Western Ireland
Western Ireland is a region of lush scenery and historical attractions that breathe Irish green. Made up of the counties of Mayo, Clare, Galway, and Roscommon, Western Ireland is a vacation dream-come-true for all those who like friendly faces, cultural diversity, and enough active pursuits to keep one busy for a month of Sundays. The region has a living Gaelic culture, with strong Irish speaking communities in Galway and Mayo and on the lovely Aran Islands. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, golf, horseback riding, sailing, or lounging on a sun drenched beach.Western Ireland is overflowing with the kinds of attractions that will make those with even a passing interest in history giddy with excitement. The Kylemore Abbey in county Galway is home to Benedictine nuns and is also a school for girls. The neo-gothic designed abbey is open to the public and visitors can enjoy guided or self-guided tours of the chapel and grounds. The exquisitely beautiful chapel is the jewel of the abbey. Another can't-miss heritage site is Dunguaire Castle, which sits just outside picturesque Kinvara on Galway Bay. The clan that built the Castle in 1520 AD named it after Guaire, King of Connaught, an early ancestor who ruled the kingdom around 662 AD. Dunguaire Castle has served as the venue for meetings of the literary revivalists such as W.B. Yeats, his patron Lady Gregory, George Bernard Shaw, Edward Martin and J.M. Synge.
Western Ireland is also a great place for a day at the beach. Ireland participates in the Blue Flag beach conservation program, an organization that rates beaches on cleanliness and other environmental standards. Of the 76 Blue Flag beaches in Ireland, 19 of them are located in Western Ireland. The beaches range from hidden pocket beaches to wide swaths of sand filled with local activities and amenities. Traught Beach in county Galway is a great spot for observing the local bird population. Old Head Beach, near Westport, is sheltered by cliffs and the nearby woodlands. This is a bigger, lively beach offering a variety of amenities. Whatever your taste in beaches, Western Ireland has the perfect spot to throw down your towel.
Golf enthusiasts consider Ireland to be a sort of pilgrimage, a necessary step in the complete evolution of a golfer's soul, and Western Ireland is full of the kinds of courses that these golfers dream of. One such course is Carne Golf Links in Belmullet, County Mayo. This is links golf at its purest. The course sits nestled overlooking nearby Achill Island, and its rugged scenic beauty equals its stern test of golfing skill. The Galway Bay Golf & Country Club has played host to the Irish National PGA Tournament and numerous European PGA Tour events. This scenic and difficult test of golf is bordered on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean. Gort Golf Club, located in the town of the same name, was designed by Ryder Cup star, Christy O' Connor Junio, and officially opened in August 1996. It is quickly developing a reputation as one of the most popular courses in the area. The course is nestled near the scenic moonscape area known as the Burren and uses the lay of the land in creating a course both difficult and beautiful to play.
