town information ireland

After Lisdoonvarna the circuit enters on its concluding stage, but instead of proceeding directly towards Ennistymon, the return journey takes a route south-east through Kilfenora. The picturesque road to Kilfenora (7km) runs along the southern edge of the Burren, through extensive State forests.

Kilfenora is a small village mainly significant, up to recent times, as the ecclesiastical capital of a small diocese now administered by the Bishop of Galway or, in the Church of Ireland...

Established by St. Jarlath at the beginning of the 6th century, it is 32.19km north of Galway City and today is the major town in the north Galway-mid Connaught region. It is a thriving commercial and industrial centre with a well established agricultural hinterland.

The present layout of the town resulted from the Charter of James I of England in 1613 with all roads converging on the town square -which is in fact a diamond shape. This layout disregarded the much earlier Celtic settlemen...

Kilronan is located on Inishmore and is the biggest town on the Aran Islands....

Edgeworthstown/(Mostrim) is a successful centre located on the N4. The town has a long association with the celebrated family of Edgeworth, who first settled here in 1583. The story of the Edgeworths is almost as entertaining as that of "Arabian Nights". Among the eminent members of the family were Richard Lovell Edgeworth, inventor and surveyor, "The Ingenious Mr. Edgeworth", Desmond Clarke has entitled him in his fine biography. Of his twenty four children, Maria the novelist is best known...

On the far side of Liscannor Bay, 5 km north-west of Lahinch. It is a small fishing village. Kilmacreehy, or St. Macreehy's Church, 1.5 km east of Liscannor, is a medieval parish church, with nave and chancel. It was built in the early 12th century, on the site of a famous school founded by St. Macreehy in the 6th century.

The castle ruin in the village, built by the O'Connors, became an O'Brien stronghold and was occupied by Sir Turlough O'Brien during the threatened invasion at the...

Glenamaddy, in the east of the County, is a pleasant town....

Cloondara an attractive village 8km (5 miles) west of Longford forms the Royal Canal's terminal with the River Shannon. The cut-stone harbour known as Richmond Harbour is one of the most imposing on the River Shannon. The old stone mill wth its weir and mill pond is another fine building. Traditional music is provided on a regular basis in local hostelries....

Ballymahon is picturesquely situated on the River Inny near the heart of the Goldsmith country. In 960 Mahon, King of Thomond, defeated Fergal, son of Ruarc, King of Breifne and Connacht, near Ballymahon. The town has a fine wide main street, and has many associations with Oliver Goldsmith. The Ballymahon area is said to have had a seminal influence on Goldsmith and formed the inspiration for his future works. Ballymahon is also the centre of John Keegan "Leo" Casey country, and the Ri...

An example of a seventeenth-century market town. The ruins of Ballinakill Castle are of a late seventeenth-century castle built by the Dunnes (but never inhabited) on the site of one destroyed by Cromwellian troops under Fairfax. The configuration of streets around the large rectangular square is eighteenth century.

The town's entrance from Abbeyleix is marked by two trees known as Toll Trees where a toll was paid by visitors to the town. The town had important fairs, a brewery, wo...