County Galway

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County Galway Contae na Gaillimhe
Location
Statistics
Province:	Connacht
County Town:	Galway
Code:	G (GY proposed)
Area:	6,148 km²
Population (2006)	231,035 (including Galway City); 159,052 (without Galway City)
Website: www.galway.ie

County Galway (Irish: Contae na Gaillimhe) is located on the west coast of Ireland. It is in the Irish province of Connacht. The county takes its name from the city of Galway, which is the county's capital. It is the second largest county in Ireland, after County Cork. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county.

The county comprises a number of distinct territories which predate the formation of the county by the English colonial administration in Ireland in the late 1500s. The major ones are Iar Connacht, or 'West Connacht', which covers the portion of the county (and also a small part of County Mayo) west of Loch Corrib and which contains Connemara in the far west and Joyce Country in the north-west. The territory of Aidhne lies in the south of the county and is coextensive with the diocese of Kilmacduagh.

The territory of what was once known as Uí Maine or Tír Maine covers most of the east of the county but also covers south County Roscommon. Maigh Seola covers the portion of the county along the eastern side of Loch Corrib. A number of inhabited islands are administered by the county; they include Oileáin Árann (Aran Islands) and Inis Bó Fine (Inishbofin).

County Galway is home to Lough Corrib (the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland) the Na Beanna Beola (Twelve Bens) mountain range, Na Sléibhte Mhám Toirc (the Maum Turk mountains), and the low mountains of Sliabh Echtghe (Slieve Aughty).

The population of the county as a whole at the April 2006 census was 231,052; however, when the city of Galway, which forms a separate administrative unit, was excluded, the population of the area under the control of Galway County Council was 159,052.

Contents 1 Towns and villages in County Galway 2 Galway Septs 3 History 4 Fauna and Flora 4.1 Flora 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Towns and villages in County Galway

• Ahascragh, Ardrahan, Athenry, Aughrim
• Ballinasloe, Ballyconneely, Ballygar, Ballymoe, Ballynahinch
• Barna, Bealadangan
• Camus, Carraroe, Castlegar, Claregalway, Clarinbridge
• Cleggan, Clifden, Clonbur, Corr na Móna, Corofin
• Casla, Craughwell
• Dunmore
• Furbo
• Galway, Glenamaddy, Gort
• Headford, Hollygrove
• Inveran
• Kilcolgan, Kilconnell, Kilkieran, Killimor, Kiltullagh
• Kilronan, Kinvara
• Laurencetown, Leenaun, Lettercallow, Letterfrack, Lettermore
• Loughrea
• Maam Cross, Maum, Monivea, Mountbellew, Moycullen
• Muckanaghederdauhaulia
• Newbridge
• Oranmore, Oughterard
• Portumna
• Recess, Rosmuck, Rossaveal, Roundstone
• Spiddal
• Tuam, Turloughmore
• Woodford
• Williamstown

[edit] Galway Septs

Galway was the home to many powerful Irish septs. Common surnames include Connolly, Coyne, Curley, Egan, Ford, Kelly, Lohan, Lydon, Madden, Manion, O'Connor, O'Flaherty, O'Shaughnessy, and Tierney. In addition, many notable Norman-Irish families can be found in Galway, such as Barrett, Browne, Burke, Joyce, Lynch, and Skerrett.

[edit] History

The first inhabitants in the Galway area arrived over 7000 years ago. Shell middens tell us about the existence of people as early as 5000 BC.

With the arrival of Christianity many monasteries were built.

[edit] Fauna and Flora

[edit] Flora

T. Johnson reported a visit to Roundstone in 1893 (?) Johnson.^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ Johnson, T. 1893. A visit to Roundstone, Co. Galway. Ir. Nat.2:313 - 316.

[edit] See also

• Connacht Irish
• Galway GAA

[edit] External links

• Galway County Council
• Tourist information website
• Map of Galway
• *FLIRT FM* Galways Student Radio Station NUIG/GMIT
• Galway GAA
• Extensive list of places in County Galway.