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Day tours from Galway and Salthill
Visitors who do not have their own transport, and wish
to explore the peaceful countryside, have a range of options that will allow
them to explore the city and county.There are several local companies who run
day coach tours to Connemara, Cong and Maam Valley and the Cliffs of
Moher.Western Cultural and Heritage Tourist organise walking tours of Galway
city which explore the core and the history of medieval Galway daily during
the summer months. Alternatively, see Galway and Salthill and the outlying
area in style by taking the open-topped coach. You can take daily boat trips
to the Aran Islands from Rosaveal, or fly with Aer Aran from Inverin airport,
with connecting coach service from Galway city from Connemara airport.
Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a guided tour of the
river Corrib on the modern Corrib Princess. The cruise will take you past
University College Galway, Menlo Castle and various sites of both historical
interest and natural beauty. There is an abundance of wild life and a peace
and tranquility all of its own. Daily sailings from Woodquay at 2.30 and
4.30.
Connemara and Kylemore Abbey tour
West of Galway City is the beautiful landscape of Connemara, with its many
bogs, rugged mountains, blue lakes and rivers running down to many beach
lined shores.
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Drive along Galway's coast road and feel life's difficulties
slipping away. On the left is the powerful Atlantic Ocean, while on the
right is the rocky landscape of Connemara. Freshwater and sea fishing are
abundant. The pace of life here is relaxed. Much of the area is Irish
speaking and many old customs survive. Visit Roundstone, the Inagh valley,
Recess, Leenane, Kylemore, Letterfrack, while keeping an eye out for the
Connemara sheep grazing along the slopes, tiny blobs of white against the
ever-changing pattern of colour and light.
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Clifden
is the Capital of Connemara – a lively spot with excellent restaurants and
many pubs. The Twelve Bens' mountains provide a wonderful backdrop to the
town.Not to be missed is the 'Sky Drive', an exhilarating 7 miles circular
drive west of Clifden. Enjoy the fresh sea air, the peace, tranquility and
closeness of nature. In August the town hosts the famous Connemara Pony Show.
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Kylemore Abbey, set in the heart of the Connemara
mountains, is the highlight of the trip, with its beautiful Gothic Church.
It is now a Benedictine High School for girls. Close-by is one of Ireland's
finest National parks (Open mid-May – October 1st). Visit Dan O'Hara's
pre-famine (1840) farm and heritage centre incorporating a pre-historic
lake dwelling (Crannog) dating to 1500 BC, a neolithic tomb (5000 years
old), a pre-historic Dolmen Tomb.
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Returning
towards Maam Cross, the Maamturk mountain on the left and the Twelve Bens
tower behind in shades of purples, blues and greens. In this area some green
marble quarries can be found. Fans of the classic 1951 film 'The Quiet Man',
starring John Ford and Maureen O'Hara, will want to visit the Maam Cross and
Maam Bridge area, where parts of the film were made. This is also the main
area where the farmers dig the peat from the bog.Oughterard, a town on the
banks of the Lough Corrib, is one of the best fishing lakes in Ireland and is
one on Ireland's leading anglers' resorts. Here you will find Aughanore
Castle, a 15th century Tower House. One wall of the banqueting hall still
stands and its windows contain some of the finest specimens of floral
decorative stone carving of their period. Open during the summer months.
The Connemara region is
truly a magical area. Artists from all over the world have come to paint this
landscape with its ever-changing light.
Burren and Cliffs of Moher day trip
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A day trip to the Cliffs of Moher incorporating
Dunguaire Castle, the Burren and Ailwee Caves and the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a
5000 year old megalythic burial tomb.Drive south on the N67 to the pretty
fishing village of Kinvara, and Dunguaire Castle, a 16th century Tower
House. This castle is open to visitors by day, and holds Medieval Banquets
nightly during the summer months. The entertainment celebrates the richness
of Ireland's' literary and musical past and evokes the colourful characters
who are so much a part of the castle's history. Further south is the famous
Ailwee cave with its stalactites, stalagmites, relics of bears and a
waterfall. Next to the Burren – a unique
bare limestone area with its combination of many unusual factors, its
geology, its flora and fauna, caves and archaeology.
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This is the area where the first stone age dwellers
settled. When Cromwell's envoy visited The Burren, he brought back reports
of "a savage land, yielding neither, water enough to drown a man, nor
a tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury him".
One can explore the many prehistoric sites of Dolmens,
most noteworthy the famous Poulnabrone dolmen, a 5000 years old tomb used
by stone dwellers to bury their dead. Round stone forts, souterrains, and
burial chambers of the people who inhabited this land can also be found.
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Going south are the majestic Cliffs of Moher, dropping
700 feet to the heavy selling Atlantic Ocean on the west coast to Clare.
Extending for 5 miles, these spectacular natural monuments are now home to
puffins and guillenots, cormorants and rare fossils.At the foot of Abbey
Hill, the ruin of the12th century Cistercian Abbey of Corcomroe rises
unexpectedly among the rocks.
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Return by the coast
road towards Blackhead lighthouse with breathtaking views of Fanore beach,
the blue Atlantic and the Connemara coast with the Aran Islands in the
distance.
Awild and lonely
timeless region that weaves its own mystery. A visit is a must.
Day Trip to the Aran Islands
On the edge of the
Atlantic, at the mouth of Galway Bay are the world famous Aran Islands, a
maze of stone walls and tiny fields.
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They are renowned for their unique way of life, where
age-old traditions co-exist comfortably with modern living. The islands are
rich in history, which can be seen from their ancient monuments, from both
pre-historic and Christian times. Gaelic is still the spoken language on
all three Islands. On Innishmore, the largest island, is the Dun Aengus
fort. Situated on the edge of the western world, it rises nearly 100 metres
from the Atlantic Ocean below. Because of its superb position and
structural perfection, it has been pronounced one of the most famous and
important pre-historic monuments in Europe and is thought to date back to
about the time of Christ.
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The Island's main port town is Kilronan, where you can
hire bicycles, a minibus, or jaunting car to take you round this rugged
island. Innismaan is the middle island, where one should go to see what
remains of the old, traditional lifestyle. The smallest island, Innisheer
boasts the remains of some ancient churches and a holy well. There are
several flights daily from Inverin airport to the islands. There are three
sailings daily in the summer months from Rosaveal, with connecting coach
service from Galway City.
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Other towns to visit
Cong
Lough Corrib stretches from Galway City to north Mayo and boasts 360 islands.
The upper lake is famous for it trout and salmon angling and is the most
scenic. Built on its banks is the picturesque village of Cong, with its 13th
century Augustinian Abbey and the magnificent Celtic cross erected in the
centre of the village. This village was the setting for the classic firm 'The
Quiet Man' shot here in 1951, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Nearby
is the fairy-tale-like Ashford castle, now an hotel, standing like a stone
jewel between the woods of Cong and the waters of the Corrib.
Gort
The
bustling town of Gort is situated 20 miles south of Galway city. Close-by is
Thoor Ballylee, a delightful 16th Century Tower House, once the home of the
poet W.B. Yeats during the 1920's. Recently restored by Bord Failte, it now
houses an interpretative centre on Yeat's life and works.
Nearby
is Coole Park, once the home of Lady Gregory. At the turn of the 19th
century, during the Celtic Literacy renewal, Lady Gregory played host to
leading lliterary figures of the day, W.B.Yeats; George Bernard Shaw; Sean
O'Casey; Oliver St. John gogarty and many more. Colle House was demolished in
the 1950's. Onl the famous Yew walk, garden and autograph tree remain, to
remind us of the part this played in the Irish literary renaissance. The
stables have been converted to an interpretative centre and tearooms. The
grounds are now a National Park and Wildlife Park and are open to the public
from May to September.
Athenry
Athenry is
unique in that it is the only walled town in Ireland whose still intact
medieval walls are clearly visible to the approaching visitor.
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It has five towers and a town entrance known as the North
Gate. The Arts and Heritage centre is located amid the ruins of the 13th
century St Mary's church. Among the exhibits are the town's 14th century
Civic Mace and Seal that were returned to the people of Athenry after an
absence of 160 years. Other places of interest are Athenry Castle (1235);
Dominican Priory (1241); Athenry's medieval Walls (1313); the North Gate
(15th century); Market Cross (15th Century). The town is situated about 15
minutes (by car or train) east of Galway City, in the heart of rich
country, made famous by the popular song, "The Fields of
Athenry".
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Ballintubber Abbey
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Ballintubber Abbey is situated on the N84 near the
town of Claremorris. It was founded by Cathal O'Connor, King of Connaught,
near the site of the church built by St. Patrick in 441. It is Ireland's
only Royal Abbey. One can stroll around the grounds of the Abbey and pray
within its hallowed walls. There is an interpretative centre and a neatly
thatched cottage and tea rooms.
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For more information on Galway, please visit comprehensive web site: www.galway.net
For a more comprehensive listing of all Galway sites, please visit the Doras
Directory
Doras@eircom.net
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