County Clare
Cliffs of Moher draw 1.5+ million annual visitors—Shannon Airport's transatlantic history and Burren UNESCO Geopark create tourism concentration in Ireland's scenic west.
County Clare's Cliffs of Moher receive 1.5+ million visitors annually—one of Ireland's most visited natural attractions. This tourism concentration creates service employment along the Wild Atlantic Way; Clare benefits from scenic assets that few counties can replicate.
Shannon Airport provides international access; historically Shannon Free Zone stimulated regional development. The airport's transatlantic connections predate Dublin's hub status, creating path-dependent infrastructure advantage that persists.
The Burren's unique karst landscape—limestone pavement supporting Mediterranean and Arctic plants together—provides distinctive natural heritage. This geological distinctiveness creates scientific interest alongside tourism appeal; the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark designation formalizes international recognition.
Clare demonstrates tourism-dependent regional development: natural assets attract visitors whose spending supports local employment. Seasonality creates challenges; winter employment differs dramatically from summer peaks. Diversification attempts include technology and pharma investment, though scale remains modest compared to eastern counties.