Located about 15 miles east of Galway off the M6, the Athenry Castle dates back to the 13th…read morecentury. Stone walls, a keep and the restored hall are impressive and a fabulous opportunity to look back into medieval life. Check the doorways and arches and battlements and enjoy the castle's impressive artistry. The structure stands at a ford on the Clareen River. After the castle, walk the grounds. Impeccably maintained and there is free parking. Lots of opportunity for photo ops. The Priory down the street is also impressive. If you stop and listen carefully, maybe you can hear the voices of those who were here before? [Review 1966 of 2024 - 147 in Republic of Ireland - 22988 overall]

I could not get enough of Athenry Castle. I am from Chicago, where we have 150ish years of history…read more Ireland has thousands of years of history. Athenry Castle brought history classes to life for me. When I talked with locals, they said the castle has always been there for them so they take it for granted. I walked the grounds on more than one occasion and simply could not get enough of this seemingly ancient building with so much history and energy surrounding it. Athenry Castle is worth a stop, not just for the castle, but the town arch and fences which were all part of the original layout. You can also walk the grounds, check out the cemetery and let the kids burn off any energy in the playlot that is right there.

A must see full of great stores, pubs, and street musicians. Take the time to browse around, and…read morecheck out the vintage stores if that's your thing - we found interesting items!

Completely touristy - but fun for a few hours…read more If you're in Galway a stroll in the Latin Quarter is surely on your list. And it was on ours too. It's a fun little area, very easy to navigate with countless bars, pubs and restaurants. The nicest thing about it are the colourful buildings. A feast for the eye. At around 10-12 in the morning you still have a good chance to enjoy the buildings and take good pics, since there's not much going on yet. Also a good time to check out the shops. Later in the afternoon the streets get really packed. Sometimes it's a real traffic-jam and finding a good table in a pub with music or a table outside is nearly impossible. Besides the tourists there are street artists and musicians (of different quality) lining up on the street. Most pubs and restaurants cater to tourists with mostly reasonable prices, but average food-quality. But it's still a fun place and we also dined here, even we knew the meal wouldn't be perfect. But it's a perfect place to sit at an outside table and watch the world go by.

Wonderful example of a 14th century church. Worth a visit if you're in the area. It's yet another…read moreexample of Cromwell's destruction of Ireland.

It was raining when our tour group arrived at Ross Eerily Friary, which is on the county line…read morebetween Galway and Mayo. It was a really cool old structure. It's all just stone at this point, but there are active burials that still take place on the grounds. There had been one very recently when we were there in early September. Despite the rain, it was a really cool place to visit. Cows abounded in the areas surrounding the friary and the history was rich. I don't see why anyone would come here unless they were going on a tour or part of a funeral procession, but it's worth the stop if you're in the area. Give yourself about ten minutes to walk around. That's all the time you need.

Wow! What a pretty…read morecastle!! It's stunning! In person it is such an amazing site. You see the castle on the mountain, and it's really pretty. I didn't have time to go close up to it. I wish we did. But we got to see it still. It's just picturesque with the backdrop. The complete package you could say.

While on a road trip in Ireland, this castle was on our list and on the way to one of our…read moredestinations. It was closed at the time of year when we saw it, but we parked and walked around the castle and really enjoyed it. It's on a beautiful lake and the weather was perfect. If we return to the area, I would definitely stop at this castle again and see the inside.

I am of Ireland, And the Holy Land of Ireland,…read more And time runs on. -William Butler Yeats This interesting structure stands tall on one side of Eyre Squar with a carved stone marker. The marker with it reads (in English but also in Gaelic), "This feature consists of a ground floor doorway and a 1st floor Oriel window and came from the main frontage of the mansion of Dominic Browne and his wife Maria Lynch and is dated 1627. Their achievements of arms occur above the door case which is a fine example of Renaissance influenced design. The doorway was relocated from its original position in Abbeygate Street and relocated here in 1905 by Local Authority with funding from Galway Archaeological Society and Urban District Council (now Galway City Council)." The intricate craftsmanship and carvings of the doorway offer a glimpse into the past, showing the artistry and skill of the 17th century. It is a must see for history enthusiasts and those who appreciate fine architecture. [Review 1946 of 2024 - 128 in Republic of Ireland - 22968 overall]

I learned about W.B. Yeats in an Irish Literature class in college and have been obsessed with…read morevisiting this place. This tower and visitor center are located out in the beautiful countryside on a quiet lane. The staff was welcoming, even setting up the Yeats video for us to watch before our tour. Walking around the spaces that he wrote many of his best poems was inspiring, especially since they have some of the original furniture around. The stairs to head up the tower are steep and slim, so that's good to keep in mind. They do allow you on the roof, which I would recommend because we got to take in the countryside that Yeats would often view.

Open May through September, I was too early to get into the building. This tower castle was owned…read moreby the family of W.B. Yates. The poet spent a great deal of time living here throughout his life.When the building suffered flood damage several years ago, a group of W.B.Yates enthusiasts came together to raise funds to restore the tower house. It reopened in the summer 2015. This location is also famous for fans of John Wayne and specifically fans of the movie 'The Quiet Man' which was filmed in many locations around Co. Galway. Although now overgrown, Maureen O'Hara took off her stockings in what was a field behind the building, and ran across the (very low at the time) river with John Wayne not far behind. Attached to the tower is a low, thatched roof building and across the way is a low walled garden with a bridge over a stream. The path from the bridge leads to a dead end which makes me believe it is a good fishing spot just there. There is a small high walled garden at the end of the thatched structure. It's a nice drive out, and the property is quite nice to visit. There is a large parking lot on the left, just before you reach to the tower and tour buses come this way. If you are a fan of Yates, Wayne, or like to fish, take the drive through lovely countryside and visit Thoor Ballylee.

Blackhead lighthouse is a beautiful lighthouse located right on the coast, in the burren, Co…read more Clare. The beach and surrounding area is just amazing. You get the spectacular view of the Irish west coast and at the same time can enjoy the burren. I bike up this way a few times a year during the summer and every time stop at Blackhead to soak in a few rays and enjoy the view of the ocean sure.

If you are a lover of James Joyce's writings, you might want to stop here and visit his wife and…read moremuse's childhood home. Nora Barnacle met Joyce in Dublin on June 10, 1903 and arranged to go on a date on 14th, but she blew him off saying she couldn't get away. Never a quitter, Joyce arranged for a follow up on June 16th and this time went to pick her up. For readers of Joyce's classic tome "Ulysses", June 16th will forever be known as Bloomsday. Nora's famous quote of Joyce lives on: "I mistook him for a Swedish sailor - His electric blue eyes, yachting cap and plimsolls. But when he spoke, well then, I knew him at once for just another Dublin jackeen chatting up a country girl." Though it should be noted, it took them 28 years to tie the knot and it annoyed Joyce that the media of the day made such a big deal of it. But they never got tired of celebrating June 16th! True love, eh?

Fantastic little museum! Very personal, detail oriented, with a generous guide. Highly recommend…read morevisiting for a quick stop to learn more about an interesting lady and her family!