Aran Islands and Connemara
Connemara is a maze of varied landscapes and is steeped in a variety of different types of stunning natural beauty. It has all the wilderness and charm that has charactorised Ireland as a whole and a visit to this area would be a highlight of any holiday. Here is a list of some of the must see attractions that you may well come accross on a drive through Connemara.
The Sky Road.
This is a road between Letterfrack and Clifden. It is a twenty minutes coastal drive.
The Connemara National Park.
The Connemara National Park has a very well laid out man made path of wood (so its really safe) that leads up the Diamond Mountain and affords stunning panoramic views of all of Connemara and varied landscapes. An afternoon here is highly reccomended.
The Connemara National Park is one of the most exhilerating activities to do in Connemara. It will most certainly be one of the highlights of any trip to Ireland. Located just ten minutes walk from the Lodge the park will present an eclectric array of views and landscapes which unfold into better majestic panoramic scenery as you venture up the hill. At top the whole of Connemara seems to feel at your fingertips and one can sence the splendid diverse range of rugged beauty that Connemara has a reputation for.
Kylemore Abbey.
This is where authentic country Ireland meets majestic castle. Kylemore Abbey is one of the most photographed attractions in Ireland. The Abbey is the home of the Irish Benedictine Nuns and provides you with a few options for things to do such as gardens,
Roundstone Village.
Roundstone has been heralded as the most picturesque village in Ireland. It is still a working fishing village where you can feel part of the community. It also features Gurteen Bay which is very beautiful.
Letterfrack
Letterfrack is a quaint small village set in the heart of Connemara in direct vacinity to some of Connemara's main attractions. It is easily accessible from the capital of Clifden which is just a short ten minute drive away. Located at the foot of the Connemara National Park which creates a sence of atmosphere, The village is cross road which has three bars which feature nightly traditional Music sessions and also has a Furniture College. With outdoor seated bars and restaurants it has a particularly jovial atmosphere which is a great addition to an occasion after a hard day partaking in any of Connemaras activities and places to go. Kylemore Abbey is located five minutes up the road and the fishing port is just a two minute walk away.
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The Aran Islands are richly unique. Landscapes of Limestone rock, a stretch of cliffs facing the moods of the Atlantic, Large bolders, rock formations, and unusally clean beaches. It is also a place steeped in emmense cultural heritage and history. Gaelic language is the first language of its residents. It is considered the foothold of Irish culture. The Islands themselves are an outdoor museum of artifacts of religous and cultural importance. The three Aran Islands, Inis Mór (Big Island), Inis Meáin (Middle island) and Inis Oírr (East island) are situated in a north westerly south easterly direction at the mouth of Galway Bay, Ireland.
The island of Inis Mór ( meaning the big island) is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland. Well known internationally, it is steeped in history and resembles an outdoor museum with over 50 different monuments of Christian, pre Christian and Celtic mythological heritage. There isn’t far you can go before being somewhere where there’s something of historical interest and little reason to question its importance in modern Irish Culture.
An outdoor Museum
The islands featured monument is the world heritage site of Dun Aonghasa Fort which stands over a dramatic 300 foot cliff that spans the entire western part of the island and faces the moods of Atlantic sea. Others include the Black Fort set over cliffs, the seven Churches, St Benins Church perched isolated on a hill at the southern tip of the island, Temphaill Chieran, and the old Light House at the islands highest point. Other places of a geological nature include the worm hole which is a large natural square hole in the ground beside the sea, and the puffing holes where inland holes in the ground, fountain water on a turbulent day.
A Unique Landscape
The islands inland landscape of uniquely blanketed rock surface are glazed with man made rock walls that meander and cross all directions as far as one can see. Such does this environment draw you in and inspire the creative spirit, it is little wonder that the island has played host to many internationally renowned artists and writers including the setting for the Film Man of Aran which immotalized the Aran Islands culture.
A Rich Culture
Today the Island features the Aran Jumper and celtic Arts and crafts such Basket Weaving and Dancing. Such is the culture of the islands 850 residents, many people akin the daily rituals as going back in time where you can still find the horse and trap and hear the gaelic language spoken as the first language and its consequent tradition.
Beaches & Activities
The eastern side of the island with clear views of Connemara’s 12 pins mountain range is a splattering of some of Europes cleanest white sandy beaches fronting onto clear turquoise water and is host to a variety of water activities. The fishing port of Kilronan harbour is dotted with yachts in summer and is a hive of activity particularly in summer when in Kilronan village there are numerous festivals and places to eat and drink. The favoured activies for holiday makers on the island are walking, fishing, cycling, swimming, sight seeing and just relaxing in the magnetic, majestic, magical energy of the island itself
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