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KINVARA, COUNTY GALWAY IRELAND
HOW TO GET THERE Kinvara is easily accessible from Shannon Airport. When you leave the airport, head north on Nl8 towards Galway. Continue through Ennis, Gort and several smaller towns. The next town to watch out for is Kilcolgan, where you make a left on to N67 towards Kinvara (there is a signpost on the corner). There are a couple smaller roads leading to Kinvara from various points along N18, but the road from Kilcolgan is the best. N67 goes through the heart of “downtown” Kinvara. Before you reach
the town, you will pass Dunguaire Castle on the right.
Delamain
Lodge is visible opposite the castle on a green hill
on the other side of the bay.
Drive across the cattle guard through the gates and up the driveway to the house. Brigid Flaherty, a local friend of ours, will have the house open and ready for your arrival. Her husband, David, takes care of the animals and the grounds. Both Brigid and David will be happy to help in any way needed. ABOUT THE HOUSE The house has two bedrooms upstairs, including the master bedroom and another room with three big beds. Downstairs, there is a room with a double bed plus another room with a single bed. There are two bathrooms, one of which has a shower. An oil furnace provides central heating for the house. The boiler, which is located in the washroom adjacent to the kitchen, is timed; David can help you if you need the furnace adjusted. The water heater is in a cupboard (called the hot press) in the kitchen. The hot press is handy for drying clothes and towels. The hot water controls ate timed. Please let David know if you need any adjustments to the controls. The kitchen appliances are all electric, and there is an electric dryer for clothes in the washroom. ABOUT KINVARA Kinvara has most of the essentials: a chemist (pharmacy), two petrol stations, several grocery stores, and numerous pubs. Each grocery store has a butcher counter, a selection of wines, and a wide variety of fresh, frozen and canned goods. Many pubs have traditional Irish music, often informally. Just ask around town to see where and when to go if you're looking for music. Kinvara's most famous (but by no means only) attraction is Dungraire Castle. Guaire was a kind of Connaught who built his stronghold on the site in the seventh century. The current tower was built in the sixteenth century and restored in the early 1900's. The castle is open for touring daily during the summer season. There is also a craft shop, a tearoom, and a Bureau de Change. In the evenings during the summer, Dunguaire Castle holds medieval banquets. The banquets include a full meal served medieval style of course, followed by an evening of entertainment. The show highlights the history and legends of the area through music, dancing and poetry. It's a bit "pricey," but we highly recommend it. For crafts, souvenirs, woolen sweaters and other gifts, try the castle craft shop or other shops along Kinvara's main street. Gort has a unique pottery shop called Michael Kennedy Ceramics, located on Bolands Lane (off the main square). This shop offers modern designs based on Irish themes. The Bank of Ireland has a branch office on Main Street, but this is open only one morning a week. For day-to-day transactions, go to Gort or Galway. As mentioned above, you can change money at the castle. Gort has laundry facilities including overnight laundry service. The house is equipped with washbasins and an electric dryer for clothes. The number of restaurants in town fluctuates from season to season. A small, informal café on the quay serves soups, salads and sandwiches. The Pier Head Restaurant serves a selection of fresh seafood and has commanding views of the castle and the pier. The hotel on Main Street has a well-appointed dining room (plus the largest thatched roof in Ireland, allegedly). Many pubs serve pub grub throughout the day. As noted above, the castle has nightly banquets. There are two Catholic churches in Kinvara. St. Joseph's is located in town across from MacMahon's petrol station. St. Colman's is half a mile outside of town on the Ballyvaughn Road. Both attract capacity crowds at all masses, though St. Colman's offers the more traditional experience Kinvara has a festival called Cruinniu na mBad (Gathering of the Boats) every year in July or August. The three-day festival includes races for different classes of turf boats, curragh races, music, and dancing. For more information about local history and interesting sites in Kinvara and the surrounding area, look for a map called the "Rambler's Guide." There should be a copy at the house or it can be found in most shops in town. WHAT TO SEE AND DO Some of our favorite day trips from Delamain Lodge... The Burren - The gray curving hills of the burren are visible on the skyline behind Delamain Lodge. This unique area was formed when glaciers stripped away the soil and vegetation, exposing layers of limestone. The burren is home to many Neolithic burial sites and structures, the most famous of which is the Poulnabrone Dolmen. Kilfenora, a town in the heart of the burren, has an interpretive center that provides information about the burren and its flora and fauna. Several carved, stone high crosses dating from the time of St. Patrick are in a churchyard next to the Kilfenora’s interpretive center. The burren is home to an unusual variety of plants that thrive within the limestone crevices. The Vincent Perfumery outside of Carron uses the native plants in its products, and welcomes visitors. Cliffs of Moher - Seen in many a postcard and magazine cover, these sheer cliffs drop 700 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. Paths lead along the edge, some of which have guardrails and some of which don't! One well-traveled pathway leads to an observation tower. A craft shop and tearoom provide refreshment and yet more opportunities to purchase crafts and souvenirs. Located on the peninsula past Ballyvaughn and Lisdoonvarna. Ailwee Cave - The Ailwee Cave is a series of chambers and caverns leading into the limestone of the burren. Guided tours take you hundreds of meters into the hillside, past stalactites, stalagmites and other unique formations. A tearoom and craft shop awaits you when you emerge. Located outside Ballyvaughn. Craggaunown Project and Quin Abbey - The Craggaunown Project is a large site where structures from different periods in Irish history, including the pre-historic through the sixteenth century, have been recreated. In addition, the boat used in the "Brendan Voyage" in 1976 is housed in a glass building there. Nearby, Quin Abbey is a well-preserved and imposing ruin of an abbey and cloister, built on the site of an earlier castle. Both of these sites are located near Quin, southeast of Ennis. Thoor Ballylee and Coole Park - Thoor Ballylee is a sixteenth century tower house that was restored by William Butler Yeats. He lived and worked there for 12 years, and the tower has been preserved as a museum and interpretive center for his life and works. Coole Park is a nature reserve on what used to be the estate of Lady Gregory, patron of Irish art and theatre. The house was burned down, but other buildings on the estate have been restored and currently house an interpretive center, tearoom, and craft shop. The estate grounds have picnic sites, walking trails, and a famous "autograph tree" on which many of Lady Gregory's famous guests carved their initials (including Yeats, Synge and Shaw). Both these sites are just outside Gort. Kilmaeduaph - Kilmacduagh was the monastic center of the area through the seventh century. Several of the church buildings have been restored. A stroll around the surrounding graveyard reveals much about old families of the area. Kilmacduagh has an impressive, intact round tower that is visible on the horizon when approaching Gort. This site is located about one mile outside of Gort. Galway City - Galway is a modem city that has made an effort to preserve its medieval roots. Parts of the original city wall have been preserved, including a segment called the Spanish Arch by the river. The streets are still narrow and winding, and some have been closed to vehicle traffic to allow pedestrians to stroll more leisurely. Galway is in the midst of a building boom, though many old stone buildings have been restored. We suggest you avail of the carparks at the two modern shopping centers or other locations near downtown, and thus avoid the joys of attempting to park on the street. The area around Shop Street, off Byre Square, has many restaurants, bakeries, banks, shops and pubs. Galway has a modem cathedral and a national university, University College Galway. A nationally acclaimed theatre company, called the Druid Lane Theatre, is based in Galway (we've never been disappointed by a Druid Lane production). The Galway Arts Festival in July or August always has an amazing selection of international music, plays, street theatre and fine art. Salthill, just outside of Galway, has a golf course, hotels, nightclubs and a beach. Traditionally, people would come to Salthill to "take the air" and stroll along the beachfront promenade. Aran Islands - The Aran Islands are three rugged limestone outcroppmgs fronting the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of Galway Bay. Ferries run from Galway to the largest island, Inis Mor, and return in the evening (there are bed & breakfast places for overnight stays). The seafood in the numerous restaurants is the freshest you will ever taste. A stone fort called Dun Aengus is perched spectacularly on the edge of a 300-foot cliff on Inis Mor (half of the fort has fallen into the ocean). Walk, rent bicycles or hire a jaunting cart to tour the island. Irish is still spoken by many of the locals and yes, you can buy Aran handknit sweaters there. Be warned that the boat ride can be rough depending on the weather. Connemara - Connemara is a beautiful, rural area north and west of Galway City. The many lakes and streams make this a popular destination for fisherman, though one doesn't have to fish to appreciate the beauty. Connemara is known for the distinctive green marble quarried there and its small sturdy workhorses called Connemara ponies. This region is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) and has many Irish language summer schools. A day trip to Clifton, a pretty town on the water, is a nice way to experience Connemara. RESTAURANTS (Some of our favorites...) Café
on the Quay, Kinvara
SHOPPING For crafts, sweaters and gifts... Kinvara
craft shops (various)
For Irish crystal, bone china and pottery Galway
Irish Crystal, including a “seconds” shop, outside Galway City
For books, prints, and antiques Kenny's
Bookshop and Gallery, High Street, Galway City
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