town information ireland

Galway is a fast growing city and with its population now reaching over 50,000 it is set to become the third city of the Irish Republic. The capital of Connacht, Galway, is a thriving and expanding city with a rich past dating from medieval times. Always a merchant town, modern Galway is also a University City and administrative centre.

It is where the Gaelic countryside of Connemara and bustling commerce meet, and the Irish Language can frequently be heard in shop and street. There are...

The Borough of Carrickfergus extends from Greenisland in the south-west to Whitehead in the east. Carrickfergus Marina and Harbour are located on the north shore of Belfast Lough and provide two splendid, safe, secure Harbours for craft. Firstly the magnificent Harbour with its resplendent 12th century Norman castle has a long and distinguished history. Secondly the purpose built Marina Basin located only 250metres west of the Harbour, has proved popular since its opening in 1985. Both Harbours...

In Irish, Ath na nUrlaidhe, "the ford of the sledgings" according to O'Curry, where by tradition a battle was fought in the 10th century in which "the Irish and the Danes did sledge each other's heads". The ford from which the name of the pretty town is taken is marked by the bridge which crosses the River Gowl between the old parish church and the Butler Castle of Urlingford. The pre-Reformation church, though in a ruined condition, has substantially perfect walls. A large church stood here...

Cobh's landmark Cathedral clings miraculously to the town's steep slopes as they sweep down to the sea of Cork Harbour. That was also the last bit of Irish soil millions of Irish had under their feet before emigrating from here across the ocean in the last century, this tragic part of the nation's history as well as Cobh's historic and maritime story is brought alive in the splendid Interpretative Centre....

This thriving market town is situated at the south-eastern corner of Co. Galway, beside the north shore of Lough Derg -the last of the great Shannon Lakes. Bordered on the east by the Shannon river, which offers access to the lake, Portumna is an important point of traffic across the Shannon between the West of Ireland, the Midlands and North Tipperary. It is a major cruise base for leisure traffic on the Shannon....

Feakle is doubly famous as the place in which the poet Brian Merriman taught as a School-master and as the home of Biddy Early, the wise woman or witch about whom Augusta Lady Gregory collected much traditional lore and published it in her Visions and Beliefs of the West of Ireland.

Brian Merriman was neither born nor did he die in Feakle (born Ennistymon 1749, died Limerick 1805) but he chose to be buried here where he had spent many years and made the location and background of his on...

Often described as the - Gateway To Connemara - and located on the upper shores of Lough Corrib, Oughterard is famous as one of Irelands leading angling resorts.

Apart from first-class salmon and trout angling, the Corrib also affords endless opportunities for excursions to its many Islands. Oughterard is also an excellent centre for exploring the beauty spots of the Twelve Bens, Maamturk and Cloosh Mountains....

The older village was extended about 1700 following introduction of industries (including iron-works) in the area. The new streets commemorated the Hanoverian succession - Orange, George, Hanover and Frederick. The village, well laid out with river and bridge, makes a pleasant picture....

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Travelling north-west from Cootehall, the visitor reaches Knockvicar, where O'Sullivan Beare, with his weary 35 followeres out of 1,000 who left west Cork, rested on the last night before reaching O'Rourke's Castle at Leitreim Village....