The West of Ireland is renowned as a golfing haven.
Galway offers the best in quality golf
courses and assures a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Oughterard has its own 18-hole parkland course as well as pitch & putt
The 18-hole championship links at Connemara Golf Club (near Cliften) are probably the most famous and challenging.
The course is further enhanced by the wonderful Atlantic Backdrop.
The seaside location of Galway Golf Course, (18-hole), make it ideal.
There are long established parkland courses like Tuam, Athenry and new courses like Galway Bay Golf and
Country Club and Gort.
One not to be missed is Bearna Golf and Country Club which is surrounded by absolutely captivating scenery.
Other 18-hole courses in Galway include: Balinasloe, Loughrea, Mountbellew and Portumna.
Westport, Co. Mayo and Lahinch, Co. Clare are another two championship courses within a 2 hour drive.
Westport Golf Club lies under the shadow of Croagh Patrick, "Ireland's Holy Mountain" whilst the course at
Lahinch overlooks the Atlantic with the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren close by.
The world famous wild brown trout loughs of Corrib and Mask are unrivalled for game angling, infact Lough Corrib
is regarded as the best game fishery in Europe.
The scenic lakes and rivers of Connemara provide excellent salmon angling with a number of waters having sea trout
from mid-summer. Lough Hills also offer brown trout.
The limestone rivers produce quality brown trout to dry fly on summer evenings.
Oughterard is a coarse angler's paradise where bream, roach, rudd, hybrids and pike are abundant.
The coast from Kinvara, in South Galway, to Leenane, in the North, has miles of shore and beach sea angling.
Galway Bay (especially around the Aran Islands) offers great blue shark angling from July onwards.
Spiddal Angling School provides tuition on game and coarse fishing, fly casting, spinning, boats & ghille,
salmon & trout flies and bait
There are many short coastal, mountain and bog walks in County Galway. For the more ambitious hill-walker, increasingly popular walking routes can be followed on an organised basis.
Walks, varying from one day to one week, are marked out with distinctive pointers.
Detailed charts and information pamphlets are available.
The Western Way
(Galway)
This route starts at Oughterard and follows the shore of Lough Corrib to Maam.
From Maam it finds a low level way through the great quartzite ranges of the
Maum Turks and Twelve Bens, before descending to the deep, narrow valley of
Killary Harbour and junction with the Western Way (Mayo) near Leenaun.
The Route: Oughterard, Maam, Maameen, Inagh, Toorenacoona, Leenaun.
Distance: 50 km/31 miles.
Bealach na Gaeltachta
(Slí Chonamara)
The Gaeltacht consists of a number of regions in Ireland where Irish is the
predominant language. Bealach na Gaeltachta (Slí Chonamara) is a long-distance
walk which serves the Connemara Gaeltacht. One can immerse oneself in the culture,
landscapes and imagination of one of the most beautiful languages in the world.
The walk extends from Galway city along the shores of Galway Bay through An Spidéal
(Spiddal), An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe), Ros Muc and Carna, then Northward to
Oughterard and near Recess. The Way stretches over the spectacular landscapes
of Connemara, through hill and bogland to the north, and along the coast to the south.
The Route: Galway city, An Spidéal, An Cheathrú Rua, Ros Muc and Carna, Oughterard, Recess.
Distance: 240 km/150 miles.
The Burren Way
The Burren is a limestone karst region, internationally renowned for its
geological features, archaeological remains and magnificent flora. The Burren
Way never fails to captivate its visitors. The jagged terrain of this uniquely
beautiful part of Ireland and the majestic Cliffs of Moher (views to the Aran
Islands) are two of the delights of this wonderful ramble amongst hills and turloughs.
The Route: Ballyvaughan, Ballinalackan, Doolin, Lahinch.
Distance: 45 km/28 miles.
The Galway coastline is laced with safe and sandy beaches and, as you would expect, there are a myriad of watersports to chose from including
surfing, sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, water-skiing, scuba diving and powerboating.
Killary Cruises provide a sight-seeing cruise on the Killary, Ireland's only Fjord, which includes a visit to working salmon and mussels
farms to see the atlantic salmon leap in the cages.
Special scenic and wildlife coastal cruises abroad the new "The Queen of Connemara" are available from Letterfrack.
The Corrib Princess makes a leisurely 90 minute cruise on Lough Corrib, Ireland's second largest lake. Departs from Woodquay, Galway City.
Other activities on offer include rock-climbing, abseiling, archery, cycling and orienteering.
The region is also a haven for horse-riding enthusiasts, with treks of varying lrngths organised.
The Community Centre in Oughterard provides excellent activities throughout the summer, including tennis, basketball, badminton,
indoor soccer, uni-hoc, fun activities and mini-games catering for 6-12 year olds.
|
