"WELCOME TO MY COUNTY GALWAYS PAGE ......:-)" County Galway by eden_teuling

County Galway Travel Guide: 1,152 reviews and 2,590 photos

ABOUT WONDERFUL QUIET CONNEMARA

My trip (rented car = ideal!) started in Dublin where I arrived by plane. Via N4 and N6 I drove to ATHLONE and visited CLONMACNOISE again! (see my Clonmacnoise & Ireland pages if you feel like doing so!)

I then drove through wonderful countrylanes through the famous Irish-green landscape to CONNEMARA....for the most breathtaking tour through the 2000 ha. huge National Park, one of the most splendid pread out bog landscapes of Ireland.

Connemara lies west in County Galway.
The interior consists of hills, lakes, heath, brooks and streams, lined by an abundance of vegetation.

The coast is indented and is quite remote.
No tourist-irritation here!
There is only on MAIN HIGHROAD the N59......I just had to follow that but....I didn't do just that, my choice was the smaller roads, closer to the coast, although the N59 is also picturesque (and quicker ....)

Via mirrors of clear lakes I went to MAAM CROSS . A sweet village that awakes once a month when there is a livestock-market......

Not feeling not hurrying I took time to drive to CASHEL BAY : a peaceful Bay, sheltered against the fierce storms coming from the ATLANTIC.
The result is a superfluous abundance of SUB-TROPICAL vegetation, so wonderful!! A real blessing and healing...

Then comes CLIFDEN surrounded by mountains, as if lying in a safe, warm cradle.....

CONNEMARA: A GEM

CLIFDEN

CLIFDEN is magnificently situated at the feet of THE TWELVE BENS (Mountain range!)

It also lies at the CLIFDEN BAY.
Although it is just a small market place it is famous and lots of tourists know how to come there to enjoy the landscape, the splendid mountain range, the cloud scapes and the friendly people...

The town love the tourists: their soil isn't fertile enough and nowadays tourism is the most important source of income!
The accomodation is not cheap, there are many nice pubs and bars and....lovely beaches.

In August there is a pony show and in the end of September an Art festival.

There are the ruins of an old Gothic castle, once built by landowner John d'Arcy.

Clifden consists of 2 main streets with lots of coloured houses and shops, often with the name JOYCE, which is a common name in Connemara!

2 streets and........2 Cathedrals: one Catholic and one Anglican.......which makes me thing about the phenomenon RELIGION!!

SKY ROAD is a narrow road around the peninsula of Kingstown, take it and you will see this wonderful view for yourself.......do enjoy it, as I did!

CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK

PUB

Then you will reach the CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK .

This definitely is the most grandiose mountainous area or Western Ireland....

Of course there is a visitors centre with an exhibition of nature in that specific area!

All info you need is available there: for short walks through the park and longer ones, about guided tours and....for trained walkers there are special routes described in THE MOUNTAINS OF CONNEMARA; A HILLWALKER'S GUIDE which you can buy in the tourist shops.

There is so much to enjoy in that sweet, wonderful, mysterious North West of Ireland that you will have to come back many times......as I do.....

Pros and Cons

Pros:PERFECT PLACE TO ENJOY NATURE AND IRELAND'S PEOPLE AND SPECIALITIES....
Cons:NONE....
In a nutshell:A PLACE TO GO GO GO GO....

Intro Updated Jul 31, 2003
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Reviews (16)

A LANDMARK IN CONNEMARA.... Hotels (2)

Once in Connemara, this is a wonderful place to stay! Clifden is wonderfully situated on the main Galway to Clifden... more travel advice

COUNTRY SURROUNDINGS IN THE CITY.... Hotels (2)

This **** Westwood House Hotel boasts a PRIME location on the edge of Galway City and at the gateway to CONNEMARA (see... more travel advice

DUN AENGUS INISHMORE ARAN ISLANDS IRELAND - County Galway

ARAN ISLANDS..... Off The Beaten Path (1)

These Island are situated some 45 km. from the shore of Co. Galway and form part of the same limestone formations as the... more travel advice

DUNGUAIRE CSTLE KINVARA CO. GALWAY - County Galway

WANT TO FEEL MEDAEIVAL??? Restaurants (1)

This castle once was a stronghold ...... today, in keeping with its noble entertainments, the Castle plays host to... more travel advice

Things to Do (12)
See All DUNGUAIRE CASTLE.....

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Comments (6)

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SpagBoll Jun 22, 2005 at 7:29 AM

very nice pages
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nicoleken Aug 15, 2003 at 2:53 PM

There is a song about the Lac du Connemara .... very good pictures and the place looks wonderful.... green nature ....
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tini58de Aug 12, 2003 at 8:32 AM

It looks so lovely, Bes-Elisabeth! Wonderful pictures and excellent comments! What a beautiful page!
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JudyinPA Aug 11, 2003 at 8:52 AM

Beauty and history are abundant on this page. So very well done as usual my friend.
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matcrazy1 Aug 3, 2003 at 12:22 PM

Wonderful page and CLADDAGH looks beautiful!
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herzog63 Aug 1, 2003 at 9:10 AM

The Healed tree photo is Awesome! I too enjoyed my visit to County Galway! I wish I would have done a hillwalk while I was there..Wonderful page....I really enjoyed it!