(Baile Ui Bheachain Behan's or Vaughan's town)
 A picturesque sea-side village
nestled between the Burren Mountains and
Galway Bay. The
village offers excellent sea fishing, entertainments and craft
workshops. Bishop's Quarter beach, 1.5 km away, is an
excellent bathing spot and is noted for the wide variety of
shells.
(Church of the promontory or wood)
A busy market town
with access to the Shannon.
 The Shannon Estuary has pods of up to 100
young Bottle Nose Dolphins. Dolphin watch trips operate daily
from Kilrush Marina, giving visitors a chance to observe the
charming antics of these curious and playful
animals.
Kilrush is a noted sailing centre with its 120
berth Marina and boatyard. Kilrush Creek Adventure Centre
besides the marina is a mulity - activity centre offering
sailing, windsurfing, archery and much more.
 (Carraig an Chabhailtaigh - rock of the
fleet)
The village faces east into Carrigaholt Bay on the
Shannon and has a delightful beach and Dolphin watch trips
operate daily from Carrigaholt Pier.
Armada ships
sheltered here in 1588.
The castle here was originally a
MacMahon castle, but was captured in 1599 by the Earl of
Thomond and given to his brother, Donal O'Brien, predocessor
of the Viscounts Clare of Clare's Dragoons fame. (The Dragoons
were part of the late 17th and 18th century Irish Brigade of
exiles in the French Army). The castle later passed into the
hands of the Burton family after the Williamite wars.
(Cill Molua - church or cell of St. Molua)
 Killaloe is a
charming town, sited on high ground to the west of the narrow
bridge crossing the Shannon. The town boasts plenty of shops,
restaurants and lively pubs.
It is the original site of
the royal palace of Kincora (Ceann Coraidh, the weir head),
with which Brian Boru, High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014,
is associated.
(Baile ui Bheolain - Boland's town)
 Mountshannon was designed as a model
village and completed in 1742. It is thoughfully and carefully
planned out. It's tree lined streets and the uniformity of its
architecture give it a grace and dignity seldom seen in
villages of comparable size.
The pictureque harbour is an
excellent centre for angling and sailing whilst the Slaibh
Aughty mountains rolling gently behind the village are a
hillwalker or cyclists dream come true. The mountains are rich
in archeological remains and the local summit commands a
panoramic view of Lough Derg and its five surrounding
counties.
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