Discover Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery and one of Ireland’s most iconic heritage attractions, set on 1,000 acres of a mountainside in Connemara, Co Galway, Ireland. Originally built in 1868 as a private home, Kylemore Castle was bought in 1920 by an order of Benedictine Nuns, founded in Belgium in the 16th century, and became Kylemore Abbey.
Today, Kylemore is a place of spirituality, heritage, and natural beauty, welcoming thousands of visitors and pilgrims each year. It is a non-profit organisation, with tourism and philanthropy supporting the monastic mission and conserving Kylemore Abbey’s rich heritage for the Irish nation.
Enjoy a sheepdog working demonstration at Killary Sheep Farm, a traditional working mountain farm with approx. 200 ewes and lambs roaming freely in the mountain with spectacular scenery overlooking Killary Fjord, on the Wild Atlantic Way. On the farm, you will find mainly blackhead horny sheep which are most suited to survive on the mountains during the harsh winters. Depending on the season, you will be able to feed lambs, sheer sheep, or watch turf being cut.
Very few places in Ireland can match the rugged beauty and range of scenery that can be seen from Sky Road. The route is well-signposted from Clifden town and is easy to find. The lower road goes downhill towards the sea and will give you a very close-up view of the landscape, but the upper road is most popular because of the views it offers over the entire area. Here you will find unbeatable views of the Connemara countryside, the Atlantic Ocean, The Islands, and the coastline of Co. Mayo to the North, and Co. Clare to the South.
Experience a guided tour of Aughnanure Castle, one of well over 200 tower houses in County Galway built by large, wealthy, land-owning families, mainly of Gaelic but some of Old English (Anglo-Norman) stock. Tower Houses were fortified residences and were places of power and control over the surrounding lands.
Connemara revolves around Lough Corrib. The Lough is the largest freshwater lake in the Republic of Ireland. Located in County Galway, in the west of Ireland, it contains over 1000 islands, the most famous of which is Inchagaoill. This beautiful lake is ideal for boat cruises and angling.