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Roundstone ~
Clifden
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Roundstone is one of the
oldest resorts in Connemara. The village was built in the
1820s by Scottish engineer
Alexander Nimmo. Roundstone lies
on the western arm of Bertraghboy bay in Connemara, County
Galway, 48 miles (77km) north-west of Galway city.
The village is beautifully set on one of the most
spectacular coastal drives in Europe overlooking the
Atlantic at the foot of Errisbeg Mountain. |
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In 1835 a Franciscan Monastery was established in Roundstone and by the 1840's
75 houses had been built and the village supported an active fishing industry
and a population of some 400 people. The village derives its name from the Irish
"Cloch Na Ron" or Rock of the Seals.
In Roundstone you will find a busy little harbour, where local fishermen prepare
and return with the day's catches of lobster, crayfish, crab and mackerel, plus
a variety of other fish.
Roundstone is situated in the heart of
Connemara, and is one of the oldest
fishing villages on the west coast, and is an area of much natural beauty, as
well as being the birth place and inspiration for much of Ireland's artistic
creations. It has also been described many times as a "botanist's delight" as
many wild flowers, rare to this country, are found in the area.
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Roundstone enjoys an
unparalleled view of the Twelve Bens and is bordered by the
vast Atlantic ocean. Dogs Bay (below) and Gorteen Beach, set back
and filled with the clearest Atlantic water can be enjoyed
in this area (2 miles from Roundstone). Not only can the
beaches be enjoyed from the swimmers and other aquatic water
sports point of view, but to those that are interested, the
sand is pure white as it is not formed of quartz grain but
of shells exclusively. |
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It has a traditional craft centre and local
activities include Pottery, Jewellery and Instrument making.
Farming, Fishing, Forestry and Quarrying are carried out
extensively in the area.
Visitors are drawn to the annual arts festival which
showcases many of Ireland's well known artists performing
and working alongside local artists. Roundstone Arts
Festival has something for everyone to discover. |
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The vicinity is rich in points of historical, geological and
scenic interest. The remains of numerous early Christian
settlements have been found on the islands along this coast.
At the northern point of Inishnee, the long island across
the bay from Roundstone, stand the remains of an ancient
monument to Saint Brendan. From the island's southern,
point, an impressive lighthouse casts its beacon across
Croaghnakeela and St. Macdara's islands out over the
Atlantic Ocean. Two miles north of Roundstone lie the ruins
of a 15th century Dominican Priory founded by the
O'Flaherty
family. The bell tower of the Franciscan Monastery is an
impressive nautical landmark used by local fishermen and is
now the central feature of the Michael Killeen Park |
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Famous People
Alexander Nimmo - Scottish engineers who built
Roundstone. |
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