Shannon is the newest town in County Clare and can be found a half hours drive west of the city of Limerick. Shannon has a lot to offer anyone visiting the town, from the famous River Shannon to Cliffs of Moher which are just under an hour's drive away if you chose to take advantage of car hire in Shannon. King John's castle in Limerick is also a popular attraction to visit and it is only a 2 minute drive away from Shannon. Re-opened in 213 this 13th century castle is a great day out and easy to get to.
By renting a car in Shannon you can take the 20 minute drive north to the city of Ennis. Here you can see the Clare Abbey which was founded in the 1100's, the Clare Museum which takes a look back into the history of the county of Clare and if you are travelling with children, you could go on the Lees Road Walk and Trails. If you do not want to travel as far as Ennis, in the city of Shannon you can find the Bunratty Castle which was a medieval fortress and is a short 10 minute drive away by car.