Sights & Attractions in The West

West Sights

This is organized into four parts, covering the territory from south to north. The first section, the Burren and Beyond—West Clare to South Galway—picks up minutes from Shannon Airport and is not far from Ennis, the gateway to coastal County Clare. The second section takes you through the best of buzzing, bustling Galway City, and the third takes you out to the three Oileáin Árainn (Aran Islands), standing guard at the mouth of Galway Bay. The fourth section, covering Connemara and County Mayo, brings you north of Galway Bay and west of Galway City into fabled Connemara, and its spectacularly situated "capital," Clifden. Beyond lie the highlights of County Mayo: monumental Croagh Patrick, the pretty town of Westport, the Museum of Country Life in Turlough, and Ballina. Allow at least four days for exploring the region, six days if you include a visit to the Aran Islands. Although distances between sights are not great, you may want to take scenic—meaning slower—national secondary routes. Covering 80 km to 112 km (50 mi to 70 mi) per day on these roads is a comfortable target.

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