Spiddal

An Spidéal ( [ ən ʲ id sp ʲ e ː ɫ ] official name, English: Spiddal or Spiddle ) is a small town on the west coast of Ireland, 19 km west of Galway on the eastern boundary of Connemara. An Spidéal has 247 inhabitants (as of 2006).

Name

The name on Spidéal ("the Hospital " ) comes from the Irish word for hospital ( ospidéal ) that there was probably centuries ago.

Economy

An Spidéal is located in Gaeltacht Cois Fharraige. Every year many students from other parts of Ireland come here to improve their knowledge of Irish.

There is a fishing harbor and a small beach with parking. Opposite is the Spiddal Craft Centre.

Personalities

• Máirtín Ó Cadhain was born in 1906 near An Spidéal. He was one of the most important writers of the 20th century the Irish language.