Galway - 65 Attractions You Must Visit

This is an oasis of ordered splendour in the wild Connemara Countryside. It was one of the last walled gardens built during the Victorian period in Ireland it was so advanced for the time that it was compared in magnificence with Kew Gardens in London. It includes the formal flower garden, glasshouses the head gardener's house, garden bothy, vegetable garden, herbaceous border, fruit trees, a rockery and herb garden.

Letterbreckaun is a 667-metre mountain in County Galway, Ireland. It the second highest peak in the Maumturks range. It is situated is situated in the middle sector of the long north-west to south-east cental spine of the Maumturks mountain range in the Connemara National Park in Galway, Ireland. Letterbreckaun is the 2nd-tallest mountain in the range. A good trekking destination and it also offers beautiful views form here.

This is a rectangular glacial lake and is approximately 2.5 miles long and 0.5 miles wide. A sandy beach is nestled at the edge of the lake and it is ideal for a swim or a picnic lunch on a sunny day. The waters hold a range of fish including wild brown trout and pike. The locality has a number of walks, both for experienced hill walkers and others.

Lough Cutra is a lake in County Galway, Ireland. It is the site of a Special Area of Conservation. There are so many things to see and do in this area and also attracts tourists by its natural beauty.

Lough Inagh is a glacial lake, located in the stunning Inagh Valley, Recess, Connemara. The Twelve Bens range lies to the west of the lake, with Derryclare 677 metres and Bencorr 711 metres directly overlooking the lake. The lake is popular with fishermen and boats are available locally. The lake gives views directly into the large deep southerly corrie between Derryclare and Bencorr, as well as the smaller corrie between Bencorr and Bencorr North Top.

Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the Shannon after Lough Derg. The lake serves as a border between the counties of Longford and Westmeath on the eastern side and County Roscommon in the province of Connacht on the western side. The lake supports a small commercial eel fishery and is locally famous for its eels on wheels truck. Another popular piece of folklore says that there was once a town where the lake is today, but the town was submerged underneath the water.

This was probably the most important pilgrimage site on the Aran Islands during the Middle Ages. It have been home to seven houses of worship, but today only Teampall Brecan and Teampall an Phoill survive. Temple Brecan was built around 1200 and is flanked by a number of rectangular houses, which are believed to be the only pilgrim hostels to survive from late-Medieval Ireland.

Omey Island is a tidal island near Claddaghduff on the western edge of the Connemara region in Galway. It is a magical place only 600 metres offshore, nestled beneath the projecting prow of the Aughrus peninsula and sheltered from the worst of the Atlantic swells by the islands of An Cruach. It is possible to drive or walk across a large sandy strand to the island by following the arrowed signs. At high tide, the water is deep enough to cover a car.

Oranmore Castle is a castle in Oranmore, County Galway, in Ireland. It was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The Castle of the Well played a pivotal part in the defence of Galway during the Confederate Rebellion in the 1640s. It belonged to the Clanricardes, a prominent Norman family in Galway. Galway was under the rule of the Marquess and fifth Earl Clanricarde in 1642 when the town revolted and joined the confederate forces.

Pearse's Cottage in Rosmuc is the former holiday home of Patrick Pearse leader of the 1916 Rising. Pearse also used the house as a summer school for his pupils from St. Enda's where in taught in Dublin.The interior which was burned during the War of Independence has been reconstructed and an exhibition in the cottage is dedicated to the life and work of Pearse.

MV Plassy, or Plassey, was a cargo vessel in the Irish Merchant Service, operating during the 1950s. It was built as HMS Juliet, a Shakespearian-class naval trawler of the Royal Navy at the start of the Second World War, and sold into merchant service at the end of the conflict. As Plassy it was wrecked in a storm off Inisheer, and is best known as the wreck seen on the foreshore of 'Craggy Island' in the TV comedy, Father Ted.

Poll na bPéist is the name of a rectangular, natural water basin with an edge length of approx. 10 by 25 meters within a stone formation on the coast of Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands . It is connected to the waters of the Atlantic through an underground canal. It was created by the erosion of deeper layers of limestone along straight broken edges.

Portumna Castle is a semi-fortified house in Portumna, County Galway, Ireland. It was built in the early 17th century by the 4th Earl of Clanricarde, Richard Burke. The castle is a unique example of the transitional Irish architecture of the early 1600s. Its bold design combines elements of medieval and Renaissance style that complement each other perfectly.

A majestic forest park which covers almost 600 hectares. It is mainly coniferous but also contains a wide variety of broadleaved trees, both native and exotic. There is an old abbey, now under the care of the Office of Public Works, within the Park which dates back to the 15th century. The castle nearby, on which considerable restoration work has been carried out by the OPW, dates back to the 17th century and was the seat of the Earl of Clanrickarde.

The Quiet Man Bridge is a dry stone bridge, which is best known for having been a favourite filming location for John Wayne. The bridge was made famous in the 1950s classic “The Quiet man” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. The location of the bridge is clearly signposted. This is a popular spot with visitors and a great place for photo opportunities.

Rathbaun Farm is situated in a rural area of Southwest County Galway in Ardrahan. The Burke and Connolly family have been farming the 80 acres of land for over 200 years and Fintan Connolly continues this tradition today. Visitors to Rathbaun Farm will be enchanted by its 250 year old thatched cottage, turf fire and original stonewalls. Everyone is invited to hand feed the new lambs which are in plentiful supply between March and November.

A beautiful sandy beach which was located in the stunning Connemara district of Galway. It is widely known for the caravan and camping park that sits right on the edge of the beach. The beach was also one of the recipients of the Green Coast Award Beaches 2013, which is an award for beaches that have excellent water quality but are also prized for their natural, unspoilt environment.

The Sky Road in Clifden is one of the most picturesque areas in the Connemara region. The circular route is 16km long and takes you out west from Clifden, onto the Kingstown peninsula, and back into Clifden via the N59. The peninsula is also a part of the Wild Atlantic Way driving route. The upper path gradually rises and at the highest point you reach a vantage car park. The view from up here over Clifden Bay and the offshore islands in the Atlantic Ocean is breathtaking.

The oratory Teampall Bheanáin is situated near Kilronan on Inishmore, Aran, Galway Bay, Ireland. It dates from the 11th century. Measuring just 3m by 3m, it's thought to have been a hermitage. A unique example of Celtic church construction. It is reasonably assumed to be the tomb-shrine of the saint.