Killimer: Ferry, Shannon Estuary and Heritage

Killimer lies in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Shannon Estuary. At Killimer Port, you can walk right down to the water’s edge and look out over the estuary; the County Clare section of the Wild Atlantic Way also ends in Killimer. If you’re looking for a hotel in Killimer, you can decide where to stay based on whether the ferry port or the village’s history is more important to your visit.

Visitor Centre and Getting Your Bearings

The Killimer Visitors Centre provides information about local sights and attractions. The centre’s shop stocks books, Irish souvenirs, CDs and cassettes, as well as tea, coffee, soft drinks, sandwiches, sweets and ice cream.

Port and Ferry on the Shannon Estuary

From Killimer Port, you can walk right down to the water’s edge and look out over the Shannon Estuary. The port is also the departure point for the hourly ferry to Tarbert in County Kerry. Shannon Ferries operates the two ferries, Shannon Breeze and Shannon Dolphin.

Killimer’s ferry service is an important part of the Shannon Estuary Way. This 207-kilometre circular route passes through the counties of Clare, Limerick and Kerry. If you’re planning to cross, check the timetable in advance. That way, you can factor the ferry service into your schedule without conflating the walk at the port with the route around the Shannon Estuary.

Colleen Bawn: Monument, Grave and Story

A monument to Colleen Bawn stands in Killimer village. She was Ellen Hanley, aged 15, who eloped with John Scanlan. A few weeks later, she was murdered by his servant, Stephen Sullivan, in a boat on the Shannon Estuary. The story reaches beyond the village into the past of the Shannon Estuary.

The cemeteries containing Colleen Bawn’s grave near Killimer are on a small hill and offer views of Tarbert and the ferry crossing back and forth. The walk to the grave leads uphill from Killimer to the cemetery; there is no parking on the narrow road to the cemetery. Allow time for the walk when planning your visit.

Heritage in the Wider Area

The parish of Killimer has three QR-code heritage trails. They can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by car, and bring history to life through stories, images, anecdotes and digital interpretation. The trails offer different ways to engage with local history without being limited to a single mode of transport.

The Vandeleur Walled Gardens are in nearby Kilrush. Further afield, the ruins of the old church of St Imy’s stand in the old cemetery at Lower Burrane; the church dates back to the ninth century. Donogrogue Castle is privately owned. Do not enter the property without permission.

County Clare in a Wider Context

County Clare also offers other landscape and heritage attractions. The Cliffs of Moher rise to over 700 feet at O’Brien’s Tower and stretch for almost 14 kilometres along the Clare coast. The visitor centre includes 800 metres of paved paths and viewpoints, including access to O’Brien’s Tower. Check the latest visitor centre information before your visit.

Explore the walking trails in the Burren National Park. Inis Cealtra, also known as Holy Island, lies in Lough Derg on the Shannon; its history as a monastic settlement dates back to the 7th century. These destinations offer further insight into County Clare’s landscape and heritage, alongside Killimer’s port and heritage.

Discover more destinations: Baunkyle, Kilrush, Kilshanny, Lisdoonvarna, Cratloe, Clarecastle, O'Briensbridge, Lahinch

For the wider travel guide: County Clare.