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the historic route
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The Historic Route
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The Historic Route: 154km /96 miles) Galway - Loughrea - Bullaun - Loughrea - Aughrim - Loughrea - Peterswell - Thoor Ballylee - Coole Park Gort - Kilmacduagh - Kinvara - Kilcolgan - Clarebridge - Oranmore - Galway
Leave Galway taking the Dublin road for Loughrea, a market town, named after the nearby beautiful grey lake Lough Rea. Here, St Brendan's Cathedral contains treasures in wood, stone, cloth and iron. There are also stained glass windows, created by some of Ireland's greatest crafts people early this century during the Celtic Revival. 5km north of Loughrea is Bullaun, location of the Turoe stone a monument which is decorated in the Celtic La Tene style.
Back in Loughrea,continue on the main Dublin Road to Aughrim, the site of Ireland's bloodiest battle in which almost 9,000 people were killed.
This Battle of Aughrim (1691) was fought between the forces of Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange for the English throne. A fine Interpretive Centre here tells the story of this battle.
Description
Description
Description
Return to Loughrea, then on to Peterswell. After Peterswell turn right to Thoor Ballylee, once home of W.B. Yeats, now a Yeats museum, with tearooms and a gift shop. Continuing on to the main Galway-Ennis road (N18) turn left for Coole Park , once home of Lady Augusta Gregory, and a place of literary fame. Guests here at the turn of the century included W.B. Yeats, George Russell and George Bernard Shaw.
Leaving Coole Park continue to Gort and turn right in the square. You will travel country roads to Kilmacduagh, an ancient monastic settlement, with a leaning round tower, reminiscent of the Tower of Pisa. After Kilmacduagh turn right for the pleasant seaside town of Kinvara which is overlooked by Dunguaire Castle a 16th century tower house. Continue along the N67 to Ballindereen and to Kilcolgan, which brings you back on the main road (N18). Turn left at Kilcolgan and continue through, Clarenbridge and Oranmore and return to Galway.
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