Scariff
The town of Scariff and village of Tuamgraney, County Clare, are situated at the most western point of Lough Derg. Scariff is a major stopping point for boats upon the Shannon River as well as being quite popular with anglers, campers, golfers and other holidaymakers.
Though narrow and windy, the Scariff River, which winds its way through the town before joining Lough Derg, is easily navigable and can prove quite a quaint and enjoyable experience, putting along slowly, the wind rustling through the rushes, as you meander your way up towards Scariff Harbour.
The harbour in Scariff has been recently upgraded and expanded to allow for more boats and easier manoeuvrability therein. The harbour is but a minute walk from the town centre.
Every summer the town celebrates the Scariff Harbour festival with arts, crafts and other activities. A large stage is also erected in the square where open-air concerts are held. Not long after the Harbour Festival, is the Scariff Show, an agricultural show and expo which has proven immensely popular over the years and always draws a huge crowd.
Though it has since become amalgamated into the town, Tuamgraney (sometimes also called Tomgraney) is in fact a separate village to Scarriff and is well worth a visit in its own right. The village is home to the oldest church in Ireland still in public use, St. Cronan's. The office of the East Clare Heritage Centre is also located there. Nearby one can also find The Casaoireach Memorial Park, built to commemorate the Great Famine and to provide a final resting place for the victims who had been unceremoniously dumped into trenches due the high death rate and lack of burial spaces.
Cruising on the Scariff River.
