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Background: Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.

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By betweeneverybody
August 13th 2007

Connemara July '06

Europe » Ireland » County Galway » Clifden

Clifden Pub

Connemara I had originally planned to join Dirty Boots Treks for a three day hike in Connemara National Park but it was sadly cancelled due to lack of numbers. I didn’t want to miss out on the whole area though, so I headed to Clifden from Galway to spend a few days in the Connemara countryside. I didn’t do any wild hiking but it was still beautiful. On the bus from Galway I met a French girl called Benedicte who was planning to stay at the same hostel. When we got to Clifden we left our packs at the hostel and [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Kevin
April 29th 2007

We're Here!

Europe » Ireland » County Galway » Clifden

Kevin and Erin at Kylemore Abbey
Here we are, at Kylemore Abbey, a former rich man's paradise that was turned into a Benedictine nunnery. Go figure!

We're here! We arrived in Shannon on Saturday and drove from the airport to Clifden, in Connemara. Kevin got used to driving on the left really quickly, but Erin never really got used to the brushes with death every time another car passed on these tiny, tiny roads. The scenery in Co. Clare, where the airport is, is sort of typically Irish-- long, green meadows, rock walls, cows in pastures. Then we arrived in Connemara (Co. Galway) and were blown away by the beauty of this area. There are lakes and hills everywhere, peat bogs, Connemara ponies, wildflowers... it's just spectacular. [View Full Entry]

By tannismc
September 2nd 2004

At a computer in Clifden...

Europe » Ireland » County Galway » Clifden

Kylemore Abbey

I left Galway on Monday morning and made my way to Letterfrack, in Connemara. I wasn't sure how things were going to work out, because Sunday was the last day of the summer bus schedule. Fortunately, there are private bus services that run through the area. I fell asleep on the bus leaving Galway, and woke up in the mountains of Connemara. It is so beautiful and wild here. There are lakes with black water, and inlets from the sea, and everywhere the rocky hills. It didn't take me long to fall in love with the place! Letterfrack is a tiny [View Full Entry]

By Kerlyn
October 7th 2001

Galway and pub hopping in Clifden

Europe » Ireland » County Galway » Clifden

Shop Street
Galway

Continuing on our Sunday tour, we got to spend a couple hours in the city of GALWAY after learning about the LYNCH STONE and how Mayor James Lynch Fitzstephen hanged his son for murder. I guess you could say he was partial! Galway was a clean, pretty city and it was afternoon, so the streets were busy with a diverse crowd even though we had some more rain. There was a street performer who didn't move for the longest time. I almost thought he was a statue. We mostly window shopped. CONNEMARA MARBLE FACTORY, our last stop had some pretty jewelry [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Europe » Ireland » County Galway » Clifden