The annual summer Galway Raceweek is for everyone, not only horse racing enthusiasts, and is known the world over for an atmosphere that just catches the breath. The Galway Arts Festival, strong, vibrant and an incredible visual spectacle, continually innovative year after year. The free and thrilling Salthill Air Show featuring the Red Arrows in 2005.
Ballinasloe Horse Fair, one of the most ancient gatherings in the region. The two oyster festivals - social events of the season - Galway International Oyster Festival and Clarenbridge Oyster Festival. Galway county is full of action and activities for visitors with quality golf courses, fishing and festivals.
Heritage attractions include the Aran islands with wonderful Dún Aonghasa fort and Ragús the spectacular show of dance, music and song. Connemara is celebrated for its ethereal beauty and has plenty to entertain the visitor. At Dan O’Hara’s Homestead is the Connemara history and heritage centre, a fascinating insight into this wild and lyrical land, nearby Connemara National Park is a must see as is the magnificent Kylemore Abbey.
See the events calendar for festivals and events to coincide with your holiday. Galway East has a quiet, low lying landscape criss-crossed with stone walls, and a treasure trove of attractions like Athenry Castle and Heritage Centre and indeed the medieval town itself. Hidden pearls lik the pre-Christian Turoe Stone Clonfert Cathedral, Dartfield Horse Museum and Portumna Forest Park dot the landscape.
Of course there’s so much more on offer for you to see and do - medieval banquets at Dunguaire Castle, the Oceans Alive sealife centre, a trip in a Galway hooker, a visit to Glengowla Mines, walking, fishing, sailing, surfing That’s Galway – different, special and never, ever predictable.
Jutting proudly into the Atlantic Ocean, the county of Mayo boasts a stunningly beautiful unspoilt environment and a magical attraction for visitors. Cosmopolitan towns positively burst with charm and personality, as welcoming as the Mayo people themselves.
The standard and availability of accommodation is excellent and the range of visitor attractions and activities expands every year. Unique highlights include Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain with the starkly beautiful National Famine Memorial at its foot, Knock Shrine, scene of an miraculous apparition in 1879 and charming Cong, forever associated with Hollywood and The Quiet Man.
The Mayo 5000 celebration in 1993 really inspired interest in Mayo and indeed the world famous Riverdance was a spin off from The Mayo Suite composed by Bill Whelan, John McColgan and Moya Doherty, working together for the first time.
History comes alive at the world famous Céide Fields near Ballycastle in North Mayo, at The Foxford Woollen Mills, Hennigans Heritage and museums including the new National Museum of Ireland Country Life just outside Castlebar, the county town.
Multi-award winning Westport is one of Ireland’s most popular towns and Westport House and Country Park is a magnet for families. Achill Island, beloved of artists, has Slievemore Deserted Village an poignant reminder of a darker past. Lesser known areas are a joy to discover like The Lakes District in the South of the county as well as Erris and the Mullet Peninsula in the North.
Festivals are a part of life here, particularly in the summer months when choosing is your only challenge - will it be beach racing, arts, busking or a children’s festival.
Sporting and outdoor opportunities abound, especially fishing of all sorts including on the world famous River Moy in Ballina where the salmon is king. There’s coarse and fly fishing and plenty of sea angling so if you fancy landing a shark there’s no better place! There are watersports, hiking and walking, golf links and courses, horseriding and cycling… the list is endless. Sandy EU Blue Flag beaches, clear waters and beautiful islands. Superb restaurants, pubs of character and of course the irresistible flowing melodies of traditional music. Quite simply Mayo is Amazing!
Roscommon is often described as ‘the heart of undiscovered Ireland’. We invite you to unlock the treasures of this land of castles and ancient kings, of stately homes and wonderful landscapes, where shimmering rivers, lakes and forest parks abound.
In this inland county a more restrained beauty reigns, bejewelled with sparkling lakes and dancing streams. The great River Shannon, over 200 miles in length, longest in Ireland and the UK, marks the eastern county border as it meanders South through Lough Boderg and Lough Bofin (or down to Lough Ree and onward to the Atlantic Ocean!).
There couldn’t be a better place to take a cruising holiday – an option becoming ever more popular with families. Beginners can even take lessons so it’s an option for everyone. The pastoral landscape is peaceful and unspoilt, dotted with small interesting towns and villages, with cosy waterside pubs and excellent restaurants.
Roscommon offers an enchanting glimpse of hidden treasure to those who seek. Brimful of history and heritage, Roscommon boasts many archaeological gems including Rathcroghan, ancient home of the High Kings with the award-winning Cruachan Aí Visitor Centre (at Tulsk) . From more recent times, great houses and castles are to be found, such as the Georgian mansion King House in Boyle, Clonalis House in Castlerea and Strokestown Park House which also boasts fine restored gardens and the Famine Museum. (Tucked away in the Arigna mountains is another award winner - the Arigna Mining Experience Centre.)
There’s plenty to do outdoors in Roscommon. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the sport on many splendid courses, both 9 and 18 holes. Walkers and cyclists have hundreds of miles of undisturbed roads and tracks to enjoy as well as two way-marked walking trails - the Suck Valley Way and Arigna Miners Way. Cyclists also have plenty of scope for trails, both marked and unmarked. Roscommon is surrounded by prime coarse fishing rivers and lakes which have consistently produced good bags of exceptionally sized fish. If you fancy a flutter, Roscommon Racecourse has regular horse racing meetings where everyone mingles and enjoys the fun.
The heart of undiscovered Ireland.