The best city hikes and walks around Ennis Municipal District

With its many bridge crossings, sculptures, murals and industrial buildings, the Ennis Riverwalk makes for a lovely stroll. Ennis' layout is very much shaped by the bends in the River Fergus and a stroll along its banks is a great way to appreciate the town.

This stretch of Ennis' Riverwalk provides excellent views across Post Office Field's greenery towards St Columba's Church of Ireland. This fine example of Gothic revival architecture was built between 1868 and 1871 and designed by Francis Bindon.

Born in County Clare, Edna O'Brien was a decorated Irish novelist, playwright, poet and short-story writer. Her first novel, The Country Girls (1960), was notably banned and denounced at the time for its sexual content at a time of post-war repression in Ireland. This beautiful mural depicting a young O'Brien was commissioned by Clare County Council and was completed in 2023.

Tim Smythe Park, known locally as the “Fair Green,” is a spacious and well-kept park. It features playgrounds for younger and older children, along with sports facilities like a running track, basketball court, and open playing pitches.

The approach is pretty cool

Clare Abbey (also known as Clare Abbey) is a ruined Augustinian monastery. Originally called the "Abbey of St. Peter & Paul in Kilmony," it was founded around 1189, allegedly by Domnall Mór Ua Briain (Donald O'Brien), King of Thomond, who died in 1194.

The ancient 14th century monastery, founded by the O'Briens, exudes a special atmosphere that is best explored on foot. The details of the 15th and 16th century sculptures carved in limestone are impressive and give an insight into the craftsmanship of times gone by. Time seems to stand still here as you walk between the ruins and see the tower rising into the sky. The green surroundings around the monastery create a beautiful contrast to the grey stone walls and invite you to linger for a moment away from the streets before moving on to the next stage.

The imposing cathedral, which celebrated its first mass in 1842, tells a story of slow construction progress and challenges that continued into the late 19th century. The grey stone walls and the high tower exude a calm that invites you to pause for a moment. In front of the entrance stands the sculpture "Healing Hands" by Shane Gilmore. The words from the book of Isaiah on the palm enhance the atmosphere of this place and create a connection between past and present.