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 Dunguaire Castle at sunset.
Introduction
The province of Connacht (Connachta in Irish, formerly anglicised as Connaught) was named after the Connachta dynasty, who claimed descent from the mythical Conn of the Hundred Battles, High King of Ireland. The name Connachta means "the descendants of Conn". Connacht is tradtionally described as the kingdom of learning and the home of the greatest and wisest druids and magicians. Men from Connacht are famed for their eloquence, their handsomeness and their ability to pronounce true judgement. In 1874 Queen Victoria granted the title Duke of Connaught to her third son, Prince Arthur.
Expanding on 17,788 km2 (6,867 sq mi) and with a mere 542,000 inhabitants, Connacht is the smallest and least populous Irish province. It was the last province to come under English rule, and the one where Irish Gaelic is the most widely spoken today, particularly in County Galway, where half of the population has at least some ability in the language.
Famous people from Connacht include (chronologically): the politician and animal rights activist Richard Martin, the chemist William Higgins, and the scholar and first President of Ireland Douglas Hyde. The clan of the O'Conors, descend from the Kings of Connacht and last High King of Ireland. The O'Conor Don (Ó Conchubhair Donn), the hereditary clan's chief, is still the titular Prince of Connacht and claiment to the High Kingship of Ireland.
Attractions
County Galway
| Connemara National Park |
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 Connemara National Park spans 2,000 hectares of mountains, bogs, heaths and grasslands, featuring the majestic Twelve Bens mountain range and the popular Diamond Hill walking trail. The park, established in 1980, contains fascinating 4,000-year-old megalithic court tombs and a 19th-century graveyard. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot diverse bird species including meadow pipits and skylarks, whilst mammals such as red deer, pine martens, and the iconic Connemara ponies roam the grounds. The park's unique ecosystem supports carnivorous plants like sundew and butterworts, which obtain nutrients by trapping insects due to the nutrient-poor bog environment. Diamond Hill, rising 500 metres, offers a well-maintained trail system with panoramic views of Kylemore Abbey and the surrounding landscapes. |
| Dunguaire Castle |
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 Built in 1520 by the O'Hynes clan, Dunguaire Castle features a striking 75-foot tower house with thick defensive walls and stands on a rocky outcrop surrounded by Galway Bay. The castle played a significant role in Ireland's literary revival, hosting meetings of renowned writers such as W.B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, and J.M. Synge after its purchase by Oliver St. John Gogarty in 1924. Today, visitors can explore the restored castle's great hall, guard chamber and multiple storeys of small rooms accessed via newel stairs, whilst evening entertainment includes medieval-style banquets featuring local cuisine, wine, music and storytelling that commemorate King Guaire, a 7th-century ruler famous for his generosity. The castle's name derives from this legendary king's fort ('Dun' meaning fort), which previously occupied the same site. |
| Portumna Castle |
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Built between 1610 and 1617 by Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, at a cost of £10,000, Portumna Castle stands as one of Ireland's earliest semi-fortified manor houses, featuring a unique blend of Renaissance and defensive architecture. The castle's grounds offer delightful attractions, including geometrically-laid gardens, a Willow Maze filled with ornamental fruit trees, and lavender-scented paths. Visitors can explore the ground floor exhibition about the de Burgo family, whilst nature enthusiasts might spot red squirrels along the impressive entrance avenue lined with ash, cherry, and copper beech trees. The castle's defensive features include musket holes, gun loops, and a machicolation for dropping missiles, whilst its Renaissance elements are evident in the Tuscan gateway and formal gardens. Though a fire gutted the castle in 1826, the Office of Public Works has since restored significant portions, including the massive chimney stacks and roof. |
Other attractions
 Clonfert
 Coole Parke
Galway
Thoor Ballylee
County Leitrim
Parke's Castle
County Mayo
Ashford Castle  |
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 Founded in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman de Burgo family, Ashford Castle is now a five-star luxury hotel that offers a remarkable range of activities within its 350-acre estate. Visitors can experience falconry at the castle's hawk walk, practise archery, enjoy horse riding through forest paths, or paddle kayaks on Lough Corrib whilst taking in views of the castle and Connemara mountains. The castle has a fascinating history, having been owned by several notable families including the Guinnesses, who acquired it in 1852, whilst film enthusiasts might recognise it as a location where the 1951 classic "The Quiet Man" was filmed. Modern amenities include a 30-seat cinema, wine tasting tunnels, a spa, and an Eddie Hackett-designed golf course where legendary golfer Christy O'Connor Senior began his career in 1947. The castle maintains its historical traditions, such as afternoon tea service, which has been ongoing since 1868. |
| Moore Hall |
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 Moore Hall is a ruined mansion overlooking Lough Carra, built between 1792 and 1795 by wealthy wine merchant George Moore. The estate, designed by architect John Roberts who also created Waterford Cathedral, features a symmetrical neo-Classical style and once boasted Italian plasterwork, traces of which can still be seen in the ruins. Local folklore warns that the site was cursed by a druid in 400 CE, adding a mystical element to its history. The house was home to several notable figures, including Ireland's first republic president and a renowned novelist, before being burned down during the Irish Civil War in 1923. As of 2025, visitors can explore the 80-acre site, which includes new walkways, a restored Walled Garden, and play areas, whilst the surrounding estate features both non-native forestry and natural regeneration areas. The Moore family was particularly well-regarded locally, with George Moore of the famine era (1810-70) using his horse racing winnings to provide corn and livestock to his tenants, ensuring their survival during the Great Famine. |
Other attractions
Ballycroy National Park
Céide Fields
Rockfleet Castle
County Roscommon
Clonalis House
Strokestown Park (Irish National Famine Museum)
County Sligo
| Lissadell House & Gardens |
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This neo-classical Greek revival mansion, built between 1830 and 1835, was the childhood home of revolutionary Constance Markievicz, who became the first woman elected to Parliament. The house features its original Williams & Gibton furniture and was the first country house in Ireland to have an independent gas supply. Today, visitors can explore five exhibitions about Countess Markievicz, Women's Suffrage, and the 1916 Easter Rising, alongside a Yeats Gallery who frequently visited and wrote poetry about the house. The restored Victorian Walled Garden showcases 180 varieties of potato, whilst the Alpine Garden sits dramatically perched over the Atlantic Ocean. Wildlife enthusiasts might spot wild deer or sea eagles on the estate's woodland trails, and the tearoom in the refurbished stable block offers homemade quiches, scones and Lissadell's own organic produce. |
| Markree Castle |
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Markree Castle, originally a 17th-century fort guarding a ford on the Unshin river, was transformed into a magnificent Gothic Revival mansion in 1802 by renowned architect Francis Johnston. The castle features a stunning cantilevered staircase made of mahogany, illuminated by a remarkable stained-glass window depicting the Cooper family tree. The 500-acre estate includes a Victorian walled garden, whilst inside, visitors can explore five interconnecting reception rooms and a grand library. Of particular scientific interest, the castle once housed the world's first cast-iron telescope in an observatory built by Edward Joshua Cooper, a well-travelled astronomy enthusiast. Today, the twelve-bay, three-storey stone mansion operates as a hotel, allowing guests to experience its unique blend of historical features, including its vaulted ceilings, ornamental doorways, and octagonal turrets. |
Other attractions
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
Sligo Abbey
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Connemara National Park spans 2,000 hectares of mountains, bogs, heaths and grasslands, featuring the majestic Twelve Bens mountain range and the popular Diamond Hill walking trail. The park, established in 1980, contains fascinating 4,000-year-old megalithic court tombs and a 19th-century graveyard. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot diverse bird species including meadow pipits and skylarks, whilst mammals such as red deer, pine martens, and the iconic Connemara ponies roam the grounds. The park's unique ecosystem supports carnivorous plants like sundew and butterworts, which obtain nutrients by trapping insects due to the nutrient-poor bog environment. Diamond Hill, rising 500 metres, offers a well-maintained trail system with panoramic views of Kylemore Abbey and the surrounding landscapes.
Ballynahinch Castle, originally built in 1754, offers guests a chance to stay in a historic mansion where the infamous Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley once lived with her husband Donal O'Flaherty in the 16th century. The castle grounds feature ancient woodland at the foot of the Twelve Bens mountain range, with excellent fishing opportunities along 72 stone piers that were built by former owner Maharaja Ranjitsinhji, the celebrated cricketer who purchased the property in 1923. Notable guests have included Irish political leader Daniel O'Connell, actor Sir Alec Guinness, and writer Liam O'Flaherty, whilst the castle also has connections to Richard "Humanity Dick" Martin, who founded the RSPCA whilst living there in 1822. The property now operates as a luxury hotel specialising in outdoor pursuits such as guided walks and shooting.
Clonfert
Coole Parke
Founded in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman de Burgo family, Ashford Castle is now a five-star luxury hotel that offers a remarkable range of activities within its 350-acre estate. Visitors can experience falconry at the castle's hawk walk, practise archery, enjoy horse riding through forest paths, or paddle kayaks on Lough Corrib whilst taking in views of the castle and Connemara mountains. The castle has a fascinating history, having been owned by several notable families including the Guinnesses, who acquired it in 1852, whilst film enthusiasts might recognise it as a location where the 1951 classic "The Quiet Man" was filmed. Modern amenities include a 30-seat cinema, wine tasting tunnels, a spa, and an Eddie Hackett-designed golf course where legendary golfer Christy O'Connor Senior began his career in 1947. The castle maintains its historical traditions, such as afternoon tea service, which has been ongoing since 1868.
Moore Hall is a ruined mansion overlooking Lough Carra, built between 1792 and 1795 by wealthy wine merchant George Moore. The estate, designed by architect John Roberts who also created Waterford Cathedral, features a symmetrical neo-Classical style and once boasted Italian plasterwork, traces of which can still be seen in the ruins. Local folklore warns that the site was cursed by a druid in 400 CE, adding a mystical element to its history. The house was home to several notable figures, including Ireland's first republic president and a renowned novelist, before being burned down during the Irish Civil War in 1923. As of 2025, visitors can explore the 80-acre site, which includes new walkways, a restored Walled Garden, and play areas, whilst the surrounding estate features both non-native forestry and natural regeneration areas. The Moore family was particularly well-regarded locally, with George Moore of the famine era (1810-70) using his horse racing winnings to provide corn and livestock to his tenants, ensuring their survival during the Great Famine.
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