A haunting walk around Ennis

YOU can walk all over the place but sometimes observe very little. Ennis Walking Tours was inaugurated a couple of years ago to guide visitors around all the places of interest in the county town and two new tours are on offer this year – A

Taste of Ennis and Ennis Haunted History Tour.
The current historical walking tour has been a big hit with visitors to the town. In addition to learning about the town’s history, it also explores some of the legends and mythology of the town.
The new tour offerings build on the original tour but may appeal to people who want something a little bit different or more specialised.
The Ennis Haunted History Tour unlocks some of the secrets of medieval Ennis. Participants will discover the darker side of the town’s past – the grime, crime and grim punishments – and they will hear about the mythology and legends of the town from tales of the banshee and death coach to the witch, Biddy Early and her magical blue bottle.
“Last Hallowe’en I ran a series of special spooky walks, which were a huge success,” explained Jane O’Brien, “so I figured I could offer this option year-round for groups”.
The Taste of Ennis Tour includes gourmet stops at local food producers, suppliers and the market to learn more about the wealth of local produce available, including jam, Burren smoked salmon, farmhouse cheeses, chocolate and more. Also included is a visit to a local traditional music shop to explore the music and traditional instruments of the region.
“By combining the history, local food and music, this tour gives a real flavour of the county,” said Jane.
“Initially, I had a specific request for this type of tour from an American group and that got me thinking what an attractive package it would be to offer to other groups. Visitors really appreciate the wonderful, fresh produce that we have on our doorstep and they are keen to find out more about it.
“They are also, of course, fascinated by our traditional music and instruments and there is no better place that the market town of County Clare to explore this tradition.”
Public tours are running from now until September, leaving every day, except Wednesday and Sunday, at 11am from the Ennis Tourist Office.
For more information, contact Jane O’Brien on 087 6483714 or at info@enniswalkingtours.com.