Milltown Malbay – County Clare

Milltown Malbay is a popular holiday destination and small town in West Clare. The town is well-known for its singers, musicians, and dancers. Willie Clancy was a famous Irish uilleann piper, flute player, and whistle player and in July each year the festival ‘Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy’ is held in celebration of the music and tradition of Clancy. You can visit the West Clare Music Makers’ Visitor Centre to learn about the story of traditional music, song, and dance, the center is open each day from May to September. The pubs in town provide a wide variety of entertainment with traditional music and delicious food served daily.  

White Strand Milltown Malbay is a small sandy beach with a rocky shoreline but it has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award on several occasions. This means that there are all the facilities you would need including lifeguard cover during the summer months.  

Spanish Point is a village in the parish of Milltown Malbay and is also one of the better surf breaks in County Clare. Spanish Point is located 3 km west of Milltown Malbay, with a beautiful sandy beach and golf course, Spanish Point Golf Club. It’s so named because of the Spaniards who were buried here after the wreck of their Armada ships along the coast in 1588. One of the ships was wrecked on the reefs landward of Mutton Island (3km/2 miles) offshore. More than a thousand men were lost, and many of their bodies were carried by the tide to Spanish Point.  

Today, you can hire a currach in the fishing village of Quilty and visit the site of the wreck. Milltown Malbay is the perfect base from which you can explore the stunning coastline of West Clare, The Burren, and the famous Cliffs of Moher – to name but a few. It is a destination brimming with activities, attractions, culture, and excellent food.