LOWRY'S SWEATER & GIFT SHOP

Letterfrack

Located along the Westport Road, the village of Letterfrack is a diverse and spirited hive of activity nestled under Diamond Hill. The jumping off point for Kylemore, the Renvyle Peninsula, and the majestic Connemara National Park, it also has a great sense of local pride thanks to its community radio station, college campus, friendly pubs, independent bookstore, and annual festivals, Bog Week and Sea Week.

Oughterard

Pretty as a picture on the western shore of Lough Corrib, Oughterard is not only the gateway to Connemara, it is the main angling centre for the largest lake in Ireland. Boat hire, fly-tying and freshwater angling are popular pursuits, but the area also offers scenic and heritage walks. An ever-evolving mixture of shops, small businesses, traditional pubs, and accommodation providers makes this a major Connemara destination.

Renvyle Peninsula

A left turn at Letterfrack leads you out the rolling Renvyle Peninsula. Surrounded on three sides by Atlantic waters and intersected by the Dawros river, the drive takes you to the gorgeous village of Tullycross, where a decision awaits; turn north to beaches at Lettergesh, and beyond it, the stunning Glassilaun and Killary Fjord, or continue out the headland towards the Green Coast Award-winning Whitestrand Beach.

Rosmuc

In the Gaeltacht village of Rosmuc, sean-nós (old style) music and dance are part of the very fabric, as is their Gaelic football team. The former summer home of Irish revolutionary Pàdraig Pearse is now a national heritage site here, and an interactive exhibition showcases the area’s landscape and history to great effect. Rossaveal harbour 15-minutes away is an embarkation point for the Aran Islands.

Roundstone

This harbour village facing on to the Twelve Pins mountain range has been a destination for generations of visitors. A busy summer schedule of events includes pony shows, a dog show, weekly Sunday farmer’s market, and the Roundstone Regatta. The mesmeric Bog Road to its north, Dog’s Bay and Gurteen beaches to its south, and fresh seafood in its centre, Roundstone is an must-visit.

Spiddal

The village of Spiddal (An Spidéal) on the shores of Galway Bay is one of the largest Irish-speaking areas of the Gaeltacht and has a charming traditional appeal. While English is spoken when needed, all road signs and day-today speech are as gaeilge. Crafts and culture can be experienced here, as can some great natural beauty – Trá na mBan, a Blue Flag beach, and Shannagurraun Wood.

Blanket bogs, the fjord, lots of lakes, selfie stops, sea mist, chained mountains, indifferent sheep