Discover Kilfenora

Kilfenora combines ecclesiastical heritage with a strong tradition of traditional music. The cathedral, High Crosses and Burren Visitor Centre give the town a distinct cultural character; guided walks and other tours add to what it has to offer. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Kilfenora, these different highlights can help you choose a destination that suits your interests.

Cathedral and High Crosses

Kilfenora Cathedral is a Church of Ireland church dating from the period between the late 12th century and 1200. It was built on the site where St Fachtna founded an abbey in the 6th century. In Kilfenora, an early abbey foundation and a much later period of cathedral construction are therefore connected historically.

Kilfenora is known as the town of the seven crosses and has one of the largest collections of Irish High Crosses. One of the named crosses is the Doorty Cross: it was reassembled from broken fragments and stands beneath the renewed glass roof of the Lady Chapel. The Doorty Cross can be visited today. Those interested in the crosses can therefore consider the town’s name and its surviving heritage together.

Burren Visitor Centre and regional themes

The Burren Visitor Centre is in the heart of Kilfenora, next to the old cathedral. It is the licensed information centre for the entire Burren region and offers advice at the information desk, walking maps and vouchers. The centre also houses a special exhibition about the Kilfenora Ceili Band.

The exhibition introduces the Burren UNESCO Global Geopark and explores its formation, flora, fauna, geology, archaeology, heritage and music. The region’s history over several millennia is also among the exhibition’s themes. Nature, archaeology and culture are presented side by side, rather than limiting the focus to just one aspect of the Burren. For a break, the Burren Visitor Centre has a café serving homemade food and drinks.

Music and guided activities

The Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival takes place annually. The programme includes concerts, céilís, CD launches, pub sessions, a singers’ night and music and dance workshops for all age groups. At the traditional music festival, the Kilfenora Céilí Band also leads an open-air céilí. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for your chosen year.

Guided walks around Kilfenora can be booked; they include the cathedral and the Holy Well. Ted Tours in Kilfenora offers trips to local filming locations. E-Whizz is also based in Kilfenora and offers fully guided and supported e-bike tours. The experiences have different focuses: a walk with named stops, trips to filming locations, and guided e-bike tours.

Kilfenora in County Clare

Kilfenora is a gateway to the Burren region. Looking at the town in the wider context of County Clare, you will also find landscape and walking attractions: the Cliffs of Moher reach a height of over 700 feet at O’Brien’s Tower and stretch for almost 14 kilometres along the Clare coast. The visitor facility has 800 metres of paved paths and viewpoints, including access to O’Brien’s Tower. Visitors can explore walking trails in Burren National Park.

County Clare has road, bus and rail connections; Ennis is connected to the national rail network. This information puts travel arrangements in the context of County Clare. Kilfenora’s own character is defined by its cathedral, crosses, Visitor Centre and musical tradition. This can help you weigh the town’s cultural focus against other interests in County Clare when choosing your destination.

Discover more destinations: Kilbaha, Fanore, Bunratty, Kilkee, Broadford, Carrigaholt, Killaloe, Cappanavarnoge.

For the main travel overview: County Clare.