Page 207 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

IRELAND REGION B Y REGION  205
THE WEST OF IRELAND

Mayo • Galway • Roscommon

This is the heart of Connaught, Ireland’s historic western
province. The West lives up to its image as a traditional, rural,
sparsely populated land, with windswept mountains and
countryside speckled with low stone walls and peat bogs.
Yet it also encompasses Galway, a vibrant university town
whose youthful population brings life to the medieval
streets and snug pubs.

The rugged Atlantic coastline of the West the Great Famine, the West – especially
has been occupied for over 5,000 years. It County Mayo – suffered most from
is rich in prehistoric sites such as the land emigration. In spite of this, strong Gaelic
enclosures of Céide Fields and the ring traditions have survived in County Galway,
forts on the Aran Islands. Evidence of which is home to the country’s largest
the monastic period can be seen in the Gaeltacht (see p233), where almost half the
mysterious and beautiful remains at population speaks Irish as a first language.
Kilmacduagh and Clonfert; and the The bracken browns and soft violets of
region’s religious associations still exert an Connemara in the west of Galway and the
influence, apparent in the pilgrimages to fertile farmland, extensive bogs and placid
Knock and Croagh Patrick in County Mayo. lakes of County Ros common are in striking
In medieval times, the city of Galway contrast to the magnificent cliff scenery
was an Anglo-Norman stronghold, sur- of the remote islands off the coast. This
rounded by warring Gaelic clans. After region is often shrouded in a misty drizzle
the Cromwellian victories of the 1640s, or else battered by Atlantic winds and
many Irish were dispossessed of their ac companying heavy downpours.
fertile lands and dispatched “to hell or to Summer is a time for festivities, such
Connaught”. Landlords made their mark as the Galway Races in July and August,
in the 17th and 18th centuries, building the Galway Arts Festival in July, traditional
impressive country houses at Clonalis, sailing boat races off Kinvara in August and
Strokestown Park and Westport. During the Galway Oyster Festival in Sep tember.

Swans by the quayside of the Claddagh area of Galway
The scenic coastline of Keem Bay, Achill Island

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