• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

Irish America

  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CONTRIBUTORS
  • IN THIS ISSUE
  • HALL OF FAME
  • THE LISTS
    • BUSINESS 100
    • HALL OF FAME
    • HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES 50
    • WALL STREET 50
  • LIBRARY
  • TRAVEL
  • EVENTS

County Clare in All its Glory

May 24, 2017 by 1 Comment

One of the most beautiful counties in Ireland is captured in pictures and videos that Eoin O’Hagan made using a drone.

By Sharon Ní Chonchúir

“It’s a long, long way from Clare to here.” These may be the words of a popular song but have you ever stopped to wonder why the singer misses this Irish county so much? What attractions does it have to offer?

There is a huge amount to see and do in this county. It has some of the most varied scenery of any county in Ireland.

There are the spectacular Cliffs of Moher which stretch for five miles and reach over 700 feet at their highest point.

A view of Inis Cealtra from the air.
A view of Inis Cealtra from the air. Photo: Eoin O’Hagan.

There’s the lunar-like limestone landscape of the Burren, which is home to remarkable flora that you won’t find anywhere else as well as some wonderful archaeology such as Stone Age wedge tombs, Iron Age ring forts, and Norman castles.

There are seaside villages such as Doolin, Lahinch, and Spanish Point, which have begun to build reputations as surfing spots in recent years.

Clare is also one of the centers of traditional music in Ireland. Well-known musicians such as fiddle player Martin Hayes and accordion player Sharon Shannon are from the county and you’ll often find some of the best Irish musicians playing in impromptu music sessions in the pubs of County Clare.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year to visit Clare. These inquisitive horses have a view of Lough Graney from the Sliabh Aughty Mountains near Caher.
A view of Lough Graney from the Sliabh Aughty Mountains near Caher. Photo: Eoin O’Hagan

As if that weren’t enough, Clare is also home to the Tea and Garden Rooms in Ballyvaughan. Stephen Spielberg made a detour in his private jet the last time he was passing just so he could sample some of their cheesecake.

With all of this and more on offer in Clare, it’s no wonder that the singer of the popular ballad laments the fact that he is so far away. However, thanks to videos and photos made by Eoin O’Hagan, using a drone, that distance is about to feel a whole lot shorter. They will probably fill you with longing for home, and put you in the mood to start planning a future visit.

Bohatch Dolmen. This 5,000-year-old tomb is a beautiful and historic place on the East Clare Way.  Photo: Eoin O’Hagan

Eoin is originally from Dublin but when he fell in love with his wife Ruth, he also fell for her home county of Clare. “She’s from Scariff in east Clare and that region, especially the area around Lough Derg, grabbed hold of my heart and it wouldn’t let go,” says Eoin. “In many ways, it’s the poor relation of the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in west Clare. People visit those on bus tours and they don’t realize what they’re missing in the rest of the county.”

Eoin decided to try to do something about this. Firstly, even though his work continues to be based in Dublin, he moved to Clare. “I’ve been working as a lighting gaffer for TV for the past 22 years and I work in Dublin for at least three days a week,” he explained to me over the phone as he drove home to Clare late on a Friday evening. “But once I fell for Clare, I couldn’t live in Dublin anymore so now I split my time between the two.”

Cousins Jordan, Aoibheann, Grace and Ellen O'Hagan enjoy a Summer trip to Inis Cealtra.
Cousins Jordan, Aoibheann, Grace and Ellen O’Hagan enjoy a Summer trip to Inis Cealtra.  Photo: Eoin O’Hagan 

He would love to spend more time in Clare and he has set up clarevirtually.ie, a web-based business, with this in mind. Through it, Eoin hopes to show people the beauty of Clare through his eyes. He does this by posting 60-second videos of different parts of the county as well as its pubs, restaurants and accommodation providers.

“I’m out with my camera, video camera, or drone any spare moment I have trying to capture the spectacularly varied landscape of Clare,” he says. “I also try to give people a taste of what’s in store for them if they visit the county. This is why I always feature a welcome from the owner whenever I showcase any businesses. It’s all part of the céad míle fáilte (one hundred thousand welcomes) for which Ireland is so well known.”

The Holy Island Ferry, a dusting of winter snow on its gunnels as it floats at Knockaphort Pier.
The Holy Island Ferry as it floats at Knockaphort Pier.                        Photo: Eoin O’Hagan 

Eoin’s photos and videos allow prospective visitors to take a virtual tour of Clare before they arrive.

People who have emigrated from Clare have also begun to visit the site too.

“Seventy percent of the visitors to the site are from America and a lot of those seem to be members of the diaspora,” he says. “I think the site is a way for them to connect with home and to see what’s changed and what’s stayed the same.”

Castlebawn is a beautifully restored Tower House on a tiny island below Ogonnelloe, on Lough Derg. This exclusive but easily affordable getaway is available to rent on Airbnb.
Castlebawn is a beautifully restored Tower House on a tiny island below Ogonnelloe, on Lough Derg. Photo: Eoin O’Hagan

Eoin’s website is just one of the ways in which he promotes his adopted county. He is very active on social media and posts from @clarevirtually can be found on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

He also is on a constant mission to attract the attention of the world to Clare. His latest plan involves bringing Pope Francis to Lough Derg. “He’s said to be planning a trip to Ireland,” says Eoin. “So, I got the children of the local national schools to send him postcards inviting him to visit Holy Island on Lough Derg. Here’s hoping he visits!”


Dawn on Lough Derg, the jewel of the Shannon. Worth getting up early for.
Photo: Eoin O’Hagan

Sharon Ní Chonchúir lives and works in west County Kerry, and much of her writing is concerned with the changing face of modern Irish culture.

You can view more of Eoin O’Hagan’s videos on clarevirtually.ie or on his YouTube channel. 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rowena Daly says

    May 31, 2017 at 2:51 pm

    Congratulations for Deb Schull seeing her project through from an inspirational dream to reality.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Rowena Daly Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Highlights

News
Articles and stories from Irish America.....
MORE

Hibernia
News from Ireland and happenings in Irish America.....
MORE

Those We Lost
Remembering some of the great Irish Americans who have passed.....
MORE

Slainte!
Discover Irish ancestry, predilections, and recipes.....
MORE

Photo Album
Irish America readers share the stories of their ancestors....
MORE

More Articles

  • Guests at Tracy's Farmhouse Kitchen in Killinchy, County Down make a traditional Irish breakfast. Photo: Tourism Ireland/Rob Durston.

    Why Irish Eyes Are Smiling

    IRELAND moves to 15th happiest country in the world in the rankings published by the World Happines...
  • Beyond the Veil

    Beyond the Veil

    A descendant of Famine immigrants recounts her trip home. It was our first trip to Ireland. And ...
  • Winterval in Waterford: European City of Christmas

    Winterval in Waterford: European City of Christmas

    Waterford, once called the hidden gem of Ireland, is now a tourist destination known for its extrava...
  • Experience the Mystical Summer Solstice in Ireland

    Experience the Mystical Summer Solstice in Ireland

    The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and its historical and mystical significance can ...

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in