I think it’s fair to say almost every Irish person feels some sort of affinity with the west of Ireland. Whether you’re from Galway, your granny lives in Mayo, your college friends are from Roscommon or Leitrim you used to holiday in Sligo, most people foster some Connacht connection.
So what attracts people to the west? I suppose it has to be its rugged beauty and in a way almost seeming like the epicentre of Irishness. Accents are more guttural, Guinness is creamier and the craic is (well used to be…) mightier. Although things are uncertain once again with COVID-19, travel is not restricted. And it may benefit some who are able, either for a daytrip or an overnight stay, to take a break.
At this point in the summer you’ve probably heard of plenty of people heading west. Here are some top places to visit across Connacht, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, really.
Have fun, social distance, wash your hands and stay safe.
Dog's Bay, Co Galway.
Immortalised in song by both Mundy and Ed Sheeran – and let’s not forget The Saw Doctors either – Galway carries a certain air of fame that few counties outside Dublin can match. I think we can all agree it’s the capital of the west, and for good reason too, there’s so much to do and see.
Connemara is always a great shout. Clifden is about an hour and a half outside the city and a good spot to base yourself for exploring. In the town itself, Mitchell’s Restaurant serves super seafood.
In terms of beaches, it’s almost unfair to pick, but Dog’s Bay two miles outside Roundstone on the road to Clifden is a spectacular horseshoe shaped strand with white sand.
Kylemore Abbey is of course a well-known attraction in the area, with a nearly €3m refurbishment recently finished. The gardens can be appreciated by both green fingered aficionados and novices alike. The abbey itself is a hive of history. Adult tickets cost €14 and a family day pass costs €28.
If you’re out the other side of the county, The Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna is a very interesting experience. Adult entry costs €7 and a family ticket is €15. Booking in advance is advised by calling 090-975 9200.
Keem Beach, Achill Island, Co Mayo.
Oh the green and red of Mayo, I can see it still
Mayo, is a county with a beautiful coastline. Westport is a lovely town with a good mix of things to do. For more active readers, climbing Croagh Patrick is definitely a bucket-list activity. Locals say if you climb “the Reek” three times, you go to heaven. I’ve done it once, and after several years of letting my legs recover, I’m considering a second climb.
For those who are not of the mountain climbing variety, a trip to Westport House might be in order. It’s steeped in history. In the 1500s Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley, built one of her castles here, the dungeons of which still remain. The current “big house” was built in 1730 by her descendants. To visit the house and gardens costs €13.50 for an adult and €6.50 for a child.
Achill Island is about a 50-minute drive from Westport or you can cycle along the Greenway, which is roughly a five hour round trip. You can drive or cycle onto the island. From sea cliffs to beautiful beaches, it’s a true Wild Atlantic Way experience.
Strandhill Beach, Co Sligo.
Yeats Country. Sligo inspired some of the works of Nobe-Prize winning writer W B Yeats and upon visiting, it’s easy to see why.
If you’re into beaches, Sligo is the place for you. It’s a great spot to give surfing a go. Whether you can or can’t stand up, it’s great craic. There are a few different surf schools in Strandhill. Most offer lessons from beginner level up. Don’t worry too much about being cold either, you’ll get a wetsuit.
No trip to Strandhill is complete without a visit to Mammy Johnston’s. The ice cream here is amazing and if you’re feeling like something a little warmer, there’s crêpes and pancakes available too.
Going back to WB, the Yeats Building in Sligo town is a good one to check out for any fans of the poet. There’s an exhibition on the people and places that influenced Yeats and also a short film of his funeral in Sligo.
The exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 3pm, and costs €3.
Glencar Waterfall.
Although Leitrim is Ireland’s least populated county, the people make up for their number in abundance with personality and passion for their home place.
There are plenty of sites of natural beauty in Leitrim, Glencar Waterfall being one. It’s situated at Glencar Lough, about 11km from Manorhamilton.
While there are a number of other waterfalls in this area, Glencar is the most impressive (particularly after rain) at 50ft.
Glencar Waterfall was the inspiration for WB Yeats’s poem The Stolen Child. There are car parking facilities available and a short walk will bring you to the waterfall viewing point.
On the opposite side of the county, Glenview Folk Museum outside Ballinamore is a family run museum. It was constructed to give a feel of 1930s rural Ireland, from household items to farm machinery and streetscapes.
Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.
Roscommon may not have a coastline, but it still has plenty to offer in terms of natural beauty.
If you’re looking to delve into some community history, then Arigna is the place for you. Coal mining was a huge industry in the area and the idea of a visitor centre around this arose when the mines closed in 1990. The visitor centre subsequently opened in 2003.
The Arigna Mining Experience has exhibition and audio visual areas, but perhaps the most striking element is the underground tour given by ex-miners.
It gives a unique insight into what coal mining life was like in the Arigna Valley throughout the years. The underground tour costs €10 for an adult and €16 for an adult and a child.
Lough Key Forest and Activity Park is about 25 minutes’ drive from the Arigna. It’s a real family orientated experience, and while some of the activities are not available at present due to COVID-19, it’s still worth a visit.
The Lough Key Experience is an audio tour of the park’s history and natural environment, incorporating Ireland’s only treetop canopy walk at Castlecomer Discovery Park. The self-guided tour costs €8 for an adult and €5 for a child.
Read more
Let loose in Leinster
Meet me in Munster
Time to travel Ulster
I think it’s fair to say almost every Irish person feels some sort of affinity with the west of Ireland. Whether you’re from Galway, your granny lives in Mayo, your college friends are from Roscommon or Leitrim you used to holiday in Sligo, most people foster some Connacht connection.
So what attracts people to the west? I suppose it has to be its rugged beauty and in a way almost seeming like the epicentre of Irishness. Accents are more guttural, Guinness is creamier and the craic is (well used to be…) mightier. Although things are uncertain once again with COVID-19, travel is not restricted. And it may benefit some who are able, either for a daytrip or an overnight stay, to take a break.
At this point in the summer you’ve probably heard of plenty of people heading west. Here are some top places to visit across Connacht, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, really.
Have fun, social distance, wash your hands and stay safe.
Dog's Bay, Co Galway.
Immortalised in song by both Mundy and Ed Sheeran – and let’s not forget The Saw Doctors either – Galway carries a certain air of fame that few counties outside Dublin can match. I think we can all agree it’s the capital of the west, and for good reason too, there’s so much to do and see.
Connemara is always a great shout. Clifden is about an hour and a half outside the city and a good spot to base yourself for exploring. In the town itself, Mitchell’s Restaurant serves super seafood.
In terms of beaches, it’s almost unfair to pick, but Dog’s Bay two miles outside Roundstone on the road to Clifden is a spectacular horseshoe shaped strand with white sand.
Kylemore Abbey is of course a well-known attraction in the area, with a nearly €3m refurbishment recently finished. The gardens can be appreciated by both green fingered aficionados and novices alike. The abbey itself is a hive of history. Adult tickets cost €14 and a family day pass costs €28.
If you’re out the other side of the county, The Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna is a very interesting experience. Adult entry costs €7 and a family ticket is €15. Booking in advance is advised by calling 090-975 9200.
Keem Beach, Achill Island, Co Mayo.
Oh the green and red of Mayo, I can see it still
Mayo, is a county with a beautiful coastline. Westport is a lovely town with a good mix of things to do. For more active readers, climbing Croagh Patrick is definitely a bucket-list activity. Locals say if you climb “the Reek” three times, you go to heaven. I’ve done it once, and after several years of letting my legs recover, I’m considering a second climb.
For those who are not of the mountain climbing variety, a trip to Westport House might be in order. It’s steeped in history. In the 1500s Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley, built one of her castles here, the dungeons of which still remain. The current “big house” was built in 1730 by her descendants. To visit the house and gardens costs €13.50 for an adult and €6.50 for a child.
Achill Island is about a 50-minute drive from Westport or you can cycle along the Greenway, which is roughly a five hour round trip. You can drive or cycle onto the island. From sea cliffs to beautiful beaches, it’s a true Wild Atlantic Way experience.
Strandhill Beach, Co Sligo.
Yeats Country. Sligo inspired some of the works of Nobe-Prize winning writer W B Yeats and upon visiting, it’s easy to see why.
If you’re into beaches, Sligo is the place for you. It’s a great spot to give surfing a go. Whether you can or can’t stand up, it’s great craic. There are a few different surf schools in Strandhill. Most offer lessons from beginner level up. Don’t worry too much about being cold either, you’ll get a wetsuit.
No trip to Strandhill is complete without a visit to Mammy Johnston’s. The ice cream here is amazing and if you’re feeling like something a little warmer, there’s crêpes and pancakes available too.
Going back to WB, the Yeats Building in Sligo town is a good one to check out for any fans of the poet. There’s an exhibition on the people and places that influenced Yeats and also a short film of his funeral in Sligo.
The exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 3pm, and costs €3.
Glencar Waterfall.
Although Leitrim is Ireland’s least populated county, the people make up for their number in abundance with personality and passion for their home place.
There are plenty of sites of natural beauty in Leitrim, Glencar Waterfall being one. It’s situated at Glencar Lough, about 11km from Manorhamilton.
While there are a number of other waterfalls in this area, Glencar is the most impressive (particularly after rain) at 50ft.
Glencar Waterfall was the inspiration for WB Yeats’s poem The Stolen Child. There are car parking facilities available and a short walk will bring you to the waterfall viewing point.
On the opposite side of the county, Glenview Folk Museum outside Ballinamore is a family run museum. It was constructed to give a feel of 1930s rural Ireland, from household items to farm machinery and streetscapes.
Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.
Roscommon may not have a coastline, but it still has plenty to offer in terms of natural beauty.
If you’re looking to delve into some community history, then Arigna is the place for you. Coal mining was a huge industry in the area and the idea of a visitor centre around this arose when the mines closed in 1990. The visitor centre subsequently opened in 2003.
The Arigna Mining Experience has exhibition and audio visual areas, but perhaps the most striking element is the underground tour given by ex-miners.
It gives a unique insight into what coal mining life was like in the Arigna Valley throughout the years. The underground tour costs €10 for an adult and €16 for an adult and a child.
Lough Key Forest and Activity Park is about 25 minutes’ drive from the Arigna. It’s a real family orientated experience, and while some of the activities are not available at present due to COVID-19, it’s still worth a visit.
The Lough Key Experience is an audio tour of the park’s history and natural environment, incorporating Ireland’s only treetop canopy walk at Castlecomer Discovery Park. The self-guided tour costs €8 for an adult and €5 for a child.
Read more
Let loose in Leinster
Meet me in Munster
Time to travel Ulster
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: