local attractions

Villa Maria, located in the North Clare/South Galway region, is ideally located close to a variety of attractions.

We are situated just 3 miles from the town of Kinvara. Some of the sights and attractions there:

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
Kinvara Riding Centre located approximately 3 miles from Kinvara offers a Horse and Pony Riding through the beautiful countryside on quiet reliable horses and ponies. Guides are also available. In addition, Fort View House provides quality farmhouse accommodation. A.I.R.E. and Bord Fáilte Approved
For further information on Kinvara and district visit kinvara.com

Co. Galway

Coole Park, Gort

Coole is a nature reserve situated on the outskirts of Gort, situated approximately 20 mins. from Villa Maria. Coole is a historic park which was the home of Lady Gregory, one of the founders of the Abbey Theatre. An indoor exhibition depicts the literary and natural history of the area. Visitors to this park included the renowned poet W.B. Yeats. Carvings of the signatures of many of Ireland's great literary minds are to be seen on the trunk of the parks 'Autograph Tree'.

Thoor Ballylee

This was the summer home of W.B. Yeats for 10 years. Many of his most famous works, including 'The Tower' and 'The Winding Stair' were written here. An audio-visual presentation illustrates this famous poet's life.

Kilmacduagh Church and Round Tower

This is the site of the monastery founded by Saint Colman MacDuagh about 600AD. The most conspicuous feature of the well-preserved round tower is that it leans almost 50cm from the perpendicular, which it shares with a more famous counterpart of Pisa.

Local Beaches

Traught Beach - received a Blue Ribbon award in 1991 - has newly erected modern facilities.
The Flaggy Shore - This has been called the most beautiful shore line roadway on Galway Bay. It also has a small sandy beach.

The Clare Heritage Centre

'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.

The Burren Centre

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.
See also - the Burren

Ailwee Cave
'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.

Other caves in the Burren

Over 35 miles of cave passages have actually been surveyed. Pollnagollum Cave on the eastern side of Slieve Elva with its branch passages and tributaries engulfing streams from off Slieve Elva, can be explored for nearly seven miles. Slieve Elva has a number of many interesting caves including the 90' dryshaft of Pollaphuca and the linear caves of Polldugh, Pollballiny and Faunarooska. Kilcorney's cave is the cave of the wild horses - this complex cave which contains some internal potholes often fills up with water and floods out on the valley floor above. Poll-an-ionion near Lisdoonvarna is a difficult cave to explore and has inside it a huge stalactite nearly 25' long - the longest in western Europe!
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.