introduction

There are four provinces in Ireland and Connacht is one of them. The largest urban area, and only city, in Connacht is Galway with a population of 72,414 in the city proper. The largest towns are Sligo, Castlebar and Ballina.

It is the western province of Ireland that comprises Counties Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo.

The highest point of Connacht is Mweelrea (814 m), in Mayo. The largest island in Connacht is Achill, also the largest island of Ireland. The biggest lake is Lough Corrib.

surfing

The harsh western coast of Connacht is steeped in Celtic mythology. This is the land of the Fir Bolg and the first High King of Ireland, Slaine Mac Roth. The coast here is just as dramatic. The coast of Galway will serve you well as your base as you explore the empty points and breaks of this coast. There is usually no shortage of swell here, waiting for conditions to clean up is often the case however.

Finding yourself a good pub to curl up into in such a situation, in Connacht it isn’t a hard thing to do.

travel

All the options are available in Ireland: plane, car, boat, bike, bus, tram, train, bicycle..what else?..taxi! So it's a metter of your personal choice. Ireland is beautiful for biking, but you will need a good bike for it, as road conditions are not always excellent.

Most trains operate to and from Dublin. Renting a car is very similar to the processes elsewhere and you wiil need a credit card in your own name and a full driver's license for a minimum of two years without endorsement. By the way, in many cases you will need to be 28 in order to rent a full size car.

where to stay

There are hotels of a large variety of standards from inexpensive to luxurious.

Bed and Breakfast is widely available in Connacht. These are usually friendly family-run accommodation and good value. There is also a youth hostel association - An Óige (Irish for The Youth). These hostels are often in remote and beautiful area and designed specifically for the outdoors.

There are also independent hostels, which are marketed as Independent holiday hostels of Ireland, easily found in towns. Campsites are also available although fewer than many other countries (given the climate). Wild camping would not be recommended.

Ireland have been designated as smoke-free though rooms in Hotels and Bed & Breakfast establishments are not required by law to be smoke-free. However most owners of these establishments have the right to do so if they wish.
Most hotels have allocated some rooms/floors to be smoking areas and some as non-smoking areas, so your preference should be stated when booking in. The smoking ban also applies to public areas within buildings.

This means for example that corridors, lobby areas and reception areas of buildings such as apartment blocks and hotels are also covered under the law.

what to pack

The whole country has a mild, but changeable, Oceanic climate with few extremes, so pack warm clothing and don’t forget to take waterproof clothes/gear/backpack. A small backpack makes a good carryon bag and will be useful in daily life. Women: remember to take a good flat pair of shoes.... And for everybody: pair of comfortable walking shoes will be great for walking. Beach clothing & sandals will be useful in summer.

All the gear if you plan to camp: a good sleeping bag and waterproof tent that are good for low temp; special gas container u can use for heating food and water; a sturdy backpack or a cargo pack with a good daypack. Invest in a portable water filter or at least take some puri-tabs or boil the water.

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