Clare

Clare, county (1991 pop. 90,918), 1,231 sq mi (3,188 sq km), W Republic of Ireland, between Galway Bay and the Shannon River. The county and Roman Catholic seat is Ennis. The terrain is broken and hilly, with many bogs and lakes; the coastline is especially rugged. Fishing is important, and sheep, cattle, and poultry are raised. Chief crops are oats and potatoes. Major industrial development occurred in the 1960s and 70s, including the creation of a large hydroelectric power station on the Shannon River. Ireland's main airport, the Shannon International Airport, is located near Ennis. Clare is an area laden with prehistoric ruins and ancient Christian sites.

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Clare

County (pop., 1996: 94,006), western Ireland. Bordered by the River Shannon and the Atlantic Ocean, it is located in the province of Munster, and its county seat is Ennis. It has peat- and bog-covered hills, plateaus, lowlands, and limestone areas. Chief crops are oats and potatoes; livestock raising and fishing also are important. Evidence of prehistoric settlement includes many megaliths and some 2,000 fortified enclosures. There are numerous early Christian sites. The region remained under the lordship of the O'Briens until the 16th century despite Anglo-Norman colonization in the 12th century. It was made a shire in the reign of Elizabeth I. In 1828 Daniel O'Connell won the election in Clare that led to the emancipation of Catholics in Ireland.

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Clare¹

1. Anthony (Ward). born 1942, Irish psychiatrist and broadcaster; presenter of the radio series In the Psychiatrist's Chair from 1982

2. John. 1793--1864, English poet, noted for his descriptions of country life, particularly in The Shepherd's Calendar (1827) and The Rural Muse (1835). He was confined in a lunatic asylum from 1837

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Clare²

a county of W Republic of Ireland, in Munster between Galway Bay and the Shannon estuary. County town: Ennis. Pop.: 103 277 (2002). Area: 3188 sq. km (1231 sq. miles)