CHOOSE CLARE
Why relocate to Clare?
Clare, affectionately known as the Banner County, is a key hub in Ireland’s Mid-West region and is home to a population of around 120,000 people. Of this, 33,613 people are employed in the Services industry that is home to a number of indigenous and multinational firms.
According to our Midwest Relocation Survey, 90% of people working in the area commute in under 40 minutes, and 89% of people would recommend moving to the region. The population is extremely diverse and multicultural – in the Midwest there are over 150 nationalities and 45% of the workforce is under 35 years old. This is partly due to the fact that Clare is well served by multiple third-level educational institutions in neighbouring counties Galway & Limerick.
The quality of life is second to none – Clare boasts beautiful beaches and coastal scenery, and the county is well connected to Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Cork cities by motorway, and to the rest of the world by Shannon Airport.
Business Environment
Clare’s ease-of-access has made it a destination for top multinational firms. Recently, the Mid-West has seen major investment from firms in several industries.
Clare is home to key players in the medical devices sector, including Edwards Lifesciences, as well as a number of other multinationals across various sectors. The economy here is greatly boosted by the proximity of Shannon Airport and the adjacent Shannon Free Zone. Established in 1959, this was the world’s first free trade zone and has been instrumental in attracting FDI to the region, generating €3 billion a year in trade and providing over 7,000 jobs.
118,817
Clare population
135
Primary & Secondary Schools
100+
Multinational Companies located here
90%
Commute in under 40 mins
Family Life
Located on the heart of Ireland’s West Coast, Clare has a fantastic mix of towns and villages with stunning scenery and landscapes. County Town Ennis is the largest town in the region and is steeped in history while Doolin, Lahinch and Kilfenora are perfect examples of traditional Irish towns with ties to Ireland’s musical identity.
Clare is home to two UNESCO parks – The Burren National Park and the jaw-dropping Cliffs of Moher while East Clare provides splendid lakes and rivers – your weekend strolls are sorted here!
On a visit to Ennis you can expect to experience unique and diverse boutiques, shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Lifestyle
Clare is reknowned for it’s gorgeous sandy coastline and currently boasts 9 Blue Flag beaches, including Lahinch beach and Spanish Point- the former being an internationally recognised surfing hotspot. You’ll also find some of the best golf courses in Ireland like Doonbeg Trump International Golf Links and Lahinch Championship and Castle Golf Links Courses.
The county has strong ties to Ireland’s traditional music scene and villages such as Kilfenora and Doolin are hotspots for the authentic Irish pub atmosphere. The village of Lisdoonvarna is also the home of Ireland’s unique Matchmaking Festival every September – where the old custom of matchmaking is still celebrated by single people!
Four times winners of the All Ireland Hurling Senior Championship, Clare has a strong pedigree in GAA and hurling in particular. In total, there are 53 GAA clubs in the county.
Caroline Kelleher
Director of Public Affairs, Shannon Group, Co. Clare
“The quality of life is so much better here; the commute to work is shorter, there’s less traffic, less congestion, less noise, and there are also great career opportunities.
Now I have more time to do my own thing. I have every Friday evening free, instead of spending the evening travelling down from Dublin and, on weekends, I can take my nephews, who live in Clare, to Bunratty Folk Park or we all go out to Lahinch.”
