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sport · Tuesday 7 July 2026 · Various 
Junior Tour of Ireland 2026 - County Clare
At Multiple venues across County Clare · Barefield (Stage 1 finish), Co. Clare
At Multiple venues across County Clare · Barefield (Stage 1 finish), Co. Clare
One of Irish cycling’s longest-running stage races returns to County Clare this July, and it is completely free to watch from the roadside. The Junior Tour of Ireland has been running since 1978, making it a genuine institution - and the 2026 edition marks the 12th time the race has been based entirely in the Mid-West. Six days, six stages, nearly 560 kilometres of Clare roads: for anyone who follows junior road racing or just enjoys the spectacle of a professional-standard race passing through a town, this is a proper event.
The riders are junior males aged 17 to 18, and the teams travelling for 2026 include squads from the USA, Canada and the UK alongside Irish clubs. These are the riders who may well be turning professional within a year or two, so the quality is high and the racing is competitive.
Each stage finishes in a different part of the county, so you can follow the race across the full week or just catch the one that suits you. Stage 1 (7 July) covers 63km and finishes in Barefield, just north of Ennis. Stage 2 heads out along the Shannon Estuary to Kilrush and Carrigaholt before finishing on the Kilkee promenade. Stage 3 is a new addition for 2026, looping through Feakle, Tulla and Mountshannon to finish in Whitegate on Lough Derg.
The standout stage is likely Stage 4 on Friday 10 July - the traditional queen stage at 122km, which rolls north through Bellharbour, across the Burren UNESCO World Heritage Site, down towards Fanore and Doolin, then tackles the Doonagore climb before finishing in Kilfenora. Stage 5 on Saturday crosses the Burren again to finish at Ballyallia Lake on the outskirts of Ennis, while Stage 6 on Sunday closes the race with eight laps of a circuit between Ennis, Ballyea and Clonroadbeg.
Stage finishes are the best viewing spots - there is a finish-line atmosphere, results boards, and you can see the riders close up. Watching from a roadside climb on Stage 4 through the Burren is another option for anyone who wants a dramatic backdrop.
Ennis is the natural base for the week. It sits at the junction of the N18 (Limerick - Galway) and the N85, with good road access from all directions. Bus Eireann runs regular services between Limerick and Ennis (route 343), and Ennis railway station connects to Limerick and on to Dublin Heuston via Irish Rail. For the stage finishes in Barefield and at Ballyallia Lake on the edge of town, you are effectively in or just outside Ennis itself. For more distant stages (Kilkee, Kilfenora, Whitegate), a car is the practical option.
Ennis town centre is compact and easy to walk, with a good range of cafes, restaurants and pubs in and around the main square. There is more to see in Ennis and across Co. Clare.
Heading to Multiple venues across County Clare in Ennis? Clare has plenty more to see. Read the Ennis area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.