Garda Station Locations and Contact Details Across Clare County

At half past ten on a Thursday night, a visitor in Kilrush discovered that not every Garda station in Clare County keeps the same hours. The nearest station had closed at six. The next open post was seventeen kilometres away in Kilkee, and the phone number on the outdated tourist map no longer connected.

Clare County spans more than three thousand square kilometres, from the Burren limestone in the north to the Shannon Estuary villages in the south. Across that geography, An Garda Síochána operates a network of stations with varying schedules, staffing levels, and public access windows. Knowing which station serves your area and when its public office is open can save time during an emergency or when you need to report a non-urgent matter.

This directory consolidates addresses, telephone contacts, and typical opening patterns for every Garda station in Clare. Whether you live in Ennis, run a business in Shannon, or are visiting the Cliffs of Moher, you will find the details you need without hunting across multiple websites or making unnecessary calls.

Ennis Garda Station: the county hub

Ennis Garda Station sits on Abbey Street in the county town and serves as the divisional headquarters for Clare. The building operates a public office Monday to Saturday, typically from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon, with some variation on public holidays. Sunday access is by appointment or emergency call.

The station telephone number is 065 684 8100. That line routes to the public desk during office hours and to the district control room outside those times. If you need to report a crime, apply for a firearm certificate, or collect a letter of good character, Ennis is the primary point of contact for most administrative services.

Parking on Abbey Street can be tight during weekday mornings. A public car park on Bindon Street, two hundred metres west, offers short-stay spaces. The station entrance is marked by a blue lamp and a small forecourt with bicycle racks.

Shannon and airport-area stations

Shannon Town Garda Station is located on the Airport Road, close to the main roundabout that feeds Shannon Town Centre. The public office opens Monday to Friday, nine to one and two to five, with a midday break. Saturday and Sunday hours are limited; call 061 365 900 to confirm availability before traveling.

Shannon Airport maintains a separate Garda post inside the terminal building, staffed around the clock because of international flight operations. That post handles immigration queries, lost property reports, and security incidents within the airport precinct. It does not process general public enquiries unrelated to air travel.

For residents of Newmarket-on-Fergus or Sixmilebridge, Shannon Town station is the nearest full-service post. The drive from either village takes ten to fifteen minutes on the N18.

West Clare coastal stations

Kilrush Garda Station on Frances Street serves the lower Shannon Estuary communities, including Kilkee, Carrigaholt, and Doonbeg. The public office opens weekdays from ten until one and from two until four. Evening and weekend cover is provided by patrol units based at the station, but the front desk may be unattended.

Kilkee station, on O'Curry Street, operates seasonal hours that expand during the summer months when the seaside town swells with visitors. From June through August, expect extended weekday hours and limited Saturday morning access. Outside that window, Kilkee functions as a satellite post with reduced public hours; call 065 905 6002 for current schedules.

Ennistymon Garda Station on Parliament Street covers the northern coastal strip and the Cliffs of Moher visitor area. Weekday hours run nine to one and two to five. The station also coordinates mountain rescue callouts for incidents on the coastal walking trails and cliff edges.

North and east Clare stations

Tulla Garda Station, on Main Street, serves the villages and townlands east of Ennis, including Feakle, Broadford, and O'Callaghan's Mills. Public hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from ten to one. Outside those windows, calls to 065 683 5713 are forwarded to Ennis.

Scariff station, on Church Street beside Lough Derg, opens Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Friday afternoons. The reduced schedule reflects lower population density in the east Clare lakeland, but patrol cover remains consistent throughout the week.

In the Burren, Corofin Garda Station on Main Street provides weekday morning access. Ballyvaughan, further north, operates as a seasonal post with summer expansion to handle tourist traffic near the limestone plateau and the Wild Atlantic Way route.

When the local station is closed

If you arrive at a station outside public hours, a notice board at the entrance will display the nearest open station and the emergency contact number. All stations forward their main line to the divisional control room when the public office is unattended, so dialing the local number will still connect you to a Garda operator.

For life-threatening emergencies, always dial 999 or 112. Those calls route directly to the emergency dispatch centre, which can send the nearest patrol unit regardless of station opening times.

Non-urgent matters such as passport applications, Garda vetting forms, or requests for incident reports should be scheduled during public office hours. Many administrative services require an in-person visit with identification, and walk-in capacity can be limited during peak morning periods.

How to find opening hours that change

Station hours can shift because of staffing rotations, public holidays, or local events. The official Garda website maintains a station finder tool, but it does not always reflect real-time changes. Calling ahead is the surest method to confirm that a public office will be open when you arrive.

Clare County Council offices and local libraries sometimes display printed schedules for nearby Garda stations, though those lists may lag by several weeks. Tourist information centres in Ennis, Shannon, and Kilrush keep updated contact sheets during the summer season.

If you cannot reach a station by phone and the matter is not urgent, consider visiting Ennis headquarters during its longer weekday hours. Staff there can direct you to the appropriate local post or handle the query directly.

What to bring when you visit

Most in-person services require proof of identity. A current passport, Irish driving licence, or public services card will suffice. If you are reporting a crime or an incident, bring any supporting documents: receipts, photographs, written statements, or correspondence.

For firearm or shotgun certificate applications, you will need passport photos, a completed application form downloaded from the Garda website, and the statutory fee in cash or card. Processing times vary, but the initial interview must be conducted at your local station.

Garda vetting applications for employment or volunteer roles require the organisation's vetting invitation number and your own identification. Many stations now accept card payments for vetting fees, but smaller posts may still operate cash-only desks.

Key facts

• Clare County has more than twenty Garda stations and posts, ranging from full-time headquarters to part-week satellite offices.
• Shannon Airport Garda post operates twenty-four hours because of international flight schedules and customs requirements.
• Ennis station public office is open six days a week, the longest schedule in the county.
• Seasonal stations in Kilkee and Ballyvaughan expand hours from June to August to handle tourist numbers along the coast.

Can I report a crime online instead of visiting a station?

An Garda Síochána offers an online reporting portal for certain non-emergency incidents, including lost property and minor criminal damage. Serious crimes, assaults, thefts involving significant value, or incidents requiring immediate investigation must be reported in person or by telephone.

Which station covers my address if I live between two towns?

Call the nearest station and ask which district your townland or street falls under. District boundaries do not always follow county council electoral areas, and staff can confirm jurisdiction quickly over the phone.

Related reading: clare county council · clare county council