Kilfenora brings together a medieval cathedral, the town of the seven crosses and an annual music festival. This creates a clear focus for a stay: you can combine heritage with an exhibition, local music and guided tours. Kilfenora is also a gateway to the Burren region.
Cathedral and High Crosses
Kilfenora Cathedral is a Church of Ireland church dating from between the late 12th century and 1200. It was built on the site where St Fachtna founded an abbey in the 6th century. The town’s history thus links an early monastic foundation with the later church building.
Kilfenora is known as the town of the seven crosses and has one of the largest collections of Irish High Crosses. The Doorty Cross can still be seen today: it was reassembled from its broken fragments and stands beneath the restored glass roof of the Lady Chapel. This offers a way to explore the heritage through both the cathedral’s history and a specifically named, reassembled cross.
Find your bearings at the Burren Visitor Centre
The Burren Visitor Centre is in the heart of Kilfenora, beside the old cathedral. As a licensed information point for the entire Burren region, it offers walking maps, vouchers and advice at the information desk. If you’re looking for information about the wider region as well as the town’s history, you can find these services in one place in Kilfenora.
The exhibition introduces the Burren UNESCO Global Geopark and covers its formation, flora, fauna, geology, archaeology, heritage and music. Nature and culture are presented side by side. The Visitor Centre also houses a special exhibition about the Kilfenora Céilí Band. A café serving homemade food and drinks is also part of the offering.
Music and guided experiences
The Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival takes place annually. The programme includes concerts, céilís, CD launches, pub sessions, a singers’ night, and music and dance workshops for all ages. At a traditional music festival in Kilfenora, the Kilfenora Céilí Band also leads an open-air céilí. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific event dates.
You can also include guided walking tours of Kilfenora in your plans; they take in the cathedral and the Holy Well. Ted Tours in Kilfenora offers trips to local filming locations. E-Whizz is based in Kilfenora and offers fully guided and supported e-bike tours. Each option has a different focus: the walking tour includes named sites in the village, while the two companies offer trips and guided cycling tours.
Kilfenora and County Clare in context
Kilfenora is a gateway to the Burren region. For a wider stay in County Clare, you can also consider other regional attractions. In County Clare, the Cliffs of Moher rise to over 700 feet at O’Brien’s Tower and stretch for almost 14 kilometres along the Clare coast. The visitor facilities there include 800 metres of paved paths and viewpoints, including access to O’Brien’s Tower. Visitors can explore walking trails in Burren National Park.
County Clare is accessible by road, bus and rail; Ennis is connected to the national rail network. This regional information is in addition to what Kilfenora itself offers. When choosing a hotel, you can first decide whether to focus on Kilfenora’s heritage and music or opt for a broader stay in County Clare.
Discover more destinations: Clarecastle, Spanish Point, O'Briensbridge, Bodyke, Cross, Killinaboy, Kilkee, Doolin.
Back to the main travel overview: County Clare.
