Galway and the Connemara

The first ime I heard about the Connemara was in the French song « Les lacs du Connemara » from Michel Sardou.  I went there the first time with my parents in 1997, and just loved it ! Who would not…  Dublin car rental is easy, or you can rent a car in Galway.

1. Galway
Galway is a lovely small city, easy to visit by foot and very busy during the summer with a great night life. Some famous buildings are the Spanish Arch, St Nicola’s church, Lynch’s castle, and Galway Cathedral.

2.  Aran Islands
The Aran Islands are located about 48km from the mouth of Galway Bay. The islands are famous for their prehistoric and Christian monuments including the spectacular Dún Aengus fort that is one of best examples of this type of fort in all of Europe. Enjoy the cliff-top walks and spectacular coastal scenery. To get there, go to Ros a' Mhíl where is the ferry terminal. No car is allowed on the islands so the best is to rent a bike to travel around the island.

3. The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most visited tourist attractions. Situated between the villages of Liscannor and Doolin, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most spectacular natural wonders. Over 214 meters tall at their highest point, the shale and sandstone cliffs drop almost vertically to the Atlantic ocean far below. From the top there are views, on a clear day, to the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maum Turk and Twelve Bens mountains in Connemara to the north and Loop Head in Co Clare to the south.Try to get there in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid the crowd, especially during the summer.

 4.The Connemara
Located in the north west corner of County Galway, Connemara's breathtaking landscape is a mixture of unspoilt rivers, lakes, woodlands, rich meadowlands, rugged hills, dramatic mountains and stunning coastline of sandy beaches and crystal blue waters. Connemara is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) area, rich in Irish culture, heritage and traditions. The main town in the Connemara region is Clifden but there are many others very interesting attractions like Kylemore Abbey, Connemara History & Heritage Centre in Clifden, Glengowla Mines in Oughterard and  Connemara National Park. Connemara is the ideal place to go hiking and camping, but be ready for the rain !