Private Ennis Essential History Tour with Dr Jane O'Brien
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 10 minutes
Mobile ticket
Private tour of Ennis with an experienced and award-winning local guide. Dr Jane O’Brien (PhD in history) has been running tours of Ennis since 2005 but it is Jane's storytelling skills that bring the vibrant past of the town alive for all who join her tours. You will explore the streets and laneways of Ennis while learning about the intriguing stories that shaped its history. Winner of the "2024 Best Walking Tour Experience" and guide for the Rick Steves Tours in Ennis, this tour explores the history, methodology, legends, ghosts, poverty, murders and more of this medieval town. Jane uses rich historical sources to recreate the drama and daily life of Ennis and its place in Irish history and her acclaimed tours provide a highly entertaining and thought-provoking experience. She also runs the Dark History Tour which provides an in-depth exploration of the darker side of the towns history, and the Gourmet History Tour - a combination of history and food with some local food tastings.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Clare Museum
We begin beside the Clare Museum - formally the site of the old Convent building for the Sisters of Mercy. Participants are introduced to the medieval market town of Ennis which originated in the 13th century.
Daniel O'Connell Monument
We stop at the Daniel O'Connell Monument in the centre of Ennis - site for many events including the momentus milestone of Catholic Emancipation.
Options
Private Ennis History Tour
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes: The tour covers the main points of interest of the town of Ennis and is conducted at a gentle pace.
What‘s Included
There is the option for the guide to use an amplification device for ease of listening.
Gratuities - always appreciated, but never expected
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
39 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Ennis Tour
Deborah M,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Jane is very knowledgeable and charming. We learned a lot about Ennis and the history of Ireland as relates to that region.
Inside Insight on the Charming Town of Ennis
jeannayar,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our stroll through the charming town of Ennis with Dr. Jane O'Brien. Her deep knowledge and history with the town brought wonderful hidden dimension to our visit and enriched our experience of this enchanting part of Ireland immensely.
Perfect beginning for our Ireland trip!
Janette K,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour with Dr. O’Brien was amazing! She gave us the substance and context for our visit to Ennis and all of Ireland that we were looking for. Having the tour on our first day in Ennis was perfect since she gave us the big picture, personal relevance, and specific place storytelling that made it accessible and interesting for our teens with limited knowledge of Irish history. This tour made our whole trip next level!
Jane is Awesome!
M7452FKalisont,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent our first afternoon in Ireland visiting Ennis, and Jane made it a very memorable experience. You can literally feel her genuine love for her home town, and her historical knowledge of both Ennis and Ireland is off the charts. She shares wonderful insights of this market community that you cannot get by reading a book. Visit Ennis and spend some time with Jane. You'll be glad you did! I am a big fan of great customer service, so when I arrived at the meeting site and discovered that I booked the tour for the wrong date (I was a full month off), I was disappointed. I left a message for Jane, and she called me back within an hour. She was very understanding and offered to conduct the tour despite my error. She even waited for us to finish our meal and adapted the tour route so we could finish near the bus station to get ourselves back to Shannon. That's great customer service!!
Historical Ennis
Sharon Q,Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Ennis is a very charming town. The tour opened up a lot history that was interesting and made us more appreciative of this area. Jane was very informative and it was a worthwhile tour.
Deep Knowledge and Local Connections
richardrN9287BD,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great tour with Dr Jane. Jane went above and beyond allowing us to reschedule our tour because we had transportation issues. She knows the history of the town fact and dates but also, she is part of it, being an O'Brien! Jane entertained all out questions so we were able to get a full picture of what it was like to live in Ennis through the centuries, all the good as well as the bad times. We had a private tour, just 4 of us. I recommend a tour with Dr. Jane!
Ennis crash course
Amgrismer,Apr 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Had a fantastic time with Dr.Jane learning all about Ennis and how important it is in Ireland’s history. My husband’s family name is Ennis, so was great to see where it all originated. We were very thankful for Dr.Jane’s fantastic knowledge and love for the area.
Wonderful tour of lovely town
BillB951,Nov 18, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jane explores the nooks, crannies and history of this lovely town in County Clare during her tour. We explored the architecture, the town's development and Irish political history during the tour. Well worth the time.
Engaging, educational tour enriched our experience of the town of Ennis.
X7646XWsandrak,Nov 18, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jane has a deep knowledge and love of the town of Ennis. Streets, boways, buildings and people came to life as she shared their history and stories. Jane’s sense of humor and her engaging spirit were captivating and our time together flew by too quickly! We didn’t book soon enough to do the public tour at the beginning of our stay in Ennis, but Jane kindly added us to a private tour as soon as she could. Our remaining days is town were enriched by what we learned during our time with Jane and by the lingering memory of her warmth. Book early!
Perfect walking tour of Ennis
cartergang4,Nov 17, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Dr. Jane O'Brien was a wonderful find for our small group of friends. Already part of a larger tour of Ireland, we decided to add this walking tour of Ennis to our schedule. Dr. O'Brien is a well-known local who is an historian and had just the right amount of culture, history, and humor woven into her tour. So many back stories for this beautiful little town, and Dr. O'Brien knew them all. I highly recommend booking either a public or private tour with Jane!
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