Milltown Malbay

Milltown Malbay sits about 10 kilometres inland from Clare's Atlantic coast, making it a handy base for reaching Lahinch's golf links and Spanish Point's beaches. The most direct route from Dublin runs west on the M4 and M6 to Galway, then south via N18 and R460 through Ennis, covering roughly 280 kilometres in three and a half hours. From Cork, take the N20 north to Limerick, then N18 and local roads west for about 150 kilometres. The scenic coastal approach along R482 from Lahinch winds through small villages with Atlantic glimpses. Each July, the town transforms during the Willie Clancy Summer School when traditional Irish musicians flood every pub and street corner for a week of sessions and workshops.