Galway sits at the head of Galway Bay on the Galway River.  The river, which is locally known as the River Corrib, is named after the scenic Lough Corrib, which is a short hop to the north of the city.  The lake/loch/lough is the largest in the Republic of Ireland. 

Attractions in County Clare

The Cliffs of Moher 

The Cliffs of Moher, highlighted by a precipitous drop to the turbulent waters of the Atlantic, are one of the most spectacular sights in Ireland. Located on Ireland's west coast between Liscannor Bay and the South Sound (near Hags Head) the Cliffs are a dramatic sight. The drop to the Atlantic is approximately 700 feet and almost straight down. The landscape evokes a feeling of tenacity, as if Ireland (and the Irish) struggled up out of the sea and continue to spit in the wind to show their determination to survive.

The Cliffs of Moher are a popular attraction and at over six miles in length, there is room for everyone.  Aside from an observation tower where you can get a more panoramic view of the Cliffs, there is little development and the wind, waves and weather all too often let you know who rules this rugged coast.

Cornelius O'Brien, relative of the famed Brian Boru - the historic king of Ireland, built the tower on the edge of the Cliffs of Moher in the early 19th century, as a tourist attraction.  From the tower you can see north to the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and Connemara.  A modest fee is charged for admission.

There is now a new visitor center set into the hillside called the Visitor Experience at the Cliffs of Moher (fee).  It includes an interpretative center called the Atlantic Edge, as well as a cafe, restaurant and audio-visual theatre. Visit the official Cliffs of Moher website for information on the Cliffs and the visitor's center.

The Burren    

Often represented as "a landscape from another world", or a "moonscape", the Burren is a bare-rock area comprised of uniquely weathered limestone.  The area is known for its megalithic burial mounds and dolmens.

The Burren is variant of the type of landscape known as karst.  In these areas, layers of dense, highly jointed, thinly bedded limestone are extremely susceptible to erosion, which results an environment with caves, springs, streams in unexpected places, and a unique look. In addition, during the Ice Age, the Burren was pulverized by glaciers that left a rolling, rocky, plane.

Today, the area looks like a "rock graveyard" with blocks of limestone of various sizes, ranging from large plates to small stones, spread haphazardly across low rolling hills. Most vegetation has a hard time growing in glaciated, limestone areas, but an amazing variety of plants that grow nowhere else in Ireland, make the Burren their home. 

The Burren National Park is located in the southeastern section of the Burren and covers approximately six square miles.  For information on visiting the park and for information on the areas wildlife, see the park's official website.

More than five thousand years ago, the early inhabitants of the area, used slabs of limestone to build temples and portal tombs, sometimes called dolmens. The Poulnabrone Dolmen (off R480 - north and east of Lisdoonvarna and south of Ballyvaughan) is shown in the photograph above. A number of these interesting sites are spread throughout the Burren.

Plan to see the Burren on your way to or from the Cliffs of Moher.  The Burren (located in northwest County Clare and south of Galway) is promoted as a "must see" in all the guidebooks, but will appeal mostly to hikers who have time to explore this area. There are several locations that serve as visitor centers to the Burren.  If you are thinking about seeing this area, consider stopping at the Burren Visitor Centre at  Kilfenora.

There are several other attractions ringing the Burren that should be on your list if you visit this area.  If you drive up from the south, you might take a slight detour through Doolin to see Doonagore Castle that dates from the 16th century.  Although a private residence and closed to the public this small castle is a photographers delight and not far off the beaten path.

Next, plan to stop in Lisdoonvarna   .  It is Ireland's major spa town and its therapeutic waters are widely known.  This small village is also the matchmaking center of Ireland.  September is the time the Lisdoonvarna hosts one of Europe's most famous annual matchmaking festivals, but unless you are looking for romance, we recommend you avoid the town in September.

Finally, take some time to visit Kinvara (also spelled Kinvarra) .  The town (a former fishing village), is quite scenic and it hosts nearby Dunguaire Castle, one of the most photographed castles in Ireland.  The castle, which dates from the early 16th century, overlooks Galway Bay.  It is operated by Shannon Development and medieval banquets are held April through October, although the ground are open to day visitors from May thought September.  See the Shannon Development site for information on the castle or attending its banquets. 

In a curious twist of fate, the area around Kinvara is now being developed with luxury homes.  For years this empty but delightful coastal plain was just "another empty stretch".  Now it appears to be transitioning to a bedroom community for Galway or summer homes for successful Dubliners.

More Western Ireland

If you need information about another travel destination, try our Destination Guide Index or Googling the web.

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