Along Galway Bay

I made my way along the small bays of Galway Bay on R477. I saw Ballynacregga Castle and Finavarra Tower, another Napoleon Tower, this one with an oval footprint. The route drives between the beautiful ban and the solid limestone hills of the Burren.  I also visited the little village of Kinvarra and its quay.

The remains of a religious house and a graveyard off the N67, Bishopsquarter, Co. Clare, Ireland.

There are two Martello Towers, Napoleon Towers along Galway Bay, one at Finavarra, one at Aughinish. Martello Towers are small coastal forts that were built during the Napoleonic wars, 1812-16 to defend from Napoleon’s navy. They were signal towers. The building nearby housed a garrison. They are round with very thick walls to resist cannon fire. This one is at Ballyvaughan Bay facing northwest and the village of Ballyvaughan.  Ballyvaughan Bay is an open bay east of Black Head on the southern shore of Galway Bay.

Much of the Burren is solid, impenetrable rock. The N67 road drives along a mountain of limestone. The map says this is Muckinish Hill.

On the coast side of the road, I came upon a very tall tower surrounded by townhouses. This is Ballynacregga Castle, also called Muckinish West Tower House. It was built in the mid-1400s by the O’Loughlins. It is over seventy feet tall.

Next, my route took me through Kinvara, a small sea port village at the head of Kinvara Bay of Galway Bay.  At one point this was an important Irish port, exporting corn and seaweed. Because of the Famine, the population was reduced to only a few hundred persons. Now it is a thriving little tourist area.

These thatched cottages near the intersection of N67 and R347 are holiday rentals, Dunguaire Haven.

Next: Dunguaire Castle >