Galway
Eyes light up and stories flow when anyone mentions Galway, a county defined by its untamed scenery and traditional culture. Discover for yourself a region that holds a special place in the heart of anyone that visits. Galway Bay - its beauty unchanging -, mountains and castles, stone walls, banks of turf and long sandy beaches, clear lakes and flowing rivers. This ever-changing countryside is dotted with pretty villages, visitor attractions, restaurants and traditional pubs. Many return to rediscover the wild Atlantic coast with its deserted sweeps of golden sand, to hike the craggy mountains, windswept bogs and deserted valleys of Connemara, to fish and golf on some of the most spectacular lakes and links in all of Ireland, and to join in the good life at the county's many and varied festivals.
From the pulsating heart of Galway City the rest of Galway county flows, from historical East Galway, with the heritage towns of Athenry, Ballinasloe, Gort, Tuam and Loughrea, to the Connemara region, with the picturesque town of Clifden as its capital.
Music and language define much of the magnetism of Galway, and the soft melodies seep through the county from the rugged islands to the late-night sessions in many a pub. The Irish language is alive and thriving here and still spoken in the scenic Gaeltacht areas such as Spiddal, the Aran Islands and Roundstone.
The glorious Aran Islands remain criss-crossed by a labyrinth of stone walls and are home to the dramatic Dun Aonghasa fort and a bastion of traditional dance, music and song. The islands are a world away from the hustle and bustle of city-life.
Elsewhere majestic castles, soaring cathedrals and ruined abbeys dot the county. Visit the ancient Clonfert Cathedral, attend a medieval banquet at Dunguaire Castle, or take a walk along Kylemore's placid lakeside or through the Victorian Walled Garden.
Experience a pre-Famine hill village at Cnoc Suain in Spiddal - the centre here offers one day & half-day heritage programmes, based on the cultural, natural & built heritage of Connemara. A visit to Brigit's Garden near Moycullen takes you on a journey through the sacred spiral of the seasons into the heart of Celtic mythology, folklore and heritage.
Foodies can enjoy oysters in Clarinbridge, smoked and marinated wild and organic salmon at the Connemara Smokehouse, artisan meats from McGeoughs in Oughterard and visit some of the county's country & farmers markets.
Sail across Galway Bay, ride along deserted beaches and discover the vibrancy, humour and relaxed attitude of this very special corner of Ireland.
Those of us who love grand old houses, magnificent scenery, a fine flavour of Irish culture and great stories, simply should not miss this tour which takes in some sites in Galway. Where you choose to start the Yeats Trail is up to you, but access is easy via Dublin, Shannon, Knock, (Ireland West), Galway or Sligo Airports.
At your first destination, present your Yeats Trail Passport where it will be stamped. You are now eligible for a 30% discount on entry to all paid attractions included in the tour. The maps indicate the visitor atttractions where your Yeats Trail passport can be stamped. Having visited at least five of the locations you will receive your personalised Yeats Trail Certificate.
The Autographed Tree in Coole Park near Gort, Co Galway is the former home of Lady Gregory and one of the stops on the Yeats Trail. Here you can see 'The Autographed Tree' where many famous Irish writers carved their names and initials into the wood. The heritage centre & tea rooms here are well worth a visit and, if weather permits, you should take a wander on one of the nature trails on site.
Also on the Yeats Trail is Thoor Ballylee. W.B. Yeats, Nobel Prize winner, poet and senator, bought this ancient Norman tower and adjoining cottages in 1916. The tower now houses a Visitor Information Office. In the tower rooms audio visual presentations on the life and times of W. B. Yeats are available in seven languages while outside is a beautiful riverside walk to a nearby ancient mill.
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