Clare
Clare is steeped in culture and history. From the world-famous Cliffs of Moher to the Burren and the coastal beauty of Kilkee & Kilrush, Clare has it all.
24.5
Average commute in minutes
€234k
Average House Price €234,058
1841
Fun fact: John Philip Holland, who invented the submarine, was from Liscannor, Co Clare
€165
Average full-time weekly childcare fees
Fun fact: Born in 1841, John Philip Holland who invented the submarine, was from Liscannor, Co Clare
THE famous refrain from the Ralph McTell song is that ‘it’s a long, long way from Clare to here,’ but it is a long, long time since Clare has been far away from anywhere given that Shannon Airport has been in existence since 1939 and has grown to be a major international airport.
This may be a moot point, however, as it’s entirely possible that you won’t want to leave a county that can reasonably boast that it has everything. From beautiful, often epic, scenery to ideal surfing conditions; from a music scene that draws visitors from all over the world to a thriving literary culture; Clare delivers for locals and visitors alike.
Clare is home to some of the leading global companies in medical technology, aviation and other sectors and they are able to offer prospective employees an excellent combination of a challenging career in an environment that lends itself superbly to work/life balance. Depending on your interests, you can lead a lifestyle that would be the envy of adventure sport aficionados or fans of fantastic live music while enjoying great opportunities for career engagement and progression in an affordable environment.
A variety of factors lend themselves to ensuring residents of Clare can enjoy an excellent quality of life. The average commuting time is under 25 minutes, childcare is significantly more affordable than elsewhere in the country and housing, whether renting or buying is also far more accessible from a financial point of view.
So, your income can go a lot further, allowing you to reap the full benefits of living in one of the most beautiful locations along the Wild Atlantic Way. Then there’s the Burren, a true natural beauty that’s not to be missed when visiting the county.
With beautiful beaches, great surf, excellent music, the Cliffs of Moher on your doorstep, there can be few places that are more suited for individuals or families looking for a special place to call home. Well known ‘relocators’ from Dublin include actress and TV personality Aoibhin Garrihy and her husband John Burke who run the Armada Hotel at picturesque Spanish Point.
As well as the airport, Clare is also well served by rail and road and is close to two of Ireland’s leading universities. And, given the affordability of living in Clare it is also a good location for anyone who wishes to use it as a base from which to work remotely – something that is likely to remain a key consideration in the wake of Covid-19.
So, let’s take a look at the key Clare stats:
Employment/Job Search
A casual glance at the websites of any Irish recruitment agency quickly reveals that Clare offers a wide range of opportunities across a variety of sectors and career stages. The med-tech sector is thriving in Clare, with operations like clinical diagnostics company Beckman Coulter always looking for world class talent, and there is a growing aviation cluster in Shannon. Lufthansa Technik, GECAS, Magellan Aviation, Avocent and Digital River are just some of the major international companies with operations in Clare. To see what jobs are available to suit your skills check out WesternJobs.ie.
Housing
Clare continues to be a very affordable place to live – with the national average Irish House price standing at €308,497. The average price of a house in Clare per Daft latest housing report for Q1 of 2023 is €234,058. As a result, people on relatively average incomes can afford to purchase their own homes, a situation that is far from being the case in other parts of the country. The average rent in Clare as per Daft’s Rental Price Report Q1 2023, is €1,239 – up 11.7% from the previous year. A rental supply shortage has seen rents across the entire island of Ireland increase, however Clare provides value for money when compared to the national average of €1,750.
Childcare
Wherever you live in Ireland, paying for childcare is a serious budgetary consideration, but those parents who live in Clare have a bit more money left for themselves than their counterparts in many other counties. According to data collected by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in November 2019, average weekly full-time childcare fees in Clare come to €165.37, considerably less than the €246.03 forked out by parents in Dublin Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown or the €207.40 cost of childcare in Dublin city.
Things to do
Clare can cater to all tastes from its breathtaking scenic views to lively towns! The coastal village of Lahinch is a must-visit for keen surfers and casual walkers, and it also boasts one of the largest indoor aquariums in Ireland for rainy-day visitors. Gus O’Connor’s Pub in Doolin and the legendary Durty Nelly’s in Bunratty are just two of any number of fine pubs worth visiting – both of which are offering takeaway pints and outdoor dining options during the pandemic. If these don’t take your fancy, we’d highly recommend visiting the Cliffs of Moher – trailing from Liscannor to Doolin!
Commuting times
The quality of life for people who live and work in Clare is greatly enhanced by the ease of commuting. Those relocating from the east coast will not know themselves as they enjoy simple and straightforward journeys to work or on the school run. According to the most recent Census figures, which were released in 2017, commuters in Clare have an average travel time of only 24.5 minutes, just under 10 minutes less time per journey than is faced by commuters in Meath and Wicklow. With great employment options in Ennis and Shannon, people in Clare can easily opt for rural or town living secure in the knowledge they won’t face much of a commute.
Education
Clare hosts a campus in Ennis for Limerick Institute of Technology and students from the county are also close to two of the country’s leading universities – University of Limerick and National University of Ireland Galway. The county also has a wide variety of primary and secondary school options without the hindrance of the pressure on numbers and access that can limit educational options in counties like Dublin.
