Scariff (An Scairbh)

An Scairbh can be translated as 'a rocky ford' and would adequately describe the market town that grew from the shores of Lough Derg and the Graney River.

As early as 1564 there are records of Scariff Castle and evidence suggests that by the I7th Century, an important village had grown up here around the castle. By the early 1800's Scariff was a thriving industrial town with oil and flour mills and a smelting furnace, and was famed for production of coarse hats. The construction of the harbour with over I00ft. of quays further demonstrates its importance then as a trading centre.

The Market House in Scariff was built around 1884. Market Houses were a common feature of Irish Towns. Markets were held in Scariff and a Butter Market was held every Tuesday between April and October, with buyers coming from Limerick to purchase for both Irish and British customers. This was then sent by boat to Limerick.At this time Scariff Dock was very important to all the towns in East Clare. lt was here that farm machinery from Wexford and fertilizers from New Ross came in. Farm produce and empty barrels were loaded to be taken to Limerick or Dublin. The crane which still stands at the docks, was used to load and unload cargoes. Scariff docks continued to be used for trade until the mid 1950s. Many people still remember passengers arriving in Scariff on the boats for the Scariff races.

The Bridge over the Nver Graney at the bottom of the town linking Scariff and Tuamgraney dates from the year 1871.

The Work House was built in 1840 serving an area from Ogonnelloe to Tulla to Woodford. lt was set on fire by the I.R.A. and was later converled into a crearnery less than 50% of the original building remains today. Today, Scariff is a thriving business town popular with anglers and walkers and the town's industry is focussed around the chipboard factory, opened over 25 years ago and the first such factory in the country.