Dunguaire Castle has, for hundreds of years, stood
proudly on the site of the 7th century stronghold of Guaire,
the King of Connaught, its majesty dominating the shore of
Galway Bay. The castle bridges three centuries of Irish History, from the
skirmishes, battles and sieges that characterise its colourful
past, through to the literary revival of the early 20th
century.
In 1924, Oliver St. John Gogarty, surgeon, poet, author
and wit, a contemporary and friend of W.B. Yeats and Lady
Gregory, acquired the Castle as a place of quite retreat.
Today, the restored Castle gives an insight into the lifestyle of the people who lived there from 1520 to modern times.
The castle also hosts Medieval Castle Banquets by night with entertainment based on the songs, poems and extracts from great Irish writers. The castle is open daily from May to September, 9.30am to 5.30pm
'A microcosm of 19th century Ireland, a fascinating window on the past
simply but effectively presented' The Clare Heritage Centre, situated in
Corofin, Co. Clare is approximately 20 mins. drive from us. It features a
museum illustrating Clare's history. It's main attraction however, is
the Genealogical Research Centre. Open all year, one can trace one's
ancestry.
Situated in Kilfenora, 20 mins from us, the Burren Centre provides a
fascinating insight into this rich landscape. Audio-visual presentations
and guides lead you through the mysteries and complexities of this
unique region. Also available are Tea Rooms and a craft shop.
'Ireland's Premier Showcave'. The first cave open to the public in
Ireland, Ailwee cave is located near Ballyvaughan, 10 minutes from us.
The Burren landscape, of porous limestone, is host to vast cave systems,
of which Ailwee Cave is a part. A guided tour is provided to explain the
sights and formations of the cave. Ailwee cave features remains of the
hibernation chambers of the long extinct brown bears. Ailwee also
features a dairy where the making of goats cheese and honey extraction
can be observed. It must be stressed that caves in the Burren are
not developed except for Ailwee, and they must not be explored unless
you posess the necessary equipment and experience in cave exploration.
© 1998 Villa Maria
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