Connemara, Ireland

Image by Jonas Fehre from Pixabay

Connemara is a region on the Atlantic coast of western County Galway, in the west of Ireland. The area holds onto traditional Irish culture and is home to the Connacht Irish-speaking Gaeltacht (the largest Gaeltacht in the country). No, you don’t need to brush up on your Gaelic, Buíochas le Dia, but do turn on your car radio- there will be at least one station broadcasting in Irish. It has the Twelve Bens (mountains), peninsulas, coves, islands and small lakes. Connemara National Park is in the northwest. 

Image by Larah Vidotto from Pixabay

The main town of Connemara is Clifden, which is surrounded by an area rich with megalithic tombs. Of the numerous islands off the coast of Connemara, Inishbofin is the largest; other islands include Omey, Inishark, High Island, Friars Island, Feenish and Maínis. During the aftermath of the Irish War of Independence, Connemara was a major source for the Irish Folklore Commission’s work in recording Ireland's endangered folklore, mythology, and oral literature.

The famous "Connemara Green marble" is a local treasure was used to trade in prehistoric times and can be found today in local jewelry and as a building material.