Private Ennis History Tour with Dr Jane O'Brien

Medieval laneways, market days, and the stories that shaped a town

A private walking tour of Ennis led by Dr Jane O'Brien, a PhD historian and award-winning guide, covering the medieval town's 13th-century origins, its role in Catholic Emancipation and Irish independence, and the daily life of its people across centuries. The tour moves through atmospheric bow-ways, past the Old Ennis Abbey, McParland House (the oldest timber-framed house still in use in Ireland), and sites tied to the Great Famine and faction fighting. An audio amplification device is available if needed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ennis medieval town history

• Begin beside Clare Museum site
• Visit Daniel O'Connell Monument
• Explore Ennis bow-ways laneways
• See Old Ennis Abbey and river view
• Walk oldest street to O'Brien Kings palace
• Visit Friary with stained glass windows
• Explore old convent building archives
• Stop at McParland House on Parnell Street
• Visit Chapel Lane market building
• Learn about Ennis market town history
• Explore old Gallows Green site
• End at main Catholic Church and haunted towerhouse

The experience

You start beside the Clare Museum at the site of the former Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, where Dr O'Brien introduces the medieval market town that grew from the 13th century onward. From there the route threads through Ennis's atmospheric bow-ways (small laneways that once connected the main streets to poorer tenement areas), and stops at the Daniel O'Connell Monument, marking the milestone of Catholic Emancipation. The Old Ennis Abbey, built around the 1280s, shows the Franciscan Friars' role in the town's development, and from that vantage point you see the river Fergus and memorials to the 1916 Irish uprising.

The walk takes in McParland House on Parnell Street, a timber-framed building from around 1620 and the only one of its kind known to survive in Ireland, still in continuous use with its original shopfront and half-door intact. You pass the Chapel Lane market, once a church built in 1735 during the penal times, and explore how overcrowding during the Great Famine devastated a town like Ennis. The market day sculpture marks centuries of trading, matchmaking and the notorious faction fighting that took place there. At Gallows Green, Dr O'Brien draws on the corporation manuscript of Ennis from 1660 to recount documented crimes and punishments that shock modern sensibilities. The Cathedral, built between 1830 and 1870, stands opposite the Old Ground Hotel, which once housed the town jail and incorporates a haunted towerhouse from the 1500s.

Dr O'Brien's storytelling approach, grounded in rich historical sources, brings the drama and daily life of medieval Ennis into focus. She has been leading tours since 2005 and won the 2024 Best Walking Tour Experience award. The tour is fully wheelchair accessible, and an audio amplification device is available if you need it to hear clearly over street noise.

What’s included

• A private guide (Dr Jane O'Brien, a PhD historian and award-winning tour leader).
• walking access to the medieval town center, laneways, and key historical sites including the Old Ennis Abbey, McParland House, and the Cathedral.
• an optional audio amplification device for easier listening.
• and full wheelchair accessibility throughout the route.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 19:00

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “This is located just off the main O'Connell Square in the centre of Ennis.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Jane O'Brien

Is this one for you?If you're arriving in Ennis without a car or staying in the town center, this tour starts right beside the Clare Museum and stays within walking distance of the main streets, so you don't need transport to reach it. The 70-minute pace suits a free afternoon or a first-time visit when you want the town's history without committing a full day.

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Top questions

How long does the Ennis history tour take?

The tour runs for about 70 minutes, moving at a walking pace through the town center and its laneways.

What is McParland House and why does it matter?

McParland House, built around 1620 on Parnell Street, is the only known surviving timber-framed house in Ireland and the oldest house in Ennis still in continuous use without major structural changes. Its original shopfront and half-door remain intact, offering a window into the market town's earlier character.

Does the tour cover the Great Famine?

Yes. The tour explores how overcrowding during the Great Famine devastated Ennis, particularly through the Chapel Lane market area, which was once a church built in 1735 during the penal times and later saw severe crowding during that period.

What role did Ennis play in Irish history?

Ennis was the site of the Daniel O'Connell Monument, marking Catholic Emancipation, and memorials to the 1916 Irish uprising stand near the Old Ennis Abbey. The town also served as the main market center for County Clare for hundreds of years, hosting not only livestock and produce trading but also social occasions and, historically, faction fighting.

Is the tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

Yes. All areas and surfaces on the tour route are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. An audio amplification device is available if you need help hearing the guide over street noise.

Can I bring a stroller or pram on the tour?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.