|
Main Tourist Attractions
Quiet Man Film Locations
County Galway has several locations which were used in the
making of the file.
The Quiet Man. Visit the main film locations
in an organised tour or join the
Quiet Man Fan Club.
Athenry - Mediaval
Town with Arts and Heritage Centre
Athenry, a medieval town situated 23km from Galway City is
steeped in history. Founded in the 13th century by Meiler
de Birmingham, who surrounded the town with a curtain wall
with towers and a moat. It is the only walled town in Ireland
whose still-intact walls are clearly visible to the approaching
visitor
Battle
of Aughrim Interpretative Centre
Aughrim, Ballinasloe - on the main Galway - Dublin
Road.
Relive the bloodiest battle in Irish history fought in a
small Connaught village.
Move back in time and place to that fateful day in 1691 through
an audio-visual show based
on the moving account of Captain Walter Dalton who fought
at the Battle of Aughrim.
St. Jarlaths Wheel - Tuam
Located beside the Catholic Cathedral in the North Galway
town of Tuam.
Tuam is also home to a 13th century parish church
ruins and graveyard, located at Teampall Jarlath, High St.
Tuam.
Galway
Bay
Drive along the coast road from Galway to Spiddal and view
the splendour of Galway Bay.
Later in the day one can experience the famed in song 'Sun
go down on Galway Bay'
Continuing West takes one into the Twelve Pins of Connemara
mountain range.
Tropical
Butterfly Centre
Carraroe, Connemara, Galway. 2 miles from Rossaveal Harbour
on R343.
Located in the heart of Connemara, Seawinds Nurseries and
Tropical Butterfly Centre offers a unique experience in family
entertainment, regardless of weather. Set amid the lush splendour
of a tropical enclosure, you can see hundreds of free flying
exotic Butterflies in their natural environment.
The
Aran Islands - located in Galway
Bay
Situated at the mouth of Galway bay. Day
trips available from Galway and Clare coasts.
Organised tours available on the Islands.
Visit the cottage where J.M. Synge, the well-known Anglo-Irish
author and playwright stayed and took the theme of The Playboy
of the Western World.
Eyre
Square -
Galway City
Eyre Square (renamed John F Kennedy
Park) ; an open green park where
on can relax or view the many attractions,
including
the Statue of Paraic O'Connaire ; erected in 1935 in memory
of the writer who travelled the roads with his horse and
cart. Best remembered for M'asal Beag Dubh. Died 1928
Kirwan's
Lane -
Galway City
Kirwan's Lane (off Quay Street) is one of Galway's last remaining
late Mediaeval Lanes and has been recently redeveloped as
a residential area. It was here that the Galway MP Richard
Martin built a 100-seater theatre for his actress wife in
1783. Among those who acted there was the republican patriot,
Wolfe Tone.
Clifden
in West Galway
The location of the landing of the first Trans-Atlantic air
crossing by Alcock and Brown. A very scenic part of Ireland.
Kinvara - Galway Hooker Boats
Kinvara hosts an annual festival to celebrate those unique
sea boats each year. Always a selection of the old style
Hooker boats on view. Those boats were used to transport
turf in bygone days.
Portumna Castle
The great semi-fortifed house at Portumna was built before
1618 by Richard Burke or de Burgo, 4th Earl of Clanricarde.
There are exhibitions in the castle and Gate House.
Coole
Park
Located close to Gort, on the Galway Road, the former home
of Lady Gregory, a founder of the Abbey Theatre and friend
of William Butler Yeats. The house no longer stands, but
the estate is now a national nature reserve. The garden of
the house, with its yew walk and autograph tree is preserved.
Carved on the autograph tree, among others are the signatures
of John Masefield, George Bernard Shaw and Sean O'Casey.
Attractions include nature trails, walks, a lake and turlough.
Thoor Ballylee
Once the former summer home of W.B. Yeats this restored Norman
tower house was purchased by Yeats in 1916. In 1965 the tower
was opened to the public. An audio visual presentation and
push button audio narratives in the rooms are available in
the tower, which is open to the public from Easter to October.
Turoe Pet Farm
Located close to Loughrea, in a beautiful rural setting,
Turoe Pet Farm provides great attractions for young and old,
native and tourist! Excellent facilities are provided catering
for individual, family and group needs
Dunguaire
Castle
Located in Kinvara, Dunguaire Castle was built by the O'Hynes
in 1520. The clans association with the castle dates back
as far as 662AD when their ancestor Guaire, King of Connnacht,
ruled his kingdom from an earthwork rath close to the present
castle site. Richhad Martyn, Mayor of Galway, acquired the
castle in the seventeenth century and it was subsequently
purchased by Oliver Saint John Gogarty. During his tenure
the castle was the venue for meetings of the literary revivalists,
led by W.B Yeats. The bardic tradition which Yeats believed
in, is reflected in the Medieval Banquet held every night.
Mill
Museum - Tuam
Located in Tuam, this is the last surviving corn mill in
the Tuam area. It closed as a working mill in 1964 - its
machinery is still in place, however, so visitors can view
the old milling process.
This mill played a vital part in the life of the local community
and a voluntary committee opened it as a museum in 1974.
It also serves as a seasonal tourist information office.
Heritage Sites
Athenry Castle
Athenry is one of the most notable medieval
walled towns surviving in Ireland, owing
its foundation to Meiler de Bermingham
who built his Castle there c.1250. The
great three-storey tower, surrounded
by defensive walls, is entered at first-floor
level through an unusual decorated doorway.
Recently re-roofed, the interior contains
an audio visual room and exhibition.
Aughnanure Castle Galway - Oughterard
Built by the O'Flahertys c. 1500, Aughnanure Castle lies
in picturesque surroundings close to the shores of Lough
Corrib. Standing on what is virtually a rocky island,
the Castle is a particularly well-preserved example of an Irish
tower house. In addition, visitors will find the remains
of a banqueting hall, a watch tower, an unusual double
bawn and bastions and a dry harbour.
Dun Aonghasa - Inishmore, Aran Islands
Perched spectacularly on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic
ocean, this is the largest of the prehistoric stone
forts of the Aran Islands. It is enclosed by three massive
dry-stone walls and a "chevaux-de-frise" consisting
of tall blocks of limestone set vertically into the
ground
to deter attackers. The fort is about 900m from the
Visitor Centre and is approached over rising ground.
Teach an Phiarsaigh (Patrick Pearse's Cottage)
Rosmuc
A small restored cottage used by
Patrick Pearse (1879 - 1916)
leader of the 1916 Rising, as a summer residence. The
interior, although burned during
the War of Independence, has been
reconstructed and contains an exhibition and a number
of
momentoes of Pearse.
Interesting Tourist Shops
Tus Craft Design
Tus Craft Design is a retail outlet in The
Bridge Mills which displays a range of top quality art and crafts
made locally in and around Galway.
Peacockes Craft Shop
Located at Maam Cross, the Crossroads
of Connemara ; sells a comprehensive range of Irish craft products, such as knitwear, crystal, jewellery, and CDs much
of which is available by mail order.
The Galway Crystal Factory Shop
Located at Dublin Road, Galway
City ; sells locally manufactured crystal
products.
Recognised as a world leader in crystal glass products.
In 1997, The Galway Irish Crystal Heritage Centre was
awarded the prestigious
Irish American Cultural Institute Heritage Award.
Royal Tara China Shop,
Located at Mervue, Galway City ; sells
locally manufactured china products.
Royal Tara has been producing Fine Bone China of the highest
quality since it was established in 1953. Today the wisdom
of this policy is reflected in the company's thriving export
market. It has earned Royal Tara China a reputation for excellent
design, craftmanship and quality that is renowned worldwide.
Galway Bay Gifts (aka - Assets Gifts)
Located at 21A High St, in the heart
of Galway City.
Offer a wide range of Irish Novelty items,
Fun Gifts, Jewelry. While ostensibly
a tourist
shop you will find lots to suit your
home grown shopper also. They like shoppers
to
leave with a smile and have lots of fun and funky stuff on
the shelves.
Standún,
Coast Road, An Spidéal (Spiddal), Co. Galway.
Established over 50 years ago, this family-run store is a
one-stop source for quality Irish
products - Aran sweaters, woollens, tweeds, crystal,
pottery, china, linens,
and jewelry including the famous Claddagh ring.
O'Maille - Quality Knitwear
O'Máille's is a name that has long been synonymous with
quality knitwear and tailored clothes for men and women.
Established
in 1938, our family-owned business is located in Galway
City, in the heart of the West of Ireland, home of the
world-famous
Aran Sweater.
|
