gl—r Irish Music Centre

glór (formerly the glór Irish Music Centre) is a multidisciplinary arts venue in the heart of Ennis, County Clare. Set on Causeway Link, it opened in November 2001 following an €8.5 million investment that made it the largest arts project undertaken in the county. Designed by architect Des McMahon of Gilroy McMahon, the building was conceived to let audiences experience Irish music in an intimate setting, and it has since become a central part of cultural life in Clare.

The main auditorium seats around 485 people and plays host to a broad programme across the year, taking in music, theatre, dance, comedy, talks, film and visual arts. Alongside the main hall, glór has a studio space for smaller performances and artist use, an art gallery, and a café and bar. Its inaugural celebrations in 2001 brought together generations of Clare musicians, and the venue has gone on to present work by figures such as Sharon Shannon, Martin Hayes and Lisa Hannigan, as well as national orchestras and touring theatre companies.

The venue also screens award-winning national and international cinema and works with local community groups, emerging artists and young curators through residencies and open calls. It was named IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year (Munster) in 2012. In 2024 glór became part of a larger cultural complex when Clare’s County Library and Gallery opened alongside it.

The box office can be contacted for details of current shows, tickets and opening times.