Galway County Council

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Attractions

 

Natural Sites


Heritage Sites


Museum and Visitor Centres


Parks and Gardens


Wildlife


Art Galleries

 

Natural Sites


The West of Ireland is famous for its amazing landscapes. Below are some of the options that a visitor has to discover Galway natural heritage.

Connemara National Park
For further information: www.connemaranationalpark.ie

Killary Fjord

Lough Corrib

Inis Mór - The Worm Hole
For further information: www.aranislands.ie

Inis Meáin - The Puffing Holes
For further information: www.aranislands.ie

Inisbofin - Blowhole and Sea Stacks
For further information: www.inishbofin.com

The Burren
For further information: www.burrenbeo.com

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Heritage Sites


Galway has a rich heritage spread throughout the county, any trip to this region must include an opportunity to explore and relive this exciting legacy. Below are some of the many options that a visitor has to learn more about the history of the region.

Galway East

Athenry

Ballinasloe

Headford

Kilmacduagh

Kinvara

Loughrea

Oranmore

Portumna

Tuam

 

Galway West

Oughterard

Clifden

Cong

Kylemore

 

Aran Islands

Inishmore (Inis Mór) www.aranislands.ie

Inishmaan (Inis Meáin) www.aranislands.ie

Inisheer (Inis Oirr) www.aranislands.ie

 

Galway City


 

Gaeltacht

Galway County has Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) region. To see a map of the Gealtacht, follow this link http://www.galway.ie/gis/gmaps/map.html (Click on ‘Administrative Boundaries’ and ‘an Gaeltacht’).

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Museum and Visitor Centres

Galway has a rich heritage spread throughout the county, any trip to this region must include an opportunity to explore and relive this exciting legacy. Below are some of the many options that a visitor has to learn more about the history of the region.

East Galway

Athenry

Aughrim

Castleblakeney

Gort

Loughrea

Mountbellew

Tuam

Turloughmore

 

West Galway

Ballyconneely

Clifden

Inbhear

Leenane

Letterfrack

Lettermullen Island

Lettershea

Moycullen

Oughterard

 

Aran Islands 

Inisheer

Inishmaan

Inishmore

 

Galway City

 

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Parks and Gardens



There are a number of parks and gardens worth visiting in County Galway. The most unique of these is the Connemara National Park in Letterfrack (www.connemaranationalpark.ie). But many other parks or gardens are worth a look. Some adjoin hotels, but they open their doors to visitors even if they are not residents of the hotel. Please find below the a list of parks and gardens in County Galway.

 

East Galway

 

Coole Park
Gort
Web: www.coolepark.ie

Portumna Forest Park
Portumna
Web: http://portumna.galway-ireland.ie/

Portumna Castle
Portumna
Web: www.heritageireland.ie

Woodville Walled Garden
Kilchreest, Craughwell
Web: www.woodvillewalledgarden.com

 

West Galway

 

Ashford Castle Hotel
Near Cong Village
Web: www.ashford.ie

Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Ballinafad, Connemara
Web: www.ballynahinch-castle.com

Brigit’s Garden
Roscahill
Web: www.brigitsgarden.ie

Cashel House Hotel Garden
Cashel Bay
Web: www.cashel-house-hotel.com

Errislannan Manor Gardens
Clifden
Web: www.errislannanmanor.com/garden

Kylemore Abbey and Gardens
Kylemore, Connemara
Web: www.kylemoreabbey.com

Rosleague Manor
Letterfrack, Connemara
Web: www.rosleague.com

Renvyle House
Renvyle, Connemara
Web: www.renvyle.com

Ross Castle
Roscahill, near Oughterard
Web: www.rosscastle.com

Zetland Country House Hotel
Cashel, Connemara
Web: www.zetland.com

 

For further information about Parks in County Galway www.galway.ie/en/Services/Leisure/PublicParks/.

 

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Wildlife



Galway County is rich in biodiversity. You might want to go for a walk to see wild flowers or birds, or you may be interested in discovering fish with the kids. You can’t resist seeing sheep or Connemara Ponies? Below is some information about how and where you can get to see the fauna and flora that can be found in Galway.

 

Biodiversity

 

The Burren
To find out more about the wildlife in the Burren (South-East of County Galway), visit the website of Burrenbeo, the Burren landscape charity.

Connemara
The best place to discover the Connemara biodiversity is the Connemara National Park (West of County Galway).

Inishbofin
Another interesting place to enjoy discovering wild flowers and animals is Inishbofin. To find out more visit www.inishbofin.com.

For other rich places in wildlife in County Galway, here are maps of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) Wildlife and Special Protection Areas (SPA).

 

Birds

Some places where you can watch birds:

If you are really into bird watching, you might want to be accompanied by a guide across Galway City and County (Bird Galway Guide Tom Cuffe Email: tblcuffe@iol.ie Tel: 00 353 87 9190818 ) or spend a Birdwatching Weekend on Inishbofin.

 

Fish

If you want to discover the fishes living in the Irish waters, you can either go to the Galway Atlantaquaria in Salthill, Galway City or the Connemara Ocean and Country Museum Letterfrack (Tel: 00 353 95 43473 / 00 353 86 19911988 / 00 353 87 6461189).

 

Seals

If you are lucky enough, you might see seals in the Galway waters! There are two seal colonies off the islands, one off Inishmore close to the beach Portmurvy and the other off Inishbofin.

 

Horses

Horses, and maybe more particularly Connemara ponies, are part of Galway heritage. Two museums in the county are dedicated to horses: the Dartfield Horse Museum & Park in Loughrea (www.dartfield.com) and the Connemara Pony Breeders Society Heritage Centre in Clifden (Information available in this brochure page 11). County Galway also hosts a number of Pony shows. Have a look to the calendar of events to check when they take place.

 

Farm Animals

 

Go with the children to discover the farm animals at Turoe Farm & Leisure Park in Loughrea (www.turoepetfarm.com) , experience farm life in Rathbaun Farm in Ardrahan (www.rathbaunfarm.com), Loughwell Farm Park in Moycullen (www.loughwellfarmpark.ie) or find out more about the sheep and wool industry in Connemara at the Leenane Sheep and Wool Centre in Leenane (www.sheepandwoolcentre.com).

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Art Galleries

 

If you want to see and enjoy arts, several art galleries are to be found across Galway County and City.

 

Galway County

 

The Whitethorn Gallery
The Station House, Clifden
Web: www.thewhitethorngallery.ie

The Painter’s Palette
Moycullen Shopping Centre, Moycullen
Web: www.thepainterspalette.ie

Stronach Gallery
Fermoyle Lodge, Costello, Connemara
Web: www.stronachgallery.com

Aras Eanna Arts Centre
Inisheer, Aran Islands
Web: www.araseanna.ie

Art House Gallery
N17 Business Park, Galway Road, Tuam, Co. Galway
Tel : 00 353 93 60746

Vanda Luddy Gallery
Oughterard
Web: www.vandaluddy.com

 

Galway City

 

Galway Arts Centre
47 Dominick Street, Galway City
Web: www.galwayartscentre.ie

The Kenny Gallery
Liosbán Retail Park, Tuam Road, Galway City
Web: www.thekennygallery.ie

The Black Cat Gallery
17 Market Street, Galway City
Web: www.janetvinnell.com/black_cat_gallery.html

Art Essence Gallery
Unit 7, Killkerin Business Park, Liosban, Galway City
Web: www.denisehogandesign.com

 

Galway County Council has endeavored to compile as comprehensive a list of activities and attractions as possible. Should you know of additional activities or attractions that you think should be added to this list please contact us with details at community@galwaycoco.ie.

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