Connemara

Connemara, west of Galway, is one of the wildest and most romantic regions of Ireland, a landscape of blanket bog, quartzite mountains, glittering lakes and a deeply indented Atlantic coast. The Twelve Bens rise over Connemara National Park, Killary is Ireland's only fjord, and the Victorian Kylemore Abbey sits like a fairy tale by its lake.

Background

Connemara covers the Atlantic side of western County Galway and holds most of the Connacht Gaeltacht, the Irish-speaking area that is the largest Gaeltacht in Ireland and a core part of local identity. In the past it belonged to Iar Connacht, or West Connacht, whose kings were the Ó Flaithbertaigh. Its landscape mixes mountains, the Twelve Pins among them, with peninsulas, coves, islands and small lakes, and Connemara National Park lies in the northwest. The region is mostly rural, and Clifden is the largest settlement. The Dominican Order once had a monastery about 2 miles north of present-day Roundstone.

Source: Wikipedia, "Connemara"

The landscape

• Kylemore Abbey - the Victorian castle-abbey reflected in its lake.
• Connemara National Park - the bog, mountains and the Diamond Hill walk.
• Killary Harbour - Ireland's only true fjord.
• The Sky Road - the scenic coastal drive near Clifden.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn for the mildest weather; the region is wild and beautiful year-round but very wet. It is a region to tour by car with stops rather than a single sight.

What to expect

The weather is famously wet, so cloud and rain often shroud the mountains. It is a driving region of scattered sights, so a car and time are needed. Its beauty is wild and atmospheric rather than manicured.

Nearby

Galway city is to the east; the Aran Islands lie off the coast to the south.

Key facts