County Galway

The County Galway ( Irish: Gaillimh ) is a county ( county ) on the west coast of Ireland. It is located in the province of Connacht; its capital city is Galway. In the Connemara Gaeltacht many areas are designated where exacerbated Irish is spoken.

Geography

The county is located on the Atlantic coast between Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord in the north and Galway Bay in the south. The rivers Shannon and Suck are to the east. The River Corrib and Lough Corrib (lake) divide the county into two very unequal parts, the western Connemara is. In the southwest, off the coast of County Clare, belonging to three Galway Aran Islands lie ( Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, Inis Oírr ).

History

First inhabitants there were in the region of Galway already 7000 years ago. Shell middens ( middens ) in this area prove their presence. Around 4000 BC farmers reached the area and built megalithic sites. 2500 BC joined another change, because the Gael ( Bell Beaker Culture ) reached the bronze Ireland. With the arrival of Christianity in the 5th century, many monasteries were built: Roscam in Galway, Inchagoill on an island in Lough Corrib and Annaghdown on the shore of the lake.

In September 1828 drowned before Annaghdown 20 people ( eleven men and nine women), as a ferry boat that crossed the lake went down. There were ten survivors. The blind poet Anthony Raftery (1784-1835) wrote a complaint to commemorate the event. The plaque was erected in 1979.

Economy

In Tynagh are lead and zinc deposits. Agriculture consists of grazing, sheep and dairy farming. In addition, barley, wheat, potatoes and sugar beets are grown. In recent years, there has been particular about the city of Galway, an incredible economic boom, the end is not yet in sight.

Policy

The distribution of seats in Galway County Council after the local elections of June 5, 2009:

Places

• Athenry
• Baile na hAbhann
• Ballinasloe
• Claregalway
• Clifden
• Dunmore
• Galway
• Headford
• Kinvara
• Leenaun
• Loughrea
• Milltown
• Oranmore
• Portumna
• Roundstone
• An Spidéal
• Tuam

Family name

Typical surname of this region are: Bermingham, Burke, Connolly, Conneely, Donnellan, Donnelly, Joyce, Kelly, Lynch, Madden, Martyn, O'Flaherty, O'Halloran, O'Shaughnessey, Tierney, Ward and Welby.

Museums and Visitor centers

• Athenry Heritage Centre
• Aughrim (Battle of Aughrim )
• Dan O'Hara ( Farm House from 1840 )
• Dunguaire Castle
• Galway Atlantaquaria in the suburb of Salthill
• Glengowla silver and lead mine in Oughterard
• Leenane (Wool Museum)
• Thor Ballylee ( Norman Tower House, temporary residence of William Butler Yeats )

Attractions

• The prehistoric monuments ( Crannagh, Mweelin, the stone circle of Moanmore East, Sheeauns and the Celtic Turoe Stone )
• The various Ancient cooking places, Cairns, Crannogs, forts, holy sources, Celtic crosses, churches and monasteries, megaliths, menhirs, round towers, basements, stone cists and stone rows