Corofin | Co Clare Lakelands

Corofin County Clare Ireland
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Corofin is a neat little village on the edge of the Burren a little over 8 miles from Ennis. Lying on the banks of the River Fergus and being close to several well stocked lakes makes it a prime angling centre.

Famous too for music, history, and folklore it was first mentioned in the year 1157 in the 'Four Masters' a well known historical tome and is the birthplace of Frederick William Burton (1816-1900) a famous Irish painter.

Lying in the heart of the lakelands of County Clare close to Inchiquin Lake and Lough Atedaun which are joined by the Fergus river it is a great fresh water fishing centre with trout and pike being the two main species fished for in the pristine waters. Other nearby lakes include Lough George, the Ballyeighter Loughs and Lough Cullaun.

As is usual with the origin of Irish place names there is confusion surrounding the birth of Corofin. One theory is that the name comes from Coradh Finne which roughly translates as the weir of Finnia which is a woman's name, while another has it as Finn Coradh or the white weir. Either way a weir is involved and let's not argue over the minor details at this stage.

Transport To and From
Bus Eireann the National Bus Company runs a daily service to and from Limerick and Ennis or if arriving from Galway you need the express service to Cork stopping at Ennis and connecting (#51). See left column.

Taxi services operate from Ennis and cost about 20 Euro each way and be sure to ask the driver for a quote before you start your journey.

Burren Base
The town is basically just a main street with a couple of branch offs but it has everything to cater to the visitor and is a fine base from which to explore the nearby Burren a truly unique place in western Europe if not the world and a must see for anyone visiting the area.

Accommodation, Food and Entertainment
There is a range of top class accommodation and also a campsite which is just off the main street. The pubs are quaint and Olde World and the bar menus are of excellent fayre and good value. There is entertainment most nights consisting of traditional music sessions as well as other types of music and dance.

Clare Roots
If you have Clare roots and want to trace your family tree then the Clare Heritage Centre which is located is in St. Catherine's Church is where you must go. It holds a comprehensive research database which is invaluable when tracing your ancestry. There is a small interpretative museum based within the church too which is worth a look.

Corofin Railway Station
Even though the West Clare Railway closed in 1961 the station house here survives and has been maintained in good order. Located a little way outside the town at Applevale on the Kilnaboy road, this station stop connected the locality to Ennis and contributed to the growth of the area while the railway (a narrow guage track) was in operation between 1887 and 1961.

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