town information ireland

In Irish, Ath na nUrlaidhe, "the ford of the sledgings" according to O'Curry, where by tradition a battle was fought in the 10th century in which "the Irish and the Danes did sledge each other's heads". The ford from which the name of the pretty town is taken is marked by the bridge which crosses the River Gowl between the old parish church and the Butler Castle of Urlingford. The pre-Reformation church, though in a ruined condition, has substantially perfect walls. A large church stood here...

Ballyconneely, 10km south from Clifden, and the entry point to the Errismore Peninsula, is an ideal place from which to explore the many fine beaches, some with coral strands, situated along the nearby Ballyconneely and Mannion Bays.

In recent times, evidence of early coastal settlement stretching back 5,000 years, including middens or ancient rubbish heaps of burnt stone, charcoal, shells, as well as stone baldes have been found along the shorelines here and add to the excitement of ex...

Galway is a fast growing city and with its population now reaching over 50,000 it is set to become the third city of the Irish Republic. The capital of Connacht, Galway, is a thriving and expanding city with a rich past dating from medieval times. Always a merchant town, modern Galway is also a University City and administrative centre.

It is where the Gaelic countryside of Connemara and bustling commerce meet, and the Irish Language can frequently be heard in shop and street. There are...

Roundstone is located on the Atlantic coast and is a very scenic village.
It has a particularly attractive setting at the foot of Errisbeg with wonderful views of the Twelve Bens; its tourist industry is taking over from fishing. If you cut across the peninsula instead of following the coast you will see at close quarters one of the best remaining stretches of Irish Blanket bog, now at last recognised as an important ecosystem, rather than something to be dried and burned....

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...

Monivea is approximately 10 miles from Galway City and is a spacious town....

From an unpretentious crossing point on the Shannon, the ford of Luan, Athlone, grew to be the largest town in Westmeath.; The possession of the ford of Athlone has been disputed from earliest times. In 1001 Brian Boru marched there with a great army; in 1129 King Turlough O'Conor erected a wattle bridge there and in 1199 the Normans occupied the town and in 1257 built the town walls, part of which can still be seen. After their defeat at the Boyne in 1690, the Irish withdrew to Athlone and m...

This attracive little town, on the N63, is situated by the River Suck, which forms the county boundary with County Roscommon, and, thus is an ideal base for the angler. Its long street and square are kept neat and tidy, and it is not surprising that the town has won a number of Bord Failte TidyTown awards. Just 1.5km north of the town, lies Aghrane Woods with lay-by, picnic sites and forest walks....