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Guide to Shannon, Ireland
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Shannon
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ShannonThe Shannon Region is a beautiful area in southern-Ireland where you will find some of the most spectacular wilderness preserves in Europe, and some of the best castles in the country. Most travelers headed to Ireland are en route to Dublin, but for those with a more adventuresome persona, the Shannon Region is the best place for those in search of an adrenaline rush. Of course, while careening down the hills in County Clare, you may be pulling those brake levers more often than not, awestruck by the magnificent landscape. Over the years, Irelands cities have advanced and expanded seemingly-exponentially, but many of the towns in the Shannon Region still retain their old-style luster, becoming getaway villages for city dwellers, and now tourists.
When to go:
Weather in Shannon is, of course, warmer during in the summer, though the heat tends to stick around in the shoulder months even if the days are indeed shorter. The crowds are not as large during these times, though in Shannon, the likeliness of running into a crowd is slim to none. If you plan on visiting in the winter, youll be disappointed by the numerous closings of hotels and restaurants, but lots of campers and mountain climbers tend to visit during this season. If you do happen to come in winter, bring water-resistant attire; rain seems to be in the forecast nearly everyday.
Getting there and around:
Shannon International Airport is travelers connection to the region, and youll be pleasantly surprised by the availability of flights from just about every continent on the globe. Flights from the UK, North America, France, Spain, Sweden, etc., are most-often direct, and if youre on a stop-over to Dublin, its just an hours flight away. Buses and taxis away travelers; some taxis with set fares for trips to well-known hotels, and some operated by meter. Bus rides are advised only for short distance trips as it can get somewhat cramped (especially with travelers frequently carrying on baggage).
No matter what town you may be staying in, there are bound to be bus routes covering its streets, whilst it may be a bit silly to wait for a bus in a small town (we recommend a rental car for these locations), they frequent the streets of urban centers more than you may presume. Taxis are always available, and there are many companies operating both standard A-to-B rides, and scenic tour packages which can stretch on for the entire day. If youd like an unofficial tour guide to map out your trip for you, organizing a scenic tour is definitely the way to go.
Attractions:
Some may scoff at the thought of visting a craft center, but the Ballycasey Craft & Design Centre is really something to see. Very close to Shannon International Airport, Ballycasey is in the courtyard of a Georgian manor, where you can watch skilled artisans create beautiful pottery, jewelry, knitwear, and more. You can also take part in a few workshops during your visit, but dont be surprised if you find your eyes wandering towards the manors attractions.
Portumna Castle is a great place to view some historic architecture. It is more appropriately known as a manor, but Portumna Castle is a 17^th century beauty easily placed among the most captivating in Ireland. Closer observation of the castle allows you to see that a fire destroyed much of the interiors original valuables, but a number of its accoutrements stayed intact.
Many Irish, when speaking of Shannon, tend to refer to the river and not the region, but this fact is all the more reason to take a ride on a Bog Train Tour. The railway hugs water, where, for 8km (5mi) youll be taken around the Blackwater Bog where you can do all sorts of activities along the way, be it turf cutting or picking bog cotton. For those whove made reservations, a nature trail walk is possible.
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