Inspiration for your Trip to the West.
Half the fun in a trip is planning it ! Some articles to inspire you!
An bhfuil fúinn taistil ort – seo ailt chun inspioráid a thabhairt duit?
‘jaw dropping place’
Connemara National Park gets a shout out in the Readers Discovery tips for 2024 in the Guardian
Where Town & Country staff take their Holidays
Mention of Aran & Connemara in this article from Town & Country Magazine
Scenic Sea Views & Irish Hospitality
Inis Meáin 5th in top Park Runs in the world in UK run chat magazine.
Islands of Calm
In his list of Six Islands to visit in Ireland
Ireland’s Wild West
Pol O’ Conghaile in the Independent Weekend ponders why Connemara has such a hold on the Irish imagination (and our holidays). Pol stayed in Within the Village and the Connemara Sands during his visit. He lists things to do and recounts some of the memorable meals he had during his time.
Hiking & Eating your way through Connemara
In this article on RTE founder of Hiiker App discusses the best places to eat in Connemara after working up an appetite after hiking in the mountains.
Connemara the Conqueror
While on a press stay at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel Irish Time Food Critic Corrina Hardgrave took a tasty turas around Connemara and the Aran Islands. Some great tips in there and she will need to come back to spend another while exploring the places she missed!
Remote Island on the Atlantic
Inspired by the film Banshees of Iniserin journalist Faima of Metro Uk visited Galway , Inis Mór and Inishbofin.
Foodie Tour of Connemara
In this article Amy McDonnell of the Gloss Magazine highlights some of the great coffee spots and places to get some food around Connemara. They also have another article on Connemara in their Fly the Flag series which is worth checking out.
Group Getaways for Family & Friends
Within the Village in Roundstone featured in 20 great stays for extended family and friends
100 best small shops in Ireland
Whistlestop in Clifden , Treebark & Toycorner (Maigh Cuilinn) and Sullivans Oughterard featured in 100 best small shops in Ireland. We are lucky to have such a variety of independent small businesses all across the region.
Great gardens and centres to lunch at
Brigit’s Garden featured in Irish Times article 22 great garden centres where you can get lunch. Check out our blog post of other great gardens to visit while Connemara and the Islands are in Bloom.
Insider Guide to Galway – 60 things to experience
Following a call out on twitter for things to to do in Galway The Irish Examiner published In the Insiders guide to Galway which weighed in favour of Connemara , Aran & Inishbofin.
Uncovering the soul of Ireland’s overlook gem along the wild Atlantic waters of Connemara
This feature in Conde Nast Traveller sees Stanley Stewart take a trip down memory lane boithríní na smaointe to find the beach of his childhood. Stunning photography by Toby Mitchell will make you want to pack your bag and head to Connemara.
Who wouldn’t want to check in to Ballynahinch Castle , Curreaveagh , Inagh Lodge after seeing the photos and reading all about them in this article. Ballynahinch Castle also featured in the Conde Nast
‘There’s a savage beauty to the place’: the dark mystery of Ireland’s Connemara region
Kathleen McMahon writes in The Guardian about how the ‘ haunting expanse of lakes, bogs, heathland and mountains in County Galway’ inspired her novel ‘The Home Scar’ The idea for the novel came at the top of Errisbeg Mountain as she took in the views to the sea and then the constrasting view across the Roundstone Bog to the Twelve Bens.
Six Experiences you shouldn’t miss in Connemara
This feature in the National Geographic was compiled by Pol O’ Conghaile. Diamond Hill , Omey Island, Killary Harbour , Dog’s Bay and Kylemore Abbey all got a mention. We suggested 6 more in this post which was one of our most popular posts on Instagram in 2023. Check out Mámeán, Trá an Dóilín , Oileán Finis ,Ionad Chultúrtha an Phiarsaigh ,Fáinne Chamus agus Ceantar na nOileáin if you want to go gallivanting in the Gaeltacht.
Tracing Irish Gaelic in the Emerald Isle’s Gaeltachts
This article in the Reader’s Digest by J R Patterson explores the Gaeltacht areas in this article which features Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh and Ionad na nImirce. (Carna Emigrants Centre) Digital Nomads might be tempted by the state of the art GTEIC – Digital Hubs located in the Gaeltacht area. Carina Coyne in Dúiche Sheoige teaches visitors how to process wool the traditional way, from the raw fleece of her sheep.
Irish Melody: A Journey through the Gaeltacht Regions of Ireland – Hemispheres (hemispheresmag.com)
Similar to the Readers Digest article JR Patterson this article covers many of the places featured in the article above.
How Ireland’s chefs are rediscovering the joys of cooking with seaweed
Seaweed features in an article by Patrick O’ Hanlon in National Geographic . He interviews Diarmuid from Pota Cafe and other chefs about the benefits of cooking with seaweed . They also discuss the history and culture associated with it. Further west Padraig from The Seaweed Centre shares the benefits of a indulging in a seaweed bath. Sinead from Mungo Murphy Seafood describes her foraging tours and the story behind the foundation of the company.
Escape to the Gaeltacht for Christmas (rte.ie)
This article features some suggestions for Gaeltacht escape at Christmas but can be applied to anytime of the year. Aontaím leo go bhfuil ‘Conamara fairsing agus lán le radharcanna dochreidte’ We agree with them that Connemara is vast and full of great views! Tips for Connemara included Trá an Dóilín, Ceantar na nOileáin or a visit to the Aran Islands. Tips for places to eat included Pota Cafe and Coynes Gastrobar & Pantry
Sciuird an tsamhraidh: ag dul siar go Conamara, áit a mbíonn an chraic is an spraoi | Independent.ie
San alt seo tugann Áine Ní Bhreisleáin treoir chuig na háiteanna is fearr le haghaidh saoire i gceantar Cois Fharraige. Bhí Áine mar láithreoir ar An Cósta Thiar agus tá na clar ar fáil ar TG4Player
Gaeltacht Gems: 48 hours in Conamara (rte.ie)
Article on RTE with some suggestions for 48 hours in Conamara. Day 1 takes in Cois Fharraige while Day 2 suggests a trip to the Aran Islands.
A quintessentially Irish way to travel – BBC Travel
Susanne Masters describes her cycling tour of Connemara in a series for Slowcomotion .This is a series that celebrates self-propelled travel and invites readers to explore the world in a sustainable way. She travelled by bus from Galway and hired a bike from Clifden Bike Shop . Taking the route through the Roundstone Bog to Rossaveal and across the the Aran Islands. Returning to Ballyahinch and cycling via the Inagh Valley to Renvyle House. The heather flavoured honey from GreenBee gets a mention.
The hidden Irish beach with crystal clear water, golden sand, seaweed c
oral – and it’s five minutes from busy village | The Irish Sun (thesun.ie)
Trá an Dóilín features in this article by Kaye Stafford in the Sun.
Aran Islands: My recent weekend getaway to Inis Mór – Lonely Planet
From sunrise walks to tasty lunch spots Sasha Brady describes her trip to Inis Mór in this Lonely Planet Article.
Im Land der Piratenkönigin
Article by Win Schumacher in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung about the cosy cottages, landscapes and myths of Connemara
