Destination Ireland West
Galway City is situated at the heart of the West and is celebrated as the youthful, fun-loving and cultural capital of Ireland. Famous for its pubs, festive atmosphere and lively entertainment scene, Galway is a regional centre for the Irish Language and a vibrant University City frequented by artists, actors, writers and musicians alike.
North west of Galway City is the wild and rugged landscape of Connemara with its vast peat boglands, dark shadowy lakes and scenic mountain ranges. Stretching from Galway Bay to Killary Harbour (Irelands only natural fjord) Connemara takes in the jagged peaks of the Twelve Bens and Maamturk Mountains, the grey watery expance of Lough Corrib and the desolate beauty of the Inagh Valley. This incredible and breathtaking lanscape remains wild at heart and while protected by its own relative isolation, Connemara has remained a bastion of tradition and is home to Irelands largest Gaeltacht or Irish speaking area.
South west of Galway City and across the bay is the great limestone karst region known as the Burren (rocky place) with its unique geology and facinating lunar landscape. Covering an area of 150 square miles this grey stone wilderness is renowned for its abundant flora and fauna and is recognised as a vast memorial to ancient Irish cultures from the neolithic age to the medieval era. The Burren region offers a wide variety of visitor attractions and interesting pursuits including medieval castle banquets, match making festivals, underworld cave exploration and giant wave surfing beneath the spectacular Cliffs of Moher.
Off the west coast of Galway and at the edge of the ancient world lie the three Aran Islands with their untamed barren landscape, unique lifestyle and preserved Irish language. Visitor attractions include numerous ancient christian sites, the Aran sweater market and museum along with Dun Aengus, the most magnificent and dramatically situated Celtic stone fort in Western Europe.