Galway 1. - Ireland

Galway is a county, an experience to be savoured and remembered.

Galway towns and villages.

Galway City:  is the 4th largest City in Ireland  (population circa 80,000) . It began as a small fishing                             village centered on the estuary of the River Corrib, a river traditionally called Abhainn
                       Na Gaillimhe (The Galway River)  after Galvia, a mythological princess said to have
                       drowned in its waters.  There is vibrancy to the friendly University City, which many
                       delight in, and few forget.  Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs, restaurants, shops,                                   theatres and most of all Galway people, combine to create an atmosphere  you will want
                       to return again and again.

Athenry:  23 km east of Galway City, contains some of the finest remaining town walls in Ireland
                including five towers and a town entrance known as North Gate.  The castle is surrounded
                by its own curtain wall and towers, was constructed in three phases between the 13th and
                15th centuries.  It fell into ruin, but has been restored and each year hosts a medieval
                festival.

Ballinasloe:   is a prosperous and expanding town 65 km east of Galway City and is the main                                      commercial /industrial centre for east Galway. The angling centre on the River Suck,
                      which is renowned for its pike, bream, perch fishing in its more slow-running sections
                      and trout in its tributaries. The town is famous for its annual horse fair and festival
                      normally held in early October.

Cleggan:   on the southern shores of sheltered Cleggan Bay, 9 km from Clifden, is both the centre of
                 the north Connemara sea fishing industry and the ferry port for Inishbofin island lying 9 km
                 out in the Atlantic.

Clifden:  78km northwest of Galway City, is Connemara's largest town and in 2012 celebrates the
               200th anniversary of its foundation by John Darcy. Clifden will host a myriad of festivals
               to celebrate the bicentennial.  For information on these events contact Discover Ireland
               Centre Galway (091 537700).  With fine hotels, guesthouses and restaurants it is the ideal                       base for the holiday maker touring Connemara. In Clifden in October 1907, a defining event                   in world communication took place when the first commercial transatlantic message was
               transmitted from Marconi's Station in Clifden to Glace Bay, Newfoundland, Canada.  This
               message effectively launched the concept of telecommunication accessibility for all.

Clonbur:  lies near Cong and the Mayo border and is an ideal centre for the trout angler as it nestles     
                easily between the two great lakes Corrib and Mask.  Try your hand at the excellent and
                exciting fishing on three of Europe's premier trout and salmon lakes, as Lough Carra is also
                within easy reach.

Gort:  is located 38km from Galway City.  The town was founded on the settlements of former
           chieftains of the district and is now a recognised heritage town.  Within its hinterland you will
           find an amazing richness of historical sites such as the Kilmacduagh monastic settlement and
           Thoor Ballylee, an ancient Norman Tower, located seven kilometers north of Gort, the former
            home of W.B. Yeats, Noble Prize winner, poet and Senator.  He lived there from 1921 to 1929              and it is a popular angling inspired two of his foremost books of poetry "The Tower" and "The
            Winding Star"

Headford:  some 28km north of Galway City is a popular angling centre for the eastern shore of Lough                    Corrib and is also an area rich in archaeological monuments, ranging from prehistoric
                  burial grounds, Iron Age stone enclosures, early Norman and later castles, to a bewlidering
                  array of monastic sites.

Kinvara:    village is situated at the head of Kinvara Bay with Dunguaire Castle standing guard over its
                  entrance.  The village is one of Galway's well-loved tourist spots where medieval banquets                    are held nightly each summer in an old 16th Century tower house .  Kinvara is home to the
                  annual festival Cruinniu' Na mBad (the gathering of the Boats)

www.discoverireland.ie