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Connemara is truly a spectacular area of Ireland. - Wonderful
scenery, lakes, mountains and a rugged coastline make this one
of the most visited parts of our Island. Scroll down further
as we attempt to give you a flavour of what to see, do and explore
in this wonderful part of Ireland. |
 Where
is it....
Connemara is situated on the Western Seaboard of Ireland in
one of Irelands' four provinces, Connaught. It is an area rich
in culture and diverse history and is surrounded by many large
towns and cities including Limerick, Ennis, Galway and Westport.
The area is easily accessible and well signposted and a good
infrastructure is in place, although watch those country roads!!
Approximately 1 hour by Car from the bright lights of Galway
City is one of Ireland's national treasures, Connemara. Do Not
Miss It ! |
| What is it.... |
| Connemara is one of Irelands National parks
covering over 2000 hectares of scenic countryside, Connemara
combines all that is Irish, here you will find rugged beauty,
rough mountains, slopping hills, and still streams rippling
through the land, a land that has been relatively unchanged
since famine times. You will see many old cottages left to ruin
as families had to leave the land to survive. Due to strict
planning laws there has been very little building and construction
in some parts of Connemara. The skyline is dominated by the"
Twelve Bens" mountain range known locally as the "Twelve
Pins" there are many beautiful places to see and you can
stop and savour the scenery along your journey. |
What to see....
 There
is plenty to see and do throughout Connemara, the best way to
see the area is by car or bicycle, you may stop at your leisure
and enjoy the scenery or take a rest in one of the many small
villages to sample some delicious seafood and local produce.
Suggested Routes:
Travelling from Galway you may take the Coast Road, which will
take you through the village of Spiddal. This beautiful village
is full of craft shops, poets and artists who find great inspiration
from their natural surroundings; Spiddal is always extremely
busy during the Summer months. You will also find great pub
food and a relaxed friendly atmosphere throughout the village.
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The Coast Road
Follow the coastline around and you will see the Aran Islands
out in the Atlantic, the islands are a thriving tourist
destination and there is plenty to see there and should not
be missed. You may take a ferry from Rossaveal with Island Ferries
or fly from Inverin to the Islands. Detour to Carraroe just
off the main road past Rossaveal, there is a beautiful coral
strand hidden away, you may be lucky to find a piece that has
not been battered by the wild Atlantic.
Travelling along the coast you pass through one of Irelands
"Gaeltacht" or Irish speaking areas around Kilciarán
and Carna, so be sure to brush up on your few words of Gaeilge
(Irish) before stopping at an síopa (the shop) On towards Screeb
and take a left for the R341 which will take you along the coast
to Roundstone. Roundstone is a beautiful fishing village
with many art and craft shops and possibly the best chowder
in Ireland. The sheltered beach just outside Roundstone is a
haven for many Irish holidaymakers with several camping and
caravan parks on the shoreline. From here you may travel to
Ballyconneely where a superb 18-hole Golf Course is located
on the Coast. This is a haven for many golf enthusiasts especially
during the summer months. This route will take you to Clifden.
Clifden is the largest town in the area with plenty of entertainment,
good food, craic and nightlife to be found. |
Inland Route
Taking the main road N59 from Galway to Clifden and you will
pass through Moycullen and Oughterard the "Gateway to Connemara"
Oughterard is the last large town before you reach Clifden.
Surrounded by bogs of purple heather and bog cotton, with Lough
Corrib to the West and the Twelve Bens Mountains stretching
out in front. Oughterard is a pretty village with several original
thatched cottages scattered through the town. Aughnanure Castle
is situated about two miles outside Oughterard and dates back
to the early 1500s. It is a magnificent structure once home
to the ruling O'Flaherty family who dominated the West Connaught
area and all of Lough Corrib and across to the sea up to the
16th Century. The six storey castle is open Mid June to Mid
Sept 9pm to 6.30pm daily Telephone +353 (0) 91 552214
From Oughterard you will travel through Maam Cross and Recess
both beautiful villages with craft shops and local art, there
is also beautiful scenery along this route and you will be able
to stop at your leisure in one of the many lay-bys. Even on
our famous "wet" days you should enjoy the scenery
and landscape as the water rushing down the mountainside provides
some beautiful natural waterfalls.
Fishing and Lough Corrib
Lough Corrib and the Corrib system make Connemara one of the
best areas in Ireland for freshwater fishing. It is also one
of the largest bodies of fresh water in Europe, (42,000
acres) The Corrib system consists of a chain of lakes and rivers
that stretch from Mayo in the Northwest down to Lough Corrib
and on to meet the river Corrib and out to the sea at Galway
Bay.
Continue your journey out from Recess towards Letterfrack and
Kylemore Abbey. You may travel straight to Clifden for a more
direct route to this area, but the scenery along the shores
of Lough Inagh between the Maumturk Mountains and the Twelve
Bens is breathtaking.
There is a visitor centre with information and Audio Visual
presentation on the history of Connemara located in Letterfrack.
Here you may explore the history of this wild and beautiful
land and discover how the people of the area survived over the
centuries through Famine times through to today.
Letterfrack Visitor Centre Connemara National Park - Telephone:
095 41054 / 41006 - Opening Hours: Apr-May 9.00-5.30pm, June
10-6.30pm, July-August 9.30-6.30, Sept- 17-Oct 10-17.30 |
Kylemore Abbey is situated just outside
Letterfrack on the way to Leenane. Built in 1868 the neo-gothic
style is breathtaking in its location by the lakeside under
the Twelve Bens. Kylemore Abbey is now run by Benedictine Nuns
as a boarding school for girls. The order has been extremely
industrious however and provides magnificent visitor facilities
including a large restaurant and coffee shop, extensive craft
shop and have also maintained a beautiful 6-acre walled Victorian
garden. Kylemore Abbey and Tea rooms are open all year 9pm to
5.30pm (except Christmas Week and Good Friday) while the Craft
Shop is open March to Dec 9pm to 6pm (except Good Friday)
Travel towards Leenane and the deepest Fjord in Ireland at Killary
Harbour. Surrounded by rugged mountains this is an ideal spot
for all types of water sports. On to the small village of Leenane,
made famous by the film "The Field" starring Richard
Harris, which depicts the life of the people of this remote
area and the hardship they endured to eek out a living in this
wild place. If returning to Galway you may take the R345
to Maam Cross and left for Oughterard or travel back to Clifden
on the N59 towards Letterfrack
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Ballynahinch
Castle
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Mal
Dua House
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Ireland