(14) South Coast Scenic Drive -Cois Fharraige

The South Coast (Scenic Drive ) Bóthar Cois Fharraige Cois Fharraige

This scenic driving route in Connemara is as much for landscape lovers as for film buffs. It starts in An Spidéal (Spiddal), gateway to the Gaeltacht and home to Ros na Rún. Ros na Rún is an Irish language soap which has featured cameos by Stephen Fry and Conan O’ Brien.  Nearby Indreabhán is home to TG4, the Irish language channel. It has created soaps and series as well as documentaries, news, and comedies.

Cois Fharraige is also home to various studios associated with the film industry, some developed by employees who had ‘learnt on the job’ with Roger Corman’s studio. In the 90s, Roger Corman ‘’King of the B Movies’ was based here for several years and churned out cheap slasher movies. Audiences loved them, but critics were less kind.

The route runs along the shores of Galway Bay and turns down through watery landscapes and causeways to reach Leitir Mealláin (Lettermullen). This small island & village has featured in a small number of films, including The Guard and Black’47.

Famous association:  John Ford, Director of The Quiet Man has anscestral ties with An Spidéal (Spiddal). The McDonagh brothers’ family came from Ceantar na nOileain. John Michael directed  The Guard while Martin directed Banshees of Inisheerin. Acclaimed director John Huston had a house in Ceantar na nOileain with local beach Trá Direáin, also named Trá Huston.

Quotation

”Ultimately, I have to tell them that this is a land without shortcuts.”
― Tim Robinson, Connemara: A Little Gaelic Kingdom

Trivia:
Martin McDonagh gave two of his awards to Ionad Oidhreachta Leitir Mealláin – Lettermullen Heritage Centre, which is open to visitors.