Famous People

Michael Cusack
Carran village was the birthplace of Michael Cusack, inspirer and co-founder in 1884 of the Gaelic Athletic Association (G.A.A,).

Sir Frederick Burton
Corofin House was the birth place of Sir Frederick Burton (1816-1900), painter and director of the National Gallery, London.

William Smith O'Brien
Dromoland Castle is situated near Newmarket-on-Fergus. The O'Briens, of whom Lord Inchiquin is head, moved to Dromoland at the end of the 17th century and remained there until 1962. This was the birthplace of William Smith O'Brien the Young Ireland leader, who was arrested and exiled after the abortive rising of 1848.

Ellen Hanley
Killimer churchyard contains the grave of Ellen Hanley, the Colleen Ban of Gerald Griffin's novel, Boucicault's play and Benedict's opera and The lily of Killarney. She was tradgically murdered by her jealous husband, John Scanlon, who disposed of her body in the Shannon. Her grave is marked by a monument erected by a teacher, Peter O'Connell, who found her body and shares her grave.

Eoghan O Comhraidhe
(Eugene O'Curry)
Doonaha was the Birthplace of the eminent Irish scholar, Eoghan O Comhraidhe (Eugene O'Curry, 1796-1862), after whom the college of Irish at Carrigaholt was named. (Irish was generally spoken throughout Clare up to the time of the Great Famine district.)

Dr. Patrick Hillery
A former President of Ireland, whose birthplace was Spanish Point.

Michael Comyn
and Andrew McCurtin
Two distinguished figures are buried near Milltown Malbay. They are Michael Comyn (Micheal O Coimin) and Andrew McCurtin (Aindreas Mac Cruitin), poets, scholars and writers. They are buried in Kilfarboy (3 km north-east), a ruined late 15th century parish church.

Edward Martyn
Tuillira Castle north of Gort on the N18 was the home of Edward Martyn, poet, playwright and patron of the arts. Martyn was responsible for having many of the Celtic Revival treasures installed in St. Brenans Cathedral, Loughrea and planned the founding of an Irish National Theatre with Yeats and Lady Gregory.

Robert O'Hara Burke
Craugwell, a small village close to Galway, is the birth place of Robert O'Hara Burke, the first explorer to cross Australia from south to north.

Máirtín O'Cadhain
One of the greatest Irish writers, was born just west of Spiddal.

Daniel O'Connell
M.P. for Clare from 1828 to 1831 and champion of the Catholic Emancipation.
The O'Connell Monument stands on a corner of O'Connell Square, Ennis and was erected in 1867.

William Smith O'Brien
Dromoland Castle is found near Newmarket-on-Fergus. The O'Briens, of whom Lord Inchiquin is head, moved to Dromoland at the end of the 17th century and remained there until 1962. This was the birthplace of the Young Ireland leader, William Smith O'Brien who was arrested and exiled after the abortive rising of 1848.

Máirtín O'Cadhain
One of the greatest Irish writers, was born just west of Spiddal.