It is often said that County Clare is named after the de Clares. However
this is not the origin, rather, the name comes from the Irish word 'Clįr',
meaning a board or plank. A board was placed across the river Fergus outside
Ennis, at a place which was to become known as Clare, (now Clarecastle
town). This Clare was a place of some importance as early as the 12th
Century - thus predating the arrival of the de Clare family to County
Clare.
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