A working lighthouse has guarded the mouth of the Shannon since 1670, perched on a wind-battered Clare headland where Atlantic cliffs drop 90 metres to the sea. Climb the tower for views as far as the Blasket Islands and Connemara.
A level cliff-top path is lit with pink thrift, yellow vetch and white campion. Look for the sea stack known as Diarmuid and Grainne's Rock or Lover's Leap, and the huge white E-I-R-E letters cut into the grass, one of 85 wartime signs marking neutral territory.
The balcony is a vantage point for spotting whales, dolphins and seals, while the cliffs' rock ledges and caves host seabirds including fulmars and kittiwakes.
An authentic lighthouse attendant's cottage, renovated in 2024, sleeps guests in three bedrooms with a full kitchen and sea views, just 100 metres from the lighthouse. From July to September a complimentary guided tour is included.
Access to the tower is by guided tour only. You climb 74 steps (with three landings) to the balcony 23 m up for panoramic views south to the Blasket Islands and north to Connemara's Twelve Pins. Tours run from 10:30am to 4:30pm, and pre-booking is recommended as capacity is limited.
The ground-floor exhibition and audio-visual in the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage tell the story of the light and the keepers' families who lived here. It is wheelchair accessible.
Inside the grounds there is a picnic area, a small shop and a coffee-to-go dock for light refreshments before or after your tour.
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