Loughrea

Loughrea ( Irish: Baile Locha Riach ) is a town with 4532 inhabitants ( 2006) in County Galway in the west-central part of the Republic of Ireland. The village lies on the northern shore of Loch Riach ( The gray lake ), which is partly also called hole Riabhach ( Speckled lake).

Her first mention was the village in 1236, when the Anglo - Norman Richard de Burgh Loughrea chose as his headquarters in Connacht and Loughrea Castle was built. Except through the castle, the town was protected by a city wall and a moat. In the south of the lake served as a natural protection.

The Carmelite Monastery St. Mary's Priory was established already in 1300, while another chapel and a new monastery were built until 1785. The Carmelite Order, which was founded in 1680, moved in 1829 to the new monastery. In addition to the medieval town center are only the dilapidated St. Brigid 's Church, preserved the city gate and the Carmelite Monastery. The St. Brendan 's Cathedral, a new church, featuring striking stained glass and other modern amenities church was built.

Loughrea has traditionally been a place of agriculture. Today, however, the pharmaceutical industry and the data-processing industry are located. Tourism also plays an ever increasing role - a range of holiday cottages can be found in the vicinity.

Traffic

Until December 2005 Loughrea, was on the National Road N6 ( Galway City ) and located N66, best known for the constant traffic jam, which is why the place was called in the vernacular also Gridlock Korea ( Gridlock = gridlock ). The traffic situation eased after the bypass was done. Until 1975 the village was served by the railway. The route to Attymon was the last purely rural route of the Irish railway.