Overview
Formoyle Chapel’s walls now stand only about seven feet high, and its Gothic windows have been filled in – it’s a low, roofless shell rather than a building, sitting in rough pasture on the green road above Fanore, in the limestone country of the Burren in County Clare. Be honest with yourself about what you’re coming for: the chapel is a modest ruin, and it’s worth visiting as a pause on the Caher Valley walk, not as a trip in its own right. The reward is the setting – the high green road, the dry-stone walls and bare limestone of the Caher valley, with the Atlantic opening up to the west.
History
The chapel served the farming community of the Caher valley until 1870, when it was replaced by the new St Patrick’s Church built at the western, seaward end of the valley. After that it fell into disuse and slowly came down to the stub of walls you see today.
Just up the slope, about 150 metres north-west of the small parking area by the ruin, was Tobar Bran (also recorded as Tobar Bhrain), a holy well that was almost certainly tied to the chapel. There’s little left to see: the County Clare Heritage record describes the spot now as disturbed ground with scattered stonework, the well itself long gone.
Walking the Caher Valley Loop
The chapel is easiest to reach on the Caher Valley Loop, the waymarked walk that begins and ends in Fanore village and passes the ruin on the high green road. Fanore – fáinne óir, ‘ring of gold’, for its sandy beach – sits where the Caher River, the only river that runs above ground through the Burren, reaches the sea. From the village the route follows the river inland before climbing onto the green road through open grazing land, with the chapel on the uphill side of the track.
The valley is classic Burren: bare limestone pavement, low dry-stone walls, grazing cattle, and in late spring the lime-loving wildflowers the region is known for. It’s a moderate walk on an uneven surface that gets slippery after rain, so proper boots earn their place here.
Practical information
- Access and parking: There’s a small parking area at the chapel itself; the main waymarked loop starts from Fanore. Spaces are limited and fill on summer weekends.
- Footwear and conditions: The green road is uneven and slick in the wet. Sturdy walking boots are strongly advised.
- Dogs: Welcome on the trail but keep them under close control around the livestock.
- Facilities: None at the chapel or on the green road. Toilets, a café and a shop are in Fanore village.
- Best time to visit: Late spring for the Burren flowers; early morning or late afternoon for the best light on the stone.
For route planning, the two-page Caher Valley Loop map is on the Clare tourism site: Caher Valley Loop Walk map. For the holy well, the County Clare Heritage entry has the detail: Tobar Bran – Formoyle West.