County Galway
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County Galway (Contae na Gaillimhe in Irish) is located on the west coast of Ireland. It is in the Irish province of Connacht. The county takes its name from the city of Galway, which is the county's capital. It is the second largest county in Ireland, after County Cork. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county.
The county contains a number of distinct territories including Iar Chonnachta, which covers the portion of the county west of Loch Corrib and which contains Connemara in the far west and Joyce Country in the north-west. A number of inhabited islands are administered by the county; they include Oileáin Árann (Aran Islands) and Inis Bó Fine (Inishbofin).
County Galway is home to Lough Corrib (the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland) the Na Beanna Beola (Twelve Bens) mountain range, Na Sléibhte Mhám Toirc (the Maum Turk mountains), and the low mountains of Sliabh Echtghe (Slieve Aughty).
The estimated 2006 population is 219,750 [link].
Towns and villages in County Galway
- Ardrahan, Athenry, Aughrim
- Ballinasloe, Ballyconneely, Ballygar, Ballymoe, Ballynahinch, Barna, Bealadangan
- Camus, Carraroe, Carrowkeel, Claregalway, Clarinbridge, Claremorris, Cleggan, Clifden, Clonbur, Corofin, Casla, Craughwell
- Dunmore
- Furbo
- Galway, Glenamaddy, Gort
- Headford, Hollygrove
- Inveran
- Kilcolgan, Kilconnell, Kilkieran, Kilronan, Kinvara
- Laurencetown, Leenaun, Lettercallow, Letterfrack, Lettermore, Loughrea
- Maam Cross, Maum, Monivea, Mountbellew Moycullen, Muckanaghederdauhaulia
- Newbridge
- Oranmore, Oughterard
- Portumna
- Recess, Rosmuck, Rossaveal, Roundstone
- Spiddal
- Tuam, Turloughmore
- Woodford
History
The first inhabitants in the Galway are arrived there over 7000 years ago. Shell middens tell us about the existence of people as early as 5000 BC. With the arrival of Christianity many monastries where built.
After the invasion of the vikings, who founded the town Galway, the small village developed into a big town. The district Claddagh was stony foreshore and fishermen lived there a long time before the vikings.
See also
External links
- [Galway County Council]
- [Tourist information website]
- [Map of Galway]
- [*FLIRT FM* Galways Student Radio Station NUIG/GMIT]
- [Galway GAA]
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