Liscannor (Lios Ceannúir - Fort of Connor)

Liscannor is a small fishing village north of Lahinch and south of Doolin and has some quaint pubs, craft shops and art galleries. It is the closest village to the Cliffs of Moher.

Liscannor has given its name to a particular type of very black stone - a variety of 300 million year old flagstones and sandstones which bear the fossil tracks of Marine animals that lived millions of years ago. It is splits into thick slate-like slabs and much used locally for floors, patios, paths, walls and even occasionally as a roofing material.

In the early 1900's there was a thriving quarrying industry for this stone in the area employing 500 men in at least nine quarries, which put Liscannor port on the map. It was one of the busiest of the small ports along the west coast of Ireland with shipments of its stone to London and Liverpool. However, the advent of World War 1 put an end to all the prosperity and when the boats were unable to travel, the mines closed. In the 1960's a number of mines reopened and are still producing the famous stone today.

The castle ruin in the village, built by the O'Connors, became an O'Brien stronghold and was occupied by Sir Turlough O'Brien during the threatened invasion at the time of the Spanish Armada (1588).

Some 3km north-west of Liscannor on the road to the Cliffs of Moher stands a tall pillar, O'Brien's Monument, erected in 1853 by Cornelius O'Brien, M.P. Right beside it is the Holy Well of St Brigid. The water is reputed to have healing properties. July, especially the last weekend, is the popular time for pilgrimages there. The festivities ('Garlan Sunday') have their origins in pre-Christian times.

Clahane Beach, to the west of Liscannor, is clean and safe. According to local legend, a 'lost city' and church known as Kilstephen are supposed to sit on an underwater reef in Liscannor Bay. The Celtic hero Conan is buried on Slieve Callan to the south; he is said to be buried with the key to the church.