County Galway is on the west coast of Ireland, in the historical province of Connacht, almost directly across the island from Dublin. It is home to fantastic scenery and the largest Gaeltacht in the country.

Regions

  • Connemara is covered in green mountains. When low-lying cloud rolls in, which is most of the time, the region looks like something right out of a fairy tale.
  • Cities

  • Galway City
  • Ahascragh
  • Other destinations

  • Castlegar
  • Clifden
  • The Aran Islands lie just off the coast of Connemara.
  • Understand

    The Gaelic name for this county, ''Gaillimh'', derives from ''Gaill'', the Gaelic word for oustiders or foreigners. It is ironic, then, that this county is now home to the largest ''gaeltacht'', where the language and culture of Ireland still survives.

    The landscape in [http://www.galway-ireland.ie County Galway] is varied. The interior is largely flat, while the Connemara, in the northwest is a region of ancient glacier scared mountains, blanket bog peatlands and rugged coastlines. The Aran Islands and the south are rocky and barren places, containing numerous stone age forts, including Dun Aenghus (one of the best examples of its kind in Europe), beautiful in its isolation. To top it off, there is also the urban landscape of Galway City, the west coast's largest city.

    Talk

    Both English and Irish Gaelic are widely spoken in County Galway. As with the rest of Ireland, most Gaelic speakers are found in smaller and more isolated villages, while the cities are dominantly English speaking.

    Get in

    Frequent [http://www.citylink.ie buses] and [http://www.irishrail.ie trains] arrive from Dublin into Galway City. [http://www.buseireann.ie Local buses] into smaller communities in [http://www.galway-ireland.ie County Galway] also arrive from neighbouring counties.

    Get around

  • [http://www.buseireann.ie Bus Eireann] operates the only public transportation link between smaller towns. Their network radiates outward from Galway City
  • [http://www.aranislandferries.com/ Aran Island Ferries] and [http://www.queenofaran2.com/ Inis Mor Ferries] operate ferries to the Aran Islands
  • By car hire

    Car hire is available from several agencies in the city and at the airport.

  • Avis
  • [http://www.budget-ireland.com Budget Car Rental Ireland] - Locations at both Galway Airport and Eyre Sq in Galway City Center
  • Hertz
  • Alamo / National
  • Dan Dooley
  • Enterprise Rent a Car
  • See

    Do

  • Hike through the Twelve Bens in Connemara.
  • Bike around the Sky Road near Clifden.
  • Take a walking tour of Historic medieval Galway with [http://www.galwaytours.ie Galway Tours]
  • Eat

    Drink

    Taaffes bar on shop street Galway City.Traditional irish music every night Monroe's Tavern on lower dominic street Galway City.

    Stay safe

    Get out

    Check out [http://www.galwaycitypubguide.com Galway Pub Guide]to see whats happening in Galway