Connemara
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Connemara (Irish Conamara), which derives from Conmhaicne Mara, (meaning: descendants of Conmhac, of the sea) is a region in the west of Ireland (County Galway). The Conmhaicne Mara (see Conmaicne Mara) were a branch of the Conmhaicne, an early tribal grouping that had a number of branches located in different parts of Connacht. As this branch of Conmhaicne were located by the sea they became known as the Conmhaicne Mara i.e. of the sea. Connemara lies in the territory of Iar Connacht "West Connacht", which is the portion of County Galway west of Loch Corrib and the portion of County Mayo in the barony of Ross. Connemara is composed of the Catholic parishes of Carna (Iorras Ainbhtheach), Clifden (Omey and Ballindoon), Ballynakill, Roundstone, Inishbofin. The territory contains the civil parishes of Moyrus, Ballynakill, Omey, Ballindoon, Inishbofin (the last parish was for a time part of the territory of the Clan O Malley). Connemara was traditionally divided into North Connemara and South Connemara. The mountains of Na Beanna Beola and the Owenglin river, which flows into the sea at An Clochán / Clifden, marked the boundary between the two parts.
Connemara is surrounded on the west, south and north by the Atlantic. Connemara's land boundary with the rest of County Galway is marked by the Invermore River (which flows into the north of Kilkieran Bay), Loch Oorid, (which lies a few miles west of Maum Cross), and the western spine of the Maumturk mountains in the north of which the boundary meets the sea at the Killary a few miles west of Leenaun.
The coast of Connemara consists of a number of peninsulas. The peninsula of Iorras Ainbhtheach in the south is the largest and contains the villages of Carna and Kilkieran. The peninsula of Errismore consists of the area west of the village of Ballyconeely. Errisbeg peninsula lies to the south of the village of Roundstone. The Errislannan peninsula lies just south of the town of Clifden. The peninsulas of Aughris, Cleggan and Rinville are found in the north-west of Connemara. There are numerous islands found off the coast of Connemara of which Inishbofin is the largest, other islands include Omey, Inishark, High Island, Friars Island, Feenish and Mweenish.
The main town of Connemara is Clifden. The area around Clifden is rich with megalithic tombs. The famous green/white Connemara Marble was a trade treasure used by the inhabitants of the time and continues to be of great value today.
Notable towns and villages in Connemara
(Clockwise from Galway)
- Carna
- Cloch na Rón, Roundstone
- Baile Conaola, Ballyconneely
- An Clochán, Clifden
- An Claideach Dubh, Claddaghduff (for Omey Island)
- An Cloigeánn, Cleggan (for Inishbofin).
- Leitír Fraic, Letterfrack
See also
- Aran Islands (day trips from Inverin and Rossaveel).
- Alcock and Brown's first non-stop flight across the Atlantic crash landed near Clifden.
- The Western Way (Long-distance trail)
- The Twelve Bens and Maumturks mountains.
- Lough Corrib
External links
- Irish tourist board web site for Connemara. (http://www.connemara-tourism.org/)
- Conemara community radio (http://www.connemarafm.com)
- RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (http://www.rte.ie/rnag/) (in Irish)
- An Óige / Irish Youth Hostels Assoc. page for County Galway (http://www.anoige.ie/accommodation_galway.html) See especially Ben Lettery - Binn Leitri.
- Connemara.net (http://www.connemara.net) News, accommodation, photographs, messageboard: lots about Connemara