dublin clonmacnoise galway

Leave Dublin via the N4, the main road to the West of Ireland. Cross the River Liffey at Leixlip at which point we enter the county of Kildare. This county is perhaps best noted for its many stud farms, some of which we will see en route. Continue on the main road towards Maynooth, with its wide main street, an indication that this was once a manorial village serving Carton House (behind walled estate on our right before entering Maynooth) an 18th century former residence of the Earls of Kildare. Continuing to the end of Main Street we see the entrance to St. Patrick's College, an important Catholic ecclesiastic centre, a seminary for training priests and also a university.


Leaving Maynooth we travel towards Kilcock with the Royal Canal on our left (one of the two canals that flow into Dublin). We follow the main roads to Kinnegad where we join the M6 for Galway. This route takes us past a series of small attractive villages and rolling green countryside. The first village is Rochfortbridge named after Robert Rochford, a 17th century member of Parliament and a friend of Jonathan Swift. Further on we come to Tyrrellspass, one of the prettiest villages in Westmeath which was once a national tidy town winner. It received its name from the Anglo-Norman Tyrell family who ruled here up to Cromwellian times. A 15th century castle still stands at the end of the village and is now a private residence. This very attractive village was laid out in its crescent form by Lady Belvedere in the 18th century.


Travelling on we arrive at Kilbeggan on the River Brosna noted mainly for the presence of an old whiskey distillery which is now an industrial museum and craft centre.


Further en route we stop at Horseleap which got its unusual name following the leap by the Norman Baron De Lacy over the castle drawbridge while being pursued by some native chieftains. Soon after we arrive at Moate a village which was founded by Quakers in the 17th century. Beside the still inhabited castle lies a Quaker cemetery. Moate lies in the centre of a very rich cattle raising area and has a large cattle mart and milk pasteurising plant.


About 9km beyond Moate we leave the main route to Athlone to travel to Clonmacnoise on the N62. Clonmacnoise, which translates as 'the meadow of the son of Nois', is one of the Country's most impressive monastic sites. Although mainly in ruin, the site boasts interesting round towers, many small churches, a cathedral and three high crosses. Leaving the splendours of Clonmacnoise, we follow the River Shannon to Shannonbridge. Here we have a choice to travel to Birr on the R439 and see its famous castle or continue along the R357 to Ballinasloe in County Galway. Ballinasloe on the River Suck is renowned for its October horse fair, the largest in Ireland. This busy commercial centre is also one of the most important in the bloodstock industry.

Leaving the town we travel along the main road to Galway (N6) about 8km out of Ballinasloe we notice the signs indicating the Battle of Aughrim (the village lies near the main road). This battle took place in 1691 and led to the defeat of the Catholic Irish and French forces by William of Orange's soldiers and was a major battle in Irish history.


We continue on and pass through the busy little town of Loughrea. The cathedral here contains some of the finest stained glass windows in the whole of the island. The 20th century artists involved were Michael Healy, A.E. Childe and Evie Hone. From Loughrea we travel onto the city of Galway, the gateway to Connemara.


Total distance: 243km

Public transport: 7 day week service between Dublin and Galway.