The West of Ireland is renowned as a golfing haven.
Galway offers the best in quality golf courses and assures
a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
 The 18-hole championship links at
Connemara Golf Club (near Cliften) are probably the most
famous and challenging. The course is further enhanced by the
wonderful Atlantic Backdrop.
The seaside location of
Galway Golf Course, (18-hole), make it ideal.
There are
long established parkland courses like Oughterard, Tuam,
Athenry and new courses like Galway Bay Golf and Country Club
and Gort.
One not to be missed is Bearna Golf and
Country Club which is surrounded by absolutely captivating
scenery.
Other 18-hole courses in Galway include:
Balinasloe, Loughrea, Mountbellew and Portumna.
 Westport, Co. Mayo and
Lahinch, Co. Clare are another two championship courses within
a 2 hour drive. Westport Golf Club lies under the shadow of
Croagh Patrick, "Ireland's Holy Mountain" whilst the course at
Lahinch overlooks the Atlantic with the Cliffs of Moher and
the Burren close by.
The world famous wild brown trout loughs of Corrib and Mask
are unrivalled for game angling, infact Lough Corrib is
regarded as the best game fishery in Europe.
The scenic
lakes and rivers of Connemara provide excellent salmon angling
with a number of waters having sea trout from mid-summer.
Lough Hills also offer brown trout. The limestone rivers
produce quality brown trout to dry fly on summer
evenings.
 Moycullen/ Killanan area is a coarse
angler's paradise where bream, roach, rudd, hybrids and pike
are abundant.
The coast from Kinvara, in South Galway,
to Leenane, in the North, has miles of shore and beach sea
angling. Galway Bay (especially around the Aran Islands)
offers great blue shark angling from July
onwards.
Spiddal Angling School provides tuition on
game and coarse fishing, fly casting, spinning, boats &
ghille, salmon & trout flies and bait
There are many short coastal, mountain and bog walks in
County Galway. For the more ambitious hill-walker,
increasingly popular walking routes can be followed on an
organised basis.
Walks, varying from one day to one week,
are marked out with distinctive pointers.
Detailed charts
and information pamphlets are available.
 Bealach na
Gaeltachta
(Slí Chonamara)
The Gaeltacht consists of a number of regions in Ireland
where Irish is the predominant language. Bealach na Gaeltachta
(Slí Chonamara) is a long-distance walk which serves the
Connemara Gaeltacht. One can immerse oneself in the culture,
landscapes and imagination of one of the most beautiful
languages in the world. The walk extends from Galway city
along the shores of Galway Bay through An Spidéal (Spiddal),
An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe), Ros Muc and Carna, then Northward
to Oughterard and near Recess. The Way stretches over the
spectacular landscapes of Connemara, through hill and bogland
to the north, and along the coast to the south.
The
Route: Galway city, An Spidéal, An Cheathrú Rua, Ros Muc
and Carna, Oughterard, Recess.
Distance: 240 km/150
miles.
The Western Way
(Galway)
This route starts at Oughterard and follows the shore of
Lough Corrib to Maam. From Maam it finds a low level way
through the great quartzite ranges of the Maum Turks and
Twelve Bens, before descending to the deep, narrow valley of
Killary Harbour and junction with the Western Way (Mayo) near
Leenaun.
The Route: Oughterard, Maam, Maameen,
Inagh, Toorenacoona, Leenaun.
Distance: 50 km/31
miles.
The Burren Way
The Burren is a limestone karst region, internationally
renowned for its geological features, archaeological remains
and magnificent flora. The Burren Way never fails to captivate
its visitors. The jagged terrain of this uniquely beautiful
part of Ireland and the majestic Cliffs of Moher (views to the
Aran Islands) are two of the delights of this wonderful ramble
amongst hills and turloughs.
The Route:
Ballyvaughan, Ballinalackan, Doolin,
Lahinch.
Distance: 45 km/28 miles.
The Galway coastline is laced with safe and sandy beaches
and, as you would expect, there are a myriad of watersports to
chose from including surfing, sailing, canoeing, windsurfing,
water-skiing, scuba diving and powerboating.
Killary Cruises provide a sight-seeing cruise on the
Killary, Ireland's only Fjord, which includes a visit to
working salmon and mussels farms to see the atlantic salmon
leap in the cages.
Special scenic and wildlife coastal
cruises abroad the new "The Queen of Connemara" are available
from Letterfrack. The Corrib Princess makes a leisurely 90
minute cruise on Lough Corrib, Ireland's second largest lake.
Departs from Woodquay, Galway City.
Other activities on offer include rock-climbing, abseiling,
archery, cycling and orienteering.
The region is also a
haven for horse-riding enthusiasts, with treks organised along
the beach.
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