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As you will discover, Galway offers a dizzying array of And smithy work from the Gort forge,
activities for the visitor to enjoy. Restored this tower for my wife George;
To explore the outdoors, why not meet a four legged
friend and go Horse riding or pony trekking in the And may these characters remain
countryside? What an ideal way to unwind in this the When all is ruin once again.
native county of the Connemara pony.
Golfers are spoiled for choice with a wide array of world Another ancient castle worth exploring is Galways'
class links and parkland courses in stunning locations. Dunguaire Castle. Here you can enjoy the nightly
Hillwalkers will have many opportunities to enjoy the Medieval Banquets where you can experience a glimpse
fabulous scenery – there are walking trails both around of Ireland's colourful bardic tradition. Further inland,
Galway city and many fine routes in Connemara and the the Medieval walled town of Athenry boasts a heritage
Twelve Bens. A famous place for fishing, coarse fishing, centre where you can explore more of the past or even
river angling and sea angling are also available locally. enjoy a spot of archery!
Take a ferry to another world and leave the mainland
behind. Visit picturesque Inishbofin from the tiny Learn about Ireland's traditional Wool industry at the
fishing village of Cleggan near Clifden. Further west, Leenane Cultural Centre, overlooking Killary Harbor.
the world famous Aran Islands can be accessed from Here, wool handcrafts including carding, spinning,
Rossaveal or Galway. Walk, hire a bike, ride a horse, see weaving and using natural dyes are all demonstrated.
historical features and wonders, learn to relax - old style. Over twenty different breeds of sheep graze on the
The islands are truly in a world of their own. surrounding land and you will be amazed at ‘one
Playwright John Millington Synge set his play Riders to man and his dog’ working together in total harmony-
the Sea(1907) on the Aran island of Inishmaan. In 1934, rounding them up effortlessly!
the famous film Man of Aran, was filmed here by Robert
Flaherty using island folk as the cast. Explore an underground wonderland at the Glengowla
Set in the heart of Connemara, the Abbey of Kylemore Showmines – two miles outside Oughterard.
has been the home of Benedictine Nuns since 1920. One Take a guided tour through stunning marble chambers
of Ireland's finest architectural gems, this Neo-Gothic and caverns - see silver, lead, calcite, quartz and mineral
Castle also features a miniature neo-Gothic Cathedral formations in Ireland's only show mine.
and a restored Victorian Walled Garden set in tranquil
and beautiful surroundings. At the Battle of Aughrim Visitor you can investigate
Thoor Ballylee is an ancient Norman tower set by a the roots of Ireland's turbulent history. In 1691 this
stream’s edge just outside the town of Gort. Much dramatic clash of Jacobites and Williamites involved
admired by W.B. Yeats, Nobel Prize winner, poet and 45,000 soldiers from nine European nations and could
senator who bought the Tower and adjoining cottages be heard 35 miles away in Galway City!
in 1916 for the princely sum of £35. Celebrating Yeats
150 year anniversary – you can visit today and enjoy an A famous place for fishing, here you can enjoy coarse
audio visual tour on Yeat's life and the tower's history. fishing, river angling and sea angling- all available
Yeats collection of poems “The Tower” contains several locally. Galway's boating culture is one to watch, admire
poems written at or about Thoor Ballylee. The Tower the striking Galway Hookers from the harbour or take in
had been lovingly restored and looks much this same as the currach racing if you get a chance!
it did in the 1920’s when the Yeats family lived there. On
a wall of the tower are the words: Uain ná taoide ní fhanaid le éinne
Time and tide wait for no one!
I, the poet William Butler Yeats,
With old mill boards and sea greed slates, Seanfhocail (Old Saying)
Is fearr píosa ná poll, agus is fearr lom
ná léan.
A patch is better than a hole, and it is
better to be poor than in sorrow.
139
activities for the visitor to enjoy. Restored this tower for my wife George;
To explore the outdoors, why not meet a four legged
friend and go Horse riding or pony trekking in the And may these characters remain
countryside? What an ideal way to unwind in this the When all is ruin once again.
native county of the Connemara pony.
Golfers are spoiled for choice with a wide array of world Another ancient castle worth exploring is Galways'
class links and parkland courses in stunning locations. Dunguaire Castle. Here you can enjoy the nightly
Hillwalkers will have many opportunities to enjoy the Medieval Banquets where you can experience a glimpse
fabulous scenery – there are walking trails both around of Ireland's colourful bardic tradition. Further inland,
Galway city and many fine routes in Connemara and the the Medieval walled town of Athenry boasts a heritage
Twelve Bens. A famous place for fishing, coarse fishing, centre where you can explore more of the past or even
river angling and sea angling are also available locally. enjoy a spot of archery!
Take a ferry to another world and leave the mainland
behind. Visit picturesque Inishbofin from the tiny Learn about Ireland's traditional Wool industry at the
fishing village of Cleggan near Clifden. Further west, Leenane Cultural Centre, overlooking Killary Harbor.
the world famous Aran Islands can be accessed from Here, wool handcrafts including carding, spinning,
Rossaveal or Galway. Walk, hire a bike, ride a horse, see weaving and using natural dyes are all demonstrated.
historical features and wonders, learn to relax - old style. Over twenty different breeds of sheep graze on the
The islands are truly in a world of their own. surrounding land and you will be amazed at ‘one
Playwright John Millington Synge set his play Riders to man and his dog’ working together in total harmony-
the Sea(1907) on the Aran island of Inishmaan. In 1934, rounding them up effortlessly!
the famous film Man of Aran, was filmed here by Robert
Flaherty using island folk as the cast. Explore an underground wonderland at the Glengowla
Set in the heart of Connemara, the Abbey of Kylemore Showmines – two miles outside Oughterard.
has been the home of Benedictine Nuns since 1920. One Take a guided tour through stunning marble chambers
of Ireland's finest architectural gems, this Neo-Gothic and caverns - see silver, lead, calcite, quartz and mineral
Castle also features a miniature neo-Gothic Cathedral formations in Ireland's only show mine.
and a restored Victorian Walled Garden set in tranquil
and beautiful surroundings. At the Battle of Aughrim Visitor you can investigate
Thoor Ballylee is an ancient Norman tower set by a the roots of Ireland's turbulent history. In 1691 this
stream’s edge just outside the town of Gort. Much dramatic clash of Jacobites and Williamites involved
admired by W.B. Yeats, Nobel Prize winner, poet and 45,000 soldiers from nine European nations and could
senator who bought the Tower and adjoining cottages be heard 35 miles away in Galway City!
in 1916 for the princely sum of £35. Celebrating Yeats
150 year anniversary – you can visit today and enjoy an A famous place for fishing, here you can enjoy coarse
audio visual tour on Yeat's life and the tower's history. fishing, river angling and sea angling- all available
Yeats collection of poems “The Tower” contains several locally. Galway's boating culture is one to watch, admire
poems written at or about Thoor Ballylee. The Tower the striking Galway Hookers from the harbour or take in
had been lovingly restored and looks much this same as the currach racing if you get a chance!
it did in the 1920’s when the Yeats family lived there. On
a wall of the tower are the words: Uain ná taoide ní fhanaid le éinne
Time and tide wait for no one!
I, the poet William Butler Yeats,
With old mill boards and sea greed slates, Seanfhocail (Old Saying)
Is fearr píosa ná poll, agus is fearr lom
ná léan.
A patch is better than a hole, and it is
better to be poor than in sorrow.
139
