Burren Art and Craft Fair - Ballyvaughan

What to Expect

The Burren Art and Craft Fair fills Ballyvaughan’s Parish Hall every Sunday from April to October, 10am to 5pm, with a rotating line-up of 12 to 16 stallholders showing work made entirely in Ireland. On any given Sunday the tables might include photography, metalworking, stained glass, porcelain, botanical art, goat’s milk soap, leatherwork, jewellery, woodturning, felt making and wearable art, and oil paintings, with makers drawn from the Burren and further afield in Clare and Galway. The fair is one of the longer-running craft markets in North Clare and sits well with Ballyvaughan’s position as a gateway village for the Burren, close to Aillwee Cave, the Burren Perfumery and the Wild Atlantic Way coast road, so it draws a steady stream of touring visitors through the summer as well as a loyal local following. Because it is entirely indoors, the fair runs regardless of weather, which matters on a coastline known for changeable conditions. Stallholders are generally on-site by mid-morning and stay through the afternoon, and the informal, market-hall setting means shoppers can chat directly with the makers about how pieces were made. Parking in the village is limited on busy summer Sundays, so arriving earlier in the day is worthwhile. Ballyvaughan also runs a separate farmers market on Saturdays, so visitors staying over a weekend can take in both the food producers and the craft fair on consecutive days without leaving the village.

Good to Know

• Every Sunday, 10am to 5pm, April to October.
• Location: Parish Hall, Main Street, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, H91 AV82.
• Free entry; prices vary by stall.
• All crafts handmade in Ireland; 12 to 16 stalls on a typical Sunday.
• Season runs to late October.

Getting There

Ballyvaughan is at the northern edge of the Burren on the N67, about 50km from Ennis via the N18 and N67 and 30km south of Galway city. Parking is available in the village, though space is tight at peak times.