CLARE (County of), a maritime county of the province of MUNSTER, bounded on the east and south by Lough Derg and the river Shannon, which successively separate it from the counties of Tipperary, Limerick, and Kerry; on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the north-west by Galway bay; while on the north and north-east an imaginary boundary separates it from the county of Galway. The inhabitants of this tract, in the time of Ptolemy, are designated by him Gangani, and represented as inhabiting also some of the southern parts of the present county of Galway: in the Irish language their appellation was Siol Gangain, and they are to have been descended from the Concani of Spain. The Romans, Angles, Saxons and Normans are some of the many who have played their part in the unfolding history, and in the creation of the heritage of Clare. Clare is perhaps a Roman name derived from Latin Clarus, meaning illustrious or renowned, and was a border fortress town between the kingdom of the East Angles and the Saxons.

County Clare was the ancient dynastic home of the Corco Baiscind, Corco Mruadh and the 'in Deis Tuascirt', among others. In the 12th century the modern county Clare area was part of Tuadhmhuman (Thomond, north Munster) and according to a later description by Samuel Lewis included the territories of Hy Lochlean (or Burren), Corcu Mruadh (Corcomroe), Ibh Caisin, Hy Garman (Moyarta), Clan Cuilean (Clonderlaw) and Dal gCais (Inchiquin, Bunratty, and Tulla). The power of the O'Brien ancestors, lords of Dál gCais, increased greatly in 10th and 11th centuries, to the point they became an important dynasty within all of Munster and culminating with Brian Ború, son of Cendétigh, recognized as the dominant king in Ireland by the turn of the 11th century. Brian's nickname, Ború, comes from Boramha, the name of the village where he was born. Ceann Coradh, now Kincora, was the stronghold of Brian, near the mouth of the Shannon river. North Munster

BUNRATTY was built by the McNamaras in the early 15th-century, Bunratty castle, fell to the O'Briens, kings of Thomond, shortly afterwards.

The Ancient Beginnings from Ailill Aulomm (Oilliol Olum), ancient king of Munster, included:

During the Anglo-Saxon period Clare doubtless grcw in importance, situated as it was on the upper Stour River, on the border of the East Anglian kingdom. But we do not know the origin of its name, and we cannot speak definitely of its history until the eve of the Norman Conquest when the town was held by Aluric son of Wisgar. It is possible that Clare, already possessing a market, had some kind of defence works at this time. Many local town names can be found in other countries, named when British settlers emigrated to new lands.

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