Shannon Nightlife, Ireland

Shannon is a small and picturesque town in County Clare, Ireland, not very different from all the other Irish towns at first sight. However, what’s special about Shannon is that it is one of the three planned towns on the island. While it might not have the rich history of Galway or Cork, Shannon is not entirely without some charm of its own.

Shannon was planned as a town for the employees of the nearby Shannon Airport, but since its foundation it has become the home of many others attracted by the beauty of Country Clare. Shannon had a rocky start, because it was eclipsed by other well established towns in the vicinity of the airport, such as Limerick, since then the town has developed better shopping venues and facilities for its inhabitants. However, don’t expect a bustling nightlife in Shannon. If lively nightclubs and student bars are what you prefer, you should head to Limerick. This Shannon Nightlife Guide will list a few places where you can eat out or have a quiet drink in Shannon.

Shannon Nightlife - Eating Out

Keating’s Pub, although it is not located in the city center,it is a delightful place both for a hearty midday meal and an after-dinner pint. It is a small and cozy family-run establishment overlooking the Shannon River. The pub’s signature vegetable soup is mouth watering, and so is their shepherd’s pie. Sometimes the pub’s owner, Bernie, will delight his clientele with some live traditional music.

The Left Bank Bistro, very appropriately named as it is located on the left bank of the river, supposedly has some of the best pub food on the island. Not so many traditional dishes here, but they have a few local variations on Indian dishes that are quite tasty. Their Banana-toffee pie is definitely not to be missed. Durty Nelly’s Pub, in the nearby village of Bunratty, next door to the famous castle, is one of the oldest and most famous pubs in Ireland. You can listen to live music, enjoy the warmth of a peat fire and have some filling typically Irish tavern food.

Shannon Nightlife - Pubs and Bars

In Shannon, there is quite a poor selection of places where you can while the night away. For a wild night of drinking and dancing, Limerick and Ennis are the places to go. In Limerick, you can pick any of the popular student bars if cheap drink and popular music is your thing, or you can check out the legendary Dolan’s for some more traditional entertainment. Knapoggue Castle in Quin village organizes banquets where you can eat, drink, dance and listen to music, but these are relatively fancy events where a minimum of dressing up is required.