Located in east County Clare the town is on the West end of Lough Derg and is best known for its harbour. Scarriff village is accessible from Lough Derg through the Graney River, which is navigable for pleasure boats and cruisers up to the basin or harbour since it was dredged in the 1840's. Scarriff remains an important market town with a large chipboard factory. It is also an excellent coarse and game fishing centre. Cahir Island dominates the bay along with the ruins of Ballykelly Castle on the neighbouring island.