Ennis is the county town of Clare, a compact and lively place that makes a natural base for exploring the west of Ireland. The Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and the coast at Lahinch and Kilkee are all within easy driving distance, and the town itself has enough character to be worth more than just a bed for the night.
The narrow streets of the old town are full of pubs with live traditional music — Clare is the heartland of Irish trad, and on any given evening you can walk from session to session. Brogan's, Cruises, and Knox's are all reliable. The ruins of Ennis Friary, a thirteenth-century Franciscan house in the centre of town, are well preserved and free to visit, and the Clare Museum on the same square is a useful introduction to the county.