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Province Connacht
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| Counties: Galway Leitrim Mayo Roscommon Sligo |
| Attractions: Achill Island Aran Islands Athenry Ballycastle Carrick-on-Shannon Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery Céide Fields Clare Island Connemara Creevykeel Court Tomb Croagh Patrick Dún Briste Galway Town Inishbofin Knocknarea Kylemore Abbey Roscommon Sheebeg Cairn and Dolmen Strokestown Park House Turlough Park House |
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| Surface: 17,704 km2 Population: 464,050 |
The province of Connacht, sometimes also written as Connaught or Connaght, has some of the most beautiful landscapes to offer. Especially the coastal regions of County Galway, with Connemara as its scenic peak, and County Mayo are appealing.
Due to its isolated location and barren landscape Connacht has been a sanctuary on at least two occasions in Irish history.
The mythological Tuatha de Danaan defeated the Fir Bolgs. The gentle victors allowed the defeated to pick one province where they wanted to life. The Fir Bolgs picked Connacht.
The second occasion was even less voluntarily. Catholics Irish who refused to convert to Protestantism during the Confederate War could choose between To Hell or to Connacht . Obviously the majority picked Connacht.
The town of Galway is without a doubt the pounding heart of the province and an excellent base to explore the surroundings. In case you prefer smaller scaled cities you may like Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim or Westport, County Mayo.
You have to turn to the cities of Connacht if more recent history is your passion, but there are treasures to explore on the county side if you get exited by erected and pilled up ancient stones.
Just a few decades ago province Connacht was a blank spot on the imaginary tourist maps. The area was underdeveloped and poor. The economic development started in the 1960's and 1970's and the tourist discovered the province in the 1990's. Without an intercontinental airport or an significant seaport and the lack of real tourist magnets Connacht is still a bit off the beaten tracks for many.