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Captivating Connacht

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Dun Aengus on Inis Mor.

Connacht is the ruggedly beautiful western province of Ireland, bounded by the Shannon, Ireland’s longest river, to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean. Connacht is comprised of counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, as well as Leitrim and Sligo farther north. It is divided north to south by a chain of lakes: Loughs Conn, Mask and Corrib, running down from Killala to Galway and providing a natural border between the fertile lowlands to the east and the wild mountains to the west. From the urban center of Galway City to the Aran Islands off the coast, to the breathtaking coastline of Sligo and the languid, scenic Shannon, there is much to be seen in the smallest of the four Irish provinces.

Galway

Among the region’s most celebrated spots to visit are the Aran Islands, located at the mouth of Galway Bay, off the coast of County Galway. They are the inspiration for J.M. Synge’s play Riders to the Sea and one of the last strongholds of the county’s Irish-speaking culture. The three islands, Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, are the most populous in Ireland. The largest, Inis Mór, contains plenty of bed and breakfast accommodations for travelers. One of its most popular tourist destinations is Dún Aengus, an Iron Age fort situated on the edge of a cliff that stands 300 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. It is built in a series of concentric circular walls. Another, the medieval O’Brien Castle on Inis Oírr, was built in the 14th century.

Another stop on any exploration of Connacht, Galway City is the third largest and fastest growing city in Ireland. It also bears the nickname City of the Tribes, for the fourteen merchant families that led the city during its Hiberno-Norman period. The Church of Ireland St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, the largest medieval church that remains in daily use in Ireland, is located in Galway City, as well as the Catholic Galway Cathedral, one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city. The Galway City Museum, opened in 2006, is located behind the famous Spanish Arch, overlooking the River Corrib and the ancient Claddagh village. It contains art and artifacts from medieval times to the modern era.

Connemara, in the west of County Galway, consists of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbor and Kilkieran Bay with a laced network of lakes and is considered one of the most beautiful regions in Ireland. Its scenic coast is made up of a number of peninsulas that form picturesque craggy mountain peaks, and megalithic tombs surround its main town, Clifden. Traditionally divided into North and South Connemara by the majestic mountains of the Twelve Bens range, Connemara is marked by the boundary of the Invermore River, with expansive beaches. The region is recognizable for the breathtaking contrasts of sky, sea, land and bog.

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