A golf club may not be the first place you would think of when seeking out the best places to eat - but this is no ordinary golf club.
It has the best location in the area, for a start, and Deirdre Daly's restaurant is a stunner.
Whether you opt for a casual bite in the bar or something a bit more formal in the elegant restaurant (smart bare topped tables, comfortably upholstered high back chairs), it's a wonderfully relaxing place to be and the views are quite stupendous.
The town seafront curves around the bay like a comforting arm and, seen across the sparkling sea, the magnificent cliffs of Loop Head march away headland by headland behind the Diamond Rocks...
And then there is the warm welcome from friendly staff - and Deirdre Daly's terrific cooking. Deirdre is known for her great baking, and gorgeous home baked desserts displayed on the bar catch diners' eyes on the way in, triggering a mental note to keep some room for a treat.
Menus are appealing in a straightforward way (no cheffy hyperbole here) and it's hard to imagine that it would be possible to make a wrong choice. But, while menus are balanced and offer plenty to please everyone, the superb local fish and seafood naturally takes pride of place.
And the cooking is outstanding. Even the simplest dish - a fish hot pot or seafood linguini, for example - demonstrates finesse in the cooking and presentation, and may well include less usual ingredients, such as delicious sweet-flavoured clams.
Finish with one of the promised home bakes - a gorgeously moist bakewell tart, perhaps, served with fresh cream or ice cream (or, for the very greedy, maybe both), and an excellent coffee.
There's a full bar, and Irish craft beers are offered as well as a good range of wines.
All this and great service too - definitely one for the must-visit list next time you're heading for Clare.
*Ask about fresh bakes to take home, or call into McNamaras shop in town where Deirdre Daly’s Artisan Bakery is stocked - but get there early in the day, as they sell out fast.
