This article is from page 58 of the 2009-07-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 58 JPG
AS MAYOR of Kilrush, and on be- half of Kilrush Town Council, I am delighted to welcome you to Kilrush, which has been a very progressive town over the past number of years.
There are a large number of attrac- tions for Kilrush for both locals and visitors alike.
The Vandeleur Walled Garden and Visitor Centre is attracting many visitors to the area. The trees and plants in the garden area have matured and the summer bedding plants are currently in full bloom, giving great colour to the gardens. There are many plants for sale here, including a number of rare and exotic species. The coffee shop serves food all day. The centre also takes orders for homemade cakes for special oc- casions.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy walks in Kilrush Woods which ex- tends to an area of 420 acres. The Heritage Trail which identifies his- toric landmarks in the town will be in place in a few weeks. Visitors can follow the trail from Market Square right out to Cappa village.
Once again, Cappa beach main- tained its Blue Flag status for 2009. The beach is a hive of activity for the summer. Swimming and life saving classes take place at the pier. A new safety surface has been installed at the playground at Cappa as well as the upgrading of some equipment there, making it a safer place for chil-
dren to enjoy.
The marina area is used by sailing enthusiasts who enjoy the sheltered waters of the estuary. Also located in this area is the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Centre where visitors can see dolphin displays. Boat trips can also be taken from here to see over 90 dolphins that live in the waters of the estuary. Tourists can also walk
the Dolphin Trail which begins at the Market Square and leads to Ayleva- roo Head, which overlooks an area of the estuary regularly frequented by the dolphins.
From the marina, tourists can to take a boat trip to Scattery Island which is one of the oldest monas- tic sites in Ireland. The ruins of six churches are here, as well as a Round Tower which is approximately 120 feet high, making it the tallest and one of the best preserved in Ireland. This is a trip that no visitor should miss and is one of the best kept se- crets in west Clare.
The success of achieving gold med- als in 2007 and 2008 in the Tidy Towns competition is testament to the great work done by the Tidy Towns committee and FAS Scheme work- ers and participation by residents of the town and Kilrush Town Council. The colourful floral displays and well kept streets and pathways add to the picturesque beauty of Kilrush.
For golf lovers, Kilrush has an 18 hole golf course located on the En- nis Road.
These are to mention some of the amenities you can enjoy on your visit to Kilrush.
We look forward to seeing you vis- iting our town and enjoying these PNP ONL Alone