilfenoraclare.com.

HTH

dasium

Cassidy's is almost certainly closed... as is the Tearooms in Ballyvaughan (closed late Oct to March). I imagine O'Loughlins in Ballyvaughan was the small pub mentioned, only opens a 9pm mid week, if that helps.. Always been a fan of the food in Kenny's of Lahinch myself for pub grub... and for stops to visit, on the many trips around north clare one of the surprisingly interesting places that my visitors really raved about was St Bridgets well in Liscannor.. on way to Cliffs between Considines pub and the tall pillar/monument to O'Brien, think its quasi pagan/catholic history and the colourful interior of photographs, religous symbolism etc really reminded them of Ireland of a bygone era...

SarahJoy

DOes you friend have any kids? If so tell him about ailwee cave and the bird of prey centre i brought my cousins there for a day out and they had an absolute ball. Even me and my fiancée had a great time. Also the dolmen is great to visit to stretch the legs after the long drive up. Hope this helps For more information on Ailwee cave here the link http://www.aillweecave.ie/