| Carran | |
| Native Name: | Irish: An Carn |
| Native Name Lang: | ga |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Ireland |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Ireland |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Ireland |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Munster |
| Subdivision Type3: | County |
| Subdivision Name3: | County Clare |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 106 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Utc Offset1: | +0 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | IST (WEST) |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | -1 |
| Coordinates: | 53.035°N -9.0763°W |
| Blank Name: | Irish Grid Reference |
Carran,[2] also Carron, is a small village in County Clare, Ireland. It is in the Burren region, within a civil parish of the same name. It is notable mainly for being the birthplace of Michael Cusack, the inspirer and co-founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association. At the time of the 2011 Census, Carran had 106 inhabitants.
Carran parish is located on the uplands of the Burren and is bounded on the northwest by County Galway and on the south by Kilnaboy. Slieve Carran, one of the highest points in the Burren, lies north of the village.
The land is mainly rocky pasture with much limestone. In the past there were copper mines. It is said that Saint Columb founded an abbey at Glanculmkil, later to become the parish church. An 1837 account said this church was in ruins, and there were the remains of two other old churches at Crunane and Glanculmkil. A stone bed is called Saint Columb's bed, and nearby is a spring of fine water.[3]
The parish contains the townlands of Ballyconry, Ballydoora, Ballyline, Cahermackirilla, Cahergrillaun, Cappagh, Cappaghkennedy, Carran, Castletown, Clab, Clooncoose, Commons, Coolnatullagh, Coskeam, Creevagh, Crughwill, Fahee North, Fahee South, Fanygalvan, Glencolumbkille North, Glencolumbkille South, Iskancullin, Keelhilla, Knockans Lower, Knockans Upper, Meggagh East, Meggagh West, Mogouhy, Moheramoylan, Moheraroon, Moygowna, Poulacarran, Poulaphuca, Poulawack, Poulcaragharush, Pullagh, Rannagh East, Rannagh West, Sheshodonnell East, Sheshodonnell West, Sladoo and Termon.[4]
In the village itself, a pub/restaurant (Cassidy's), a hostel, and a number of bed and breakfasts can be found. It also sports a church, a schoolhouse (built in 1858) and a town hall. The schoolhouse now is used by the "Burrenlife Project".[5]
The number of inhabitants was 106 at the time of the 2011 Census, down from 115 in 2006.[6]
Carran is located centrally to a number of tourist sights: Within eight kilometres of the village are several stone forts, Poulnabrone dolmen, a turlough (disappearing lake) and limestone scenery ("pavement"). There is also Gleann Ciosog (a Gaelic Athletic Association pitch for the local football team Michael Cusacks). Carran was the birthplace of Michael Cusack, the inspirer and co-founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association. A visitor centre commemorating him has been constructed south of the village on road L1014.[7]
East of the village is a Field Research Station, opened in 1975 by University College Galway (now NUI Galway). A bit beyond is the "Burren Perfumery", according to Lonely Planet the "only handycraft perfumery in Ireland".[8]
In addition, the area offers walking trails like the "Carran loop" or around the Carran turlough and scenic views over the Burren.[9] [10]