All of these are appropriate to the early town, which lies at a crossing on the River Graney upstream from its mouth on Lough Derg.

Long before the present town came into being the area was of great strategic importance to those who held the territory about and to those who sought to hold it - the presence of the great river Shannon on the one hand and the mountainous terrain on the other rendered this Scairbh a most important crossing point on a journey north or south.

To maintain their dominance three castles or fortified houses were built, one at Tuamgraney (which still stands), one near the bridge at the Scairbh which no longer exists and a third, smaller building, at Moynoe.

In 1633 Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, bought ten quarters of land north of the Graney River, including the castle and ironworks of Scarriff.

[7] Scariff as a town developed around the castle and its growth was helped by the presence of a smelting furnace which operated there.

The following year the workhouse ran out of food, water and clothing for the inmates, who were dying from fever and starvation at the rate of a dozen a day, along with those who were caring for them.

As well as improved road connections, the Dock provided vital trade links and Scariff enjoyed its position as the business centre of north-east Clare.

Its role now as a stopping point for pleasure crafts is perhaps indicative of the possibilities which exist for Scariff as a tourist centre.

Scariff is unique in that much of the town is situated across the river Graney in the neighboring parish of Bodyke, which sometimes is confused for the nearby Tuamgraney.

At primary level, the area is served by Scariff National School, catering for nearly all the children in the parish.