County Galway
Located in the Province of Connacht, Galway is in the western part of Ireland. It is the second largest county and is home to the National University of Ireland, as well as GMIT, It is served by its own airport, Galway, that is located a mere six kilometres east of Galway city centre.
Galway is probably best known for its mountainous terrain since it is home to what are known as the “Twelve Bens.” Galway is also a scenic county that is nestled between its own lake and the Atlantic Ocean. This makes it a popular tourist area where visitors can find lots to see and do on the water. Scenic plains are in evidence as well, and Galway has a fertile limestone plain that goes on for miles.
County Galway’s permanent population consists of a large number of Irish speakers. The ancient Gaelic culture is clearly preserved here. The major city is Galway City. It is known as the “city of the tribes,” the name given to the original fourteen families that settled this area many centuries ago.
In addition to Galway City, there are also several towns in County Galway, and some of the more prominent ones are Athenry and Ballinasloe. The coastline is also dotted with lots of tiny island chains, most notably the Aran Islands.
Galway is probably best known as being the birthplace of the well-known Irish author and playwright, J. M. Synge. For many years he made his home in the Aran Islands, which are located in the Galway Bay. Many may remember Synge as the “Playboy of the Western World.”
Galway is an outdoorsman’s paradise, offering up towering mountain ranges, such as the Twelve Bens; various freshwater lakes and rivers, which offer some great trout, salmon and coarse fishing opportunities; and several Blue Flag beaches. Corporate USB sticks.
County Galway hosts several festivals all year long. Among these are the Galway Races. There is also an annual arts festival, as well as the world-renowned Clarinbridge Oyster Festival. Each of these events brings visitors from all over the country, as well as the world.
Many visitors to the county come to check out the universities. They offer a unique way of life, and give the entire county a laid back, informal ambience. Galway is something of a college town, where one can see the students gathering in the town square, often with backpacks stuffed with books and other trappings of modern academia.
Other visitors to the county come for the outdoor pursuits, such as boating, fishing, walking, cycling, and sightseeing.
The county is home to its own butterfly farm – an oasis where butterflies in a perfusion of colours are free to roam in a highly protective environment. Galway is home to the Connemara Golf Club, a championship grade course, with greens that are among the best in the country. It offers challenges comparable to what serious golfers are likely to find on some of the better known courses around the world.
Probably because of its younger student population, County Galway offers some offbeat experiences for residents and tourists alike. It has a certified dive shop that will host scuba enthusiasts year-round on some interesting dives around Killary Fjord. This Fjord is the only one of its kind in the U.K., spanning some ten miles with mountain ranges on either side. The water here is about 40m deep in the middle, and presents several noteworthy dive sites suitable for all experience levels.
County Galway is also host to the Dartfield Horse Museum. Believed to be the only facility of its kind in the world, this museum contains exhibits that chart the entire history of the modern horse, right up to the present day. It also contains many live exhibits, and visitors can learn about some of the biggest horses in the world, as well as the smallest.
County Galway also has its share of ancient ruins, including castles and old churches. The avid sightseer can never run out of interesting things to see in any of its villages or towns. For example, one can take a short day trip to visit the Athenry Castle, which is probably one of the few surviving medieval walled towns in all of Ireland. It contains a three-storey tower which is protected by imposing walls erected for its defence. An ornate decorative doorway provides entry for the many visitors it receives each year. Its interior also contains a rather elaborate audio-visual facility and museum room where visitors can learn about the castle and its early origins.
Galway is a young and vibrant county, and definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Ireland.