Explore Cill Chiaráin

Cill Chiaráin brings a contemporary twist to the traditional way of life in the Gaeltacht, Ireland’s main Gaelic speaking regions. Rust-red sails – In earlier centuries the unique Galway hookers carried passengers and cargoes along the South Conamara coast. Now people build and race them for pleasure at summer regattas. A natural harvest, the pier was built for vessels exporting kelp to Scotland to extract iodine, in much demand for treating wounds in the First World War. Now a different seaweed called wrack is gathered by hand. The unpolluted Atlantic with its powerful waves results in an abundant harvest which is processed into meal for livestock feed and for enriching garden soil. Given the renewed value placed on the Irish language, the Irish College, Coláiste Sheosaimh, has run residential courses for school children since 1960. There is time for fun as well as work, whether hillwalking or making music at a céilí.