- Claddagh Ring Origin: The Claddagh ring, symbolising love, loyalty, and friendship, was first designed in the fishing village of Claddagh in the 17th century.
- Lynch’s Castle Execution: In 1493, Mayor James Lynch of Galway reportedly hanged his own son from a window of Lynch’s Castle for murder.
- Kylemore Abbey’s Love Store: Kylemore Abbey was built in 1868 by Mitchell Henry as a gift for his wife, who died shortly after its completion.
- Aran Islands’ Stone Walls: The Aran Islands have over 1,600 kilometres of hand-built stone walls, creating a patchwork of tiny fields.
- Galway’s Spanish Arch: The Spanish Arch, built in 1584, was part of Galway’s city walls to protect ships unloading Spanish wine.
- Connemara’s Green Marble: Connemara is home to a rare green marble quarry, used in jewellery and the floor of the Irish Parliament.
- Dún Aonghasa’s Cliff Fort: Dún Aonghasa on Inishmore, a 3,000-year-old fort, sits on a 100-metre cliff with no protective barrier.
- Galway’s Oyster Festival: Galway hosts the world’s oldest oyster festival, held annually since 1954, attracting thousands to eat local shellfish.
- Aughnanure Castle’s Trapdoor: Aughnanure Castle has a hidden trapdoor over a river, used to dispose of enemies in the 16th century.
- Corcomroe Abbey’s Tomb: Corcomroe Abbey contains the tomb of King Conor na Siudane O’Brien, killed in 1268, with a carved effigy.
Random facts
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County Galway:
Ireland’s county Galway offers a delightful mix of cultural heritage and coastal beauty, with Galway City’s Latin Quarter showcasing historic streets and traditional music venues. The Connemara National Park provides hiking trails through rugged mountains and bogs, while the Aran Islands offer ancient stone forts like Dún Aonghasa. Other favourite stop is ithe Kylemore Abbey’s Victorian gardens and coastal cliffs. Galway is Ireland’s second largest county by size (5,939 sq km) and fifth largest by population (277,737). Population peaked at 440,198 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 148,340 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Galway is Ireland’s third most visited tourist county with around 1,028,000 international visitors per year.
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