Connacht

Connacht ( kɒnɔ ː t; old English spelling Connaught; ir: Connachta kunəxtə, land of the descendants of Conn ) is the northwestern of the historic provinces of Ireland and today includes the counties ( counties ) Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon. The province has 542 039 inhabitants ( as of 2011) and an area of ​​17,713 km2. The largest city is Galway.

The Legend

Connacht played a significant role in Irish mythology. It is the region in which Medb and Ailill mac Máta prevailed on Rathcroghan or Rath Cruachain and Ireland strove for power in the fight against Cuchulain. Cet mac Magach is their great hero. The characteristics of scholarship, history, story-telling and knowledge were Connacht assigned by the wise Fintan.

When King Conchobor over the province of Ulster there to Medb and Ailill talk about who among them hath in his flock the best bull. It turns out that the king has the better bull, the Queen would therefore even better. It exists, but only in Ulster, the Cuailnge Thu. So messengers are sent to Conchobar, but are not out of the bull. This leads to a great war, which is in reality a last attempt to Goddess to gain dominance over Ireland. The province of Ulster is a hand weakened, because the king has banished the best heroes of his country and those fighting on the enemy's side, and on the other hand, because Ulster is under the spell of a fairy who causes his men are incapacitated for some time. But there is the seventeen -year-old Cuchulain, a heroic figure that may be out of their superhuman strength change her body, so that this is so to a young god ( a new faith ) is. Cuchulain is ultimately the enemy's army, or parts of it alone against. When enemy still fighting to his friends, the banished hero. Cuchulain it, the struggle to survive until the men of Ulster are capable of fighting back successfully. Last fight two bulls against each other: While the bull of Ulster wins, but dies after the battle of exhaustion.

The reality

In the Republic of Ireland, the provinces now have no more importance to the administration of the state, but they play a role in the sport, as it is often organized in Ireland on a regional basis.

Connacht was always the poorest and most disadvantaged region of Ireland to live in was regarded as a punishment. It has long been known as the Siberia of Ireland. "To hell or to Connacht ", " To Hell or Connacht " - this was the choice that was many Irish, as Oliver Cromwell conquered Ireland in the 17th century. So Connacht was the most severely affected by the Great Famine of 1845-1849 Province.

Museums and visitor centers

Co. Galway

  • Aran Centre, Galway
  • Aughnanure Castle
  • Aughrim Interpretative Centre
  • Dan O'Hara's Heritage Center in Clifden
  • Dunguaire Castle
  • Leenane Cultural Center
  • Thoor Ballylee ( William Butler Yeats )

Co. Leitrim

  • Sliabh -an- Iarainn Visitors Center
  • Parkes ' Castle

Co. Mayo

  • Céide Fields
  • Foxford Woolen Mills
  • Granuaile Cender, Louisburgh
  • Knock Folk Museum, Knock
  • North Mayo, Enniscoe
  • Westport House

Co. Roscommon

Co. Sligo

  • Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
  • Sligo County Museum and Sligo
County Galway County Mayo County Sligo County Leitrim County Roscommon Finnbhennach Knock (County Mayo) Boyle, County Roscommon Connacht–Ulster (European Parliament constituency) Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Leinster Munster
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