44406IRE
Connemara scenic drive
Kylemore Abbey visit
- Entrances to Kylemore paid by voucher or prebooked by card. Phone ahead (previous day if possible) with final numbers and tickets will be ready at the kiosk in coach park when you arrive.
- Ring Kylemore and book the group in.
- Best place for lunch is Kylemore Abbey. Clifden and Spiddal are potential rest stops depending upon how you wish to structure day.
- There are several possible routes for this day; the figure 8 shape described here incorporates most of the best sights/scenery.
- Connemara road signs are often solely in Gaelic. It helps to recognize Clifden (an Clochan), Maam Cross (an Teach Doite) and Kylemore (An Choill Mhoir).
opening times, entrances, telephone numbers etc. listed in yellow pages.
ALTERNATIVE LESS TIME CONSUMING ROUTE: TO KEEP THE DAY SIMPLE AND IF THE GROUP WISH TO HAVE TIME IN GALWAY, AS ARRIVAL THE DAY BEFORE IS EARLY EVENING AND LIMITS THAT, THEN DOING THE LOOP VIA THE INAGH VALLEY TO KYLEMORE AND BACK VIA KILLARY HARBOUR AND LEENANE WILL OFTEN SUFFICE AND OFFERS UP SOME SUPERB SCENARY.
09.00 Departure from Galway. Take the N59 to Maam Cross via Oughterard.
10.00 At Maam Cross, the crossroads of Connemara, take R336 to Leenane. After you turn right, on the left it is possible see a replica of the bridge used in the classic movie “The Quiet Man” with John Wayne (filmed in Cong). The R336 passes through the lovely Maam Valley, otherwise known as Joyce country. An alternative route is to continue on the N59 towards Recess and then take the breathtaking R344 past Lough Inagh; best views going north.
10.30 The R336 passes through Leenane. Leenane is famous as the location for the film “The Field”, 1989 starring Richard Harris. The Maumturk Mountains are on your left. On the right is Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord; 13 fathoms deep. Makes for a good photo stop.
From Leenane take the N59 towards Clifden until you reach Kylemore Abbey in Connemara National Park.
11.00 Kylemore Abbey visit and lunch. Kylemore Abbey is a magnificent 19th century house, which became a school run by Benedictine nuns. There is a short film and a couple of rooms to view, but mostly the visit is for the setting, the Gothic church (like a mini cathedral) with its Connemara marble interior, the grounds and the beautiful restored walled garden.
Arrival: Ask the group to wait for a moment whilst you collect the tickets from the kiosk in the coach park. They should be ready for you if you have phoned ahead. You then hand out the tickets and lead them to the entrance barriers. Group tickets are not available at the ticket booth by the barriers. The Walled Gardens are 1 mile to the west of the Abbey and the main site. A shuttle bus runs from in front of the Abbey to the gardens.
Telephone: 095 41146, Website: www.kylemoreabbey.com
13.00 Depart Kylemore Abbey. Continue on N59 towards Clifden.
Pass through Letterfrack (Diamond Hill, named for its shape, is on your left). There are also views of the islands of Inishark and Inishbofin. The latter was uses as a prison for Catholic priests in Cromwellian times. The mountains around you here are the Twelve Bens.
At Clifden, if you only have time, take the stunning Sky Road circuit around the peninsula west of Clifden. You will pass the derelict castle of John D’Arcy who founded Clifden in 1812.
13.30 Clifden is home to the annual Connemara pony show. Shops, cafes, banks etc. Good rest stop.
14.30 Depart Clifden on N59 via Roundstone and Recess to Maam Cross again. Then take R336 coast road back to Galway.You will pass through Costello, home to Radio na Gaeltachta (nationwide Gaelic radio station). TG4, the Gaelic television station is further on the road to Galway.
Continue through Spiddal to Galway. ‘Standun’, Spiddal Craft Centre, 091 553 108, is one of finest working craft centres and art galleries in Ireland and might be worth a brief stop if the group is interested. Makes for another good rest stop.
17.00-30 Estimated arrival time in Galway.