West Ireland Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
Western part of Ireland
About West Ireland
With a population of 486,000 in 2022, it's one of the eight regions of Ireland for statistical and planning purposes, more lyrically named "IE042 - NUTS Level III". It's never been a unit of local government, but it roughly corresponds to the ancient Kingdom of Connacht. In bygone times it was easier to move people and livestock around this region by boat than to slog across the terrain, so settlements grew up on the coast. One sheltered bay attracted so many Viking, Norman and other incomers that it was called "Foreigners" -Gaillimhor Galway. Inland there's a surprising amount of fertile lowland, where settlements and religious centres grew up. Yet it's testament to the terrain in the 6th century that when St Jarlath set off in a brand-new chariot, he only got 3 km to Tuam then the wheels
West Ireland Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: