County Galway Favorite Tips by globetrott Top 5 Page for this destination

Kylemore Abbey - in the north of Connemara

Favorite thing: Kylemore Abbey is just a few meters off the main road N59 leading from Clifden to Leenane and Westport.
From Clifden you will have to drive about 1 hour to Kylemore Abbey.

Fondest memory: Kylemore Abbey looks like a medieval castle, but it was built in 1826 for Mitchell Henry, a rich merchant from Manchester. In WW I benedictinian nuns from Belgium came there and transfered the castle to a boarding school for agriculture.
You may park your car there and have a little stroll in the park in order to get a good place, where to take a picture and at certain times of the year you may obviously also see the building from inside. That was unfortunately not possible, when I had been there in 1990.

To Connacht or to hell !!

Favorite thing: To Connacht or to hell....

THIS used to be a sentence, when someone was found guilty of a crime in the times of Oliver Cromwell, and so the prisoner could choose between a life in a prison-cell or to be deported to "Connacht" , the area of the Connemara of today .

Fondest memory: "hell" was the expression for the prison - and it was a very strict and severe prison at that time of Oliver Cromwell, BUT a life in the Connemara was obviously considdered even worse :
There was almost no place at all, where wheat, potatoes or vegetables would grow, the soil was salty and spread with giant stones...

My favorite place in Connemara

Favorite thing: This is one of my favorite places in the Connemara and I took this picture just a few meters off the main road R340 between Rossaveal and Gortmore. Along that road you may easily park your car and walk around a bit in order to take pictures of the unique landscape.

Fondest memory: Connemara is my favorite part of Ireland. There you will find great beaches, plenty of lakes and bays of the sea, sourrounded by the '12 Bens' - a group of mountains.
Connemara is a Must, when you visit Ireland !!

Cliffs of Moher - not far from the city of Galway

Favorite thing: The Cliffs of Moher are NOT part of the County Galway, BUT I simply mention it here, because it makes a great day-excursion from the city of Galway.
Drivingtime to the Cliffs is about 1 hour.

Fondest memory: The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most visited sights of Ireland, because it is on the schedule of all big bus-tour-operators. They have a big parking, several souvenir shops and plenty of singers and musicans performing and selling their records (mostly it is the Mulroony-sisters: sentimental irish songs for tourists like you and me...)
Take a nice walk there in the fresh air, climb up the tower and be careful at the cliffs !