Doonbeg, known as ‘The Long Village’ is at the mouth of the Cooraclare or Doonbeg River, on the N67 road from Ennis to Kilkee. A striking and dramatic feature of the village is the remains of the 15th century tower house, standing by the bridge over the Doonbeg River, shortly before it enters the sea. The castle was the fortress of the MacMahons (A descendant of Mahon O’Brien and direct descendant of Brian Boru) and later of the O’Briens.
Doonbeg is a true Irish hidden secret – where tradition, nature and warm local hospitality make the village a pleasure to visit. There are many activities on offer – from boating and angling in the sea and rivers to birding or dolphin-watching in the clear waters. The challenging Trump International Doonbeg Links golf course is also a treat for golfing visitors.
Doonbeg is also a great place to just sit back and relax as you take in the beautiful landscape with scenic coastline, flora, fauna and beaches. Doonbeg offers a haven to golf enthusiasts, city-escapees, families, and surfers alike.
One of the most scenic beaches in Ireland, Doughmore, is nearby offering excellent surfing conditions. A safe swimming beach is at the White Strand. Some more picturesque spots are in the village along the Doonbeg river and across the remains of the old castle. Baltard Cliffs off visitors some breath taking views of the Wild Atlantic Ocean. A real treasure spot for sight seeing!
Doonbeg Heritage Trail
Have you ever wondered who lived in that house, or what a village looked like 100 years ago?
Join the Doonbeg Heritage Trail and make those discoveries!
Beaches
White Strand The Blue Flag status White Strand, Killard, is a popular and very safe sandy beach for swimming. Sheltered from the prevailing winds, the gently sloping sandy beach has views across the bay to the sand dunes at Doughmore. The beach is monitored by...
Walks
A number of walking trails have been developed in the Doonbeg area in conjunction with Discover Ireland & Slí na Slainte. Most of the walks are suitable for cycling and are looped from the village, either striking out across the peaceful fen-raised bog surrounding...
Golf
Trump International Golf Links consistently ranks within the top 100 world courses. Its natural routing within the 2½ km of the crescent shaped Doughmore sand dunes has resulted in an uncommon combination of five par 3s and five par 5s, with marvellous views across...
Fishing
Doonbeg's location on the coast of West Clare makes it a natural choice for all types of sea and river angling. The coastline offers lots of possibilities for pier, beach and cliff fishing for Bass, Plaice, Flounder and Turbot. Additionally you can book a sea angling...
Kayaking and Surfing
Doughmore Beach has developed a great reputation in the surfing community as having good surf at all stages of the tide, a great range of surfable waves for all standards, and very consistent waves all year round. With over 2kms of beach, it’s unlikely to be too...
Boat trips and Boating
The tidal lagoon of the Doonbeg River at the edge of the village is an ideal spot to explore in one of our paddle boats, or you can let someone else do the work, and opt for a sightseeing trip of the beautiful coast and cliffs of the area, including a sunset cruise to...
Pony Treking
There are beautiful scenic treks over the beach or on the bog roads that crisscross the raised peatlands and two local equestrian centres cater for all levels of rider from beginner to advanced level for both children and adults. They can provide one to one tuition...
Bird Watching
No matter the season, Doonbeg’s diverse river and coastal habitats attract a wide variety of indigenous and migratory birds. The Doonbeg River flows through the Village, to a wide bay and then joins the sea, providing suitable feeding ground for many wading birds and...
Dining out and Evening entertainment
The village is well catered for if you’re looking for a pleasant evening out with a bit of music, dancing or perhaps a bite to eat. Several of the local pubs have adjoining restaurants and most will have music in the evenings throughout the summer. Comerford’s Pub...
Day Trips from Doonbeg
Doonbeg is an ideal base from which to explore this beautiful region of west and north Clare, from the Loop Head peninsula, where the lighthouse has recently been opened to the public, to the unique flora, fauna and karst limestone landscape of the Burren. Loop Head...