13 Dec 2009, Posted by Emmet

Tourism in Claregalway

Got a Few Hours to Spare?

Take a cruise on Lough Corrib. The luxury Corrib Princess sails from Woodquay in the heart of the city (9km away), down the River Corrib and into Lough Corrib. She then sails around the lake, letting you take in the beautiful and tranquil scenery in a relaxed atmosphere. The trip takes roughly an hour and a half, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

For all you animal lovers, there is Turoe Open Farm (35km from here). About a thirty minute drive for here, the farm offers picnic areas, nature trails, an opportunity to pet and feed the animals and much more. Animals there include pigs, ponies, rabbits and donkeys.

For a good night out and some real craic, go to the dogs! Galway Greyhound Track (9km away) offers food, drink and an excellent evenings entertainment, and you might even be a winner. Good Luck! Contact: 091 562 273

Always wanted to learn how to ride a horse but never found the time? There’s no time like the present! Visit Purrin Stables in Claregalway (3km away), where they welcome all horse lovers. No experience necessary!

Why not test your sporting skills at newly opened Pure Skill. Located in Knocknacarra, it is a 25,000 sq. ft. indoor sport and leisure destination. It is roughly about 25 minutes drive and well worth a visit for all sporting enthusiasts.  You can try your hand at any sport from Hurling to Surfing and much more in between.

Or maybe a few hours in Salthill may take your fancy. Stroll along the Promenade & take in breathtaking views of Galway Bay. Or an educational trip to the Aquarium & learn all about the creatures of the sea.

The City Limits complex in Oranmore offers action for young and old.  The complex offers bowling, laser tag, pool tables, wall climbing, go-karting, a kiddies ball pool and play area along with a games arcade with a wide variety of games to choose from.

Why not catch the latest flicks at the cinema? The Omniplex in Oranmore is located next door to City Limits. The Eye Cinema is located on the Tuam Road. Treat yourself here and relax in The Luxury Screen. There is also an Omniplex on the Headford Road, you could sit back, relax and watch the latest release after a good days Shopping.

Got All Day?

Visit the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher and the Aillwee Caves in Co. Clare. It is less than two hours away and it’s a great day out for all the family. First take in the amazing limestone features of the Burren, the only place of its kind in the world. Then experience the breath-taking views from on top of the Cliffs of Moher and visit the interactive visitor centre, Atlantic Edge.

While you’re there, why not Visit Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. Here you can soak up the heritage & lifestyles of by-gone Ireland, in a relaxed, yet stimulating & Inspirational Environment. Take a guided tour or walk around the Folk Park & Castle at your own leisure & see how our ancestors before us lived.

On the return trip, why not drop in to the Aillwee Caves for a history lesson on the bear caves at Aillwee.  There is a lot to do for all the family in Salthill, which is 13.5km from here. You can swim or sunbath on one of the many sandy beaches. During the summer months, the Salthill Fun Fair provides amusement for everyone with a variety of rides and slides to choose from. You can then cool off in Leisure Land Swimming Pool, with both adults and kiddies pools, a pirate ship and a tunnel slide. After all that excitement, a walk on the Prom to take in the view of Galway Bay is just what the doctor ordered.

Take a trip to Connemara starting in Barna (16km from here) all the way to Clifden (88km from here). This coastal drive will not leave you bored with the amazing views of the Atlantic coastline and its many sandy beaches along the way. There are many small towns and villages along the way so you can get a feel for life in rural Ireland. In most of the Connemara area, Irish is the first language of the people, but everyone speaks English so there’s no need to worry about communicating. Things to do in Connemara include visiting Kylemore Abbey, a convent school dating back to the 1800’s, taking in the views, visiting Ireland’s only Fjord at Killary Harbour and sampling the catch of the day in Clifden.

For a real adrenaline rush, visit Delphi Adventure Centre located in Leenane in the heart of Connemara (75km away). They offer rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, caving, hill walking, absailing and much more, perfect for all you thrill seekers!

Oranmore offers action for young and old and is 8km from us here. The City Limits complex offers bowling, laser tag, pool tables, a kiddies ball pool and play area along with a games arcade with a wide variety of games to choose from.

The Irish coastline is rich with small rural islands. One such island is Achill Island (120km from here). Located off Co. Mayo, Achill is about an hour and a half away. Here you can experience island life at its best, with many historical sites, sandy beaches and the famous Atlantic Drive, over 40km of amazing scenery of the Achill coastline. Achill is reachable by car as it is attached to the main land by one road.  For another island experience, visit the Aran Islands. This group of islands consists of Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, Inis Mór being the largest. There are several historical sites spread throughout the three islands, the most well known being Dun Aengus. This is a hill fort perched on the top of a cliff and is well worth seeing. The ferry trip from Rossaveel (50km away) to the islands and back also makes this journey well worth while.

Join Irish Running Tours in experiencing the spectacular backdrops in the west coast. They are the first tour company in Ireland to offer hotels a ‘City Tour’ service which is known as ‘Run Galway’. Irish Running Tours will meet you and bring you around the town, getting a run under your belts whilst getting a guided tour. The runs will be at a leisurely pace so as to best enjoy and soak up the surroundings, but if you prefer something more challenging, that will not be a problem!