Explore Ros a' Mhíl

As with all ferry ports, most visitors will remember Ros an Mhíl (Rossaveal) as a departure or arrival point – in this case to the Aran Islands. In fact the outlying area has many interesting features, a beautiful coastline, a rich history and some attractive beaches.
To the north and to the east of it, hundreds of acres of bogland are home to all types of wetland wildlife and fauna.
45 minutes west of Galway City, Ros an Mhíl can be reached by taking a left off R336 on to R372 which loops around to meet the main road again at Baile na hAbhann, close to the headquarters of the Irish Language TV Station TG4 https://www.tg4.ie/en/ .
Part of the Wild Atlantic Way, it lies on the eastern coast of Cuan Chasla (Casla Bay).
A most interesting driveable 8km trail, preferably walked or cycled, gives a very good insight into life in Conamara over the last 300 years. www.coisfharraige.ie/cumann-forbartha/walks/walk-ros-a-mhil/ . Acres of stony fields and rocky shorelines from which families eked out a living and remnants of British Rule – a Martello Tower built in the early 1800’s and a Coast Guard Station constructed some 60 years later.
Prior to it becoming a ferry port, Ros an Mhíl was a popular fishing harbour and up to the middle of the last century a port of call for húcéirí and gleoiteogaí (traditional Connemana sailing boats) bringing turf to Aran and Co. Clare and goods from Galway City https://www.galwayhookers.ie/en.

Close to Ros an Mhíl in the village of An Bhánrainn Bhán (Banraughbaun) is a holy well dedicated to St. Colm Cille. Nearby on the shore of a most beautiful beach, lies a large stone in the shape of a ship. Legend has it that the saint sailed it from Aran after visiting St. Enda there http://www.colmcille.org/colmcille/history-in-stone .