Ireland
- Sightseeing - Galway & Connemara
Galway
Galway City
was originally a fishing village that by Medieval times had grown
into a bustling walled town ruled by 14 merchant families whose
names, Athy, Bodkin, and Ffench to mention a few, can still be seen
on Galway store fronts today. These families managed a flourishing
international trade particularly with Spain.
The city still bears the marks of this trade with the Spanish Arch,
built in 1594, and Spanish Parade embellishing the old part of the
town. Galway has retained much of its small town character is now
home to many artists, writers, and artisans. Galway is the unofficial
art capital of Ireland and its lively arts scene peaks during the
summertime Galway Arts Festival.
Outside of Galway
City the wild and sparsely populated Connemara region offers spectacular
scenery of valleys, mountains and lakes and unparalleled hill walking
across the peaks of the Twelve Bens. The coast line is wrought into
rocky inlets sheltering white sand beaches, and is studded with
the beautiful Aran islands that make for interesting day trips.
Places of
Interest
Eyre Square
Galway
The heart of the city, also known as "The Square", it
was been built in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre.
The Medieval City Walls
Eyre
Square
Tel: + 353 91 568 302
Medieval
city walls built to protect the Norman invaders from the native
Irish.
Kirwan's Lane
Kirwan's
Lane is a long walk in the medieval Galway.
Kerwan's Lane off Quay Street
Tel:
+ 353 91 563 081
Galway Arts Centre
47 Dominick Street
Galway
Website: Galway
Arts Centre
Lynch's Castle
Shop Street
Galway
Tel: + 353 91 567 041
Lynch's
Castle is one of the oldest castles of Ireland and the only complete
secular medieval building left standing in Galway.Today it houses
the AIB bank.
Kenny's Art Gallery
Middle Street
Tel: + 353 91 562 739
Fax: + 353 91 568 544
Website: Kenny's
Art Gallery
Galway City Museum
Small museum that preserves some folk and medieval artefacts
and all documentation recalling the city's development since the
12th century.
Spanish Arch
Galway
Tel: + 353 91 567 641
The Claddagh Ring Museum
Quay Street
Galway
Historical Buildings and Monuments
Galway
Cathedral
Cathedral Square
University and Gaol Road
Tel:+ 353 91 563 577
Built
between 1958 and 1965, the Cathedral stands on the site of the old
city jail.
St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Lombard Street
Tel: + 353 91 564 648
One
of the oldest churches in Ireland, founded in the 14th Century.
The Browne Doorway
Eyre Square
The
Spanish Arch
Tel:+
353 91 563 081
Galway's most famous monument, the Spanish Arch was built in the
late sixteenth century during the war between England and Spain.
The Cannons
Eyre Square
Iron
cannons that were presented to the Connaught Rangers, at the end
of the Crimean War.
Nora Barnacle House
8 Bowling Green
Tel: + 353 91 564 743
Home
of Nora Barnacle, James Joyce's wife.
Aughnanure
Castle
3.5km from Oughterard off the N59 - Oughterard to Galway road.
Tel: + 353 91 552 214
Built
by the O'Flaherty family around 1500.
Wildlife, Scenery and Nature
Aran Islands
The
Aran Islands - Inis Mór (Inishmore), Inis Meain (Inishmaan),
and Inis Oirr (Inisheer)- are situated across the mouth of Galway
Bay
The Bay once was a large lake but millenia of erosion created the
Aran Islands. The biggest attraction is Dún Aengus, a stone
fortress on Inishmore.
Tel: + 353 99 61 263
Fax: + 353 99 61 420
Website: Aran
Islands
Hill of Doon
Galway
Scenic
viewing point along the Glann Road shore of Lough Corrib.
Connemara
Places of interest
Ross Castle
Rosscahill
Ireland
Alcock and Brown Landing Site
Derrygimlagh Bog
Clifden
Tel: + 353 91 563 081
Connemara Heritage and History Centre
Lettershea
Tel: + 353 95 21 246
Fax: + 353 95 22 098
Wildlife, Scenery and Nature
Connemara National Park
Letterfrack
Tel: + 353 95 41 054
Website: Connemara
National Park
Roundstone Bay
Connemara
'The bay of the rock of the seals'. Great site for fishing.
Twelve Bens (Connemara Mountains)
Connemara has four ranges of mountains with an alpine environment:
the Twelve Bens, Maum Turks, Partry and Sheffrey.
Lough Corrib
Tel: 353-095-41116
E-mail: conamara@indigo.ie
Website: Aillwee
Cave.ie
Vast lake of 41,600 acres and some of the best fishing in Ireland.
