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Galway & Connemara Treasures

Mountain valleys, coastal abbeys, island forts, and Atlantic strands

From Galway Bay and the Aran Islands to the quartzite peaks and blanket bogs of Connemara, County Galway blends rich Gaelic culture with untamed scenery. Ancient stone forts, lakeside abbeys, and white coral beaches sit along winding western roads. Discover ten standout sights across Galway and Connemara.
Binn Ghuaire — photo by Patrice78500 #1
Peak County Galway

Binn Ghuaire

Diamond Hill or Bengooria (Irish: Binn Ghuaire, meaning 'Guaire's peak') is an isolated peak overlooking the village of Letterfrack, in the northwest corner of the Twelve Bens in Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland. At only 442 metres (1,450 ft), it does not rank as an Arderin, or a Vandeleur-Lynam; however, it has the prominence to rank as a Marilyn. Diamond Hill lies just west of Knockbrack and the small massif of Benbrack, and looks into the Polladirk valley, around which several major Bens are located. Despite its moderate size and isolation, compared to the nearby Twelve Bens, Diamond Hill is a popular peak due to its paths and boarded mountain trail, and relative ease of access, together with views of the core Twelve Bens range, and western Connemara.

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Clonfert Cathedral — photo by JohnArmagh #2
Church County Galway

Clonfert Cathedral

Clonfert Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Clonfert, County Galway in Ireland. Previously the cathedral of the Diocese of Clonfert and then one of three cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Limerick and Killaloe, it is now one of five cathedrals in the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe. The current building was erected in the 12th century in the Hiberno-Romanesque style The site had an earlier church founded by Saint Brendan in 563, which was associated with a monastery he founded and at which he was buried. The dean of the cathedral is the Very Reverend Roderick Lindsay Smyth who is also Dean of Killaloe, Dean of Kilfenora and both Dean and Provost of Kilmacduagh.

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51
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An Bhinn Bhán — photo by Britishfinance #3
Peak County Galway

An Bhinn Bhán

Benbaun (Irish: Binn Bhán, meaning 'white peak') is a mountain in County Galway, Ireland. With a height of 729 metres (2,392 ft), it is the 72nd highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 88th highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. Benbaun is situated at the centre of the core massif of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park and is the tallest mountain of the Twelve Bens range, and the county top for Galway.

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Mullach Glas — photo by Joebater at English Wikipedia #4
Peak County Galway

Mullach Glas

The Maumturks or Maamturks (Irish: Sléibhte Mhám Toirc; mountains of the boar's pass) is a mountain range in Connemara, County Galway, in the west of Ireland. It is a long, broadly-straight range, consisting of weathered quartzite peaks in its central section. The Maumturks lie east of the Twelve Bens, on the other side of Lough Inagh and the Inagh Valley (a Western Way route).

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50
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Turoe Stone — photo by Dirk Huth #5
General County Galway

Turoe Stone

The Turoe stone is a 1.2 metre tall granite stone decorated in a Celtic style normally located in the village of Bullaun, County Galway, Ireland, 6 km north of Loughrea off the R350 regional road. It probably dates to about the period 100 BC to AD 100. The stone is usually positioned on the lawn in front of Turoe House, set in a concrete base surrounded by a metal cattle grill. The Turoe stone is National Monument of Ireland Number 327 (NM#327). As of 2025, the stone had been moved temporarily to an Office of Public Works depot in Athenry for conservation.

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48
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Tyrone House — photo by Tom Cosgrave #6
Ruins County Galway

Tyrone House

Tyrone House in County Galway is a ruined manor house, built in the 1770s on a promontory by the estuary of the Kilcolgan river, about 2 miles (3 km) from the village of Kilcolgan, County Galway, Ireland. The house was destroyed by the local Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit during the Irish War of Independence.

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45
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Binn Chorr — photo by Joebater at English Wikipedia #9
Peak County Galway

Binn Chorr

Bencorr (Irish: Binn Chorr, meaning 'pointed peak') at 711 metres (2,333 ft), is the 82nd–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 102nd–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. Bencorr is situated near the centre of the core massif of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland. It is the second-tallest mountain of the Twelve Bens range, after Benbaun 729 metres (2,392 ft); it lies close to Benbaun, separated only by the third-highest mountain in the range of Bencollaghduff 696 metres (2,283 ft), and the col of Maumina.

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Binn Dhoire Chláir — photo by Bernd Thaller #10
Peak County Galway

Binn Dhoire Chláir

Derryclare or Derryclare Mountain (Irish: Binn Doire Chláir) is a mountain at the southern edge of Twelve Bens range in Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland. At 677 metres (2,221 ft), it is the 119th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list, and the 145th–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam list. It is the 5th tallest of the core Twelve Bens. The Derryclare Lough on its southern slopes is a scenic location in Connemara, while Derryclare Wood, on its eastern slopes, contains a Statutory Nature Reserve (SRN). Derryclare's prominence of 129 metres (423 ft) does not qualify it as a Marilyn, however, it does rank as the 72nd-highest mountain in Ireland on the MountainViews Online Database, 100 Highest Irish Mountains, where the minimum prominence threshold is 100 metres.

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