County Galway
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"Galway County" redirects here. For the UK Parliament constituency, see Galway County (UK Parliament constituency).
County Galway
Contae na Gaillimhe

Motto: Ceart agus Cóir (Irish)
Location


Statistics
Province: Connacht
County seat: Galway
Code: G (GY proposed)
Area: 6,148 km2 (2,374 sq mi)
Population (2006)
231,035(including Galway City); 159,052 (without Galway City)
Website: www.galway.ie
County Galway (Irish: Contae na Gaillimhe) is one of the traditional Counties of Ireland. It is located in the province of Connacht. It was named after the city of Galway (Irish: Gaillimh). There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Geography
2.1 Towns and villages
2.2 Climate
2.3 Fauna and Flora
3 Demographics
3.1 Galway Septs
4 Politics
4.1 European elections
4.2 National Elections (for Dáil Éireann)
4.3 Local Elections
5 See also
6 Select bibilography
7 External links


[edit] History
The county comprises a number of distinct territories which predate the formation of the county by the English colonial administration in Ireland in the late 1500s. The major ones are Iar Connacht, or 'West Connacht', which covers the portion of the county (and also a small part of County Mayo) west of Loch Corrib and which contains Connemara in the far west and Joyce Country in the north-west. The territory of Aidhne lies in the south of the county and is coextensive with the diocese of Kilmacduagh. Clann Taidg was originally part of Magh Seola but was portioned into a new tuath by the Kings of Connacht in the mid-11th century. It later formed the barony of Athenry.

The territory of what was once known as Uí Maine or Tír Maine covers most of the east of the county but also covers south County Roscommon. Maigh Seola covers the portion of the county along the eastern side of Lough Corrib. A number of inhabited islands are administered by the county; they include Oileáin Árann (Aran Islands) and Inis Bó Fine (Inishbofin).

The first inhabitants in the Galway area arrived over 7000 years ago. Shell middens tell us about the existence of people as early as 5000 BC.

With the arrival of Christianity many monasteries were built.

[edit] Geography
County Galway is home to Lough Corrib (the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland) the Na Beanna Beola (Twelve Bens) mountain range, Na Sléibhte Mhám Toirc (the Maum Turk mountains), and the low mountains of Sliabh Echtghe (Slieve Aughty).

The highest point in the county is one of the Twelve Bens, Benbaun, at 729m.

[edit] Towns and villages

A view over the karst landscape on Inishmore, from Dún Aengus, an ancient stone fort[show]Historical populations
Year Pop. %±
1659 33,390 —
1821 169,503 407.6%
1831 204,691 20.8%
1841 440,198 115.1%
1851 321,684 −26.9%
1861 271,478 −15.6%
1871 248,458 −8.5%
1881 242,005 −2.6%
1891 214,712 −11.3%
1901 192,549 −10.3%
1911 182,224 −5.4%
1926 169,366 −7.1%
1936 168,198 −0.7%
1946 165,201 −1.8%
1951 160,204 −3.0%
1956 155,553 −2.9%
1961 149,887 −3.6%
1966 148,340 −1.0%
1971 149,223 0.6%
1979 167,838 12.5%
1981 172,018 2.5%
1986 178,552 3.8%
1991 180,364 1.0%
1996 188,854 4.7%
2002 209,077 10.7%
2006 231,670 10.8%
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Ahascragh, Ardrahan, Athenry, Aughrim
Ballinasloe, Ballinderreen, Ballyconneely, Ballygar, Ballymacward, Ballymoe, Ballynahinch, Barna, Bealadangan, Bullaun
Camus, Carnmore, Carraroe, Casla, Castleblakeney, Castlegar, Claregalway, Clarinbridge, Cleggan, Clifden, Clonbur, Corofin, Corrandulla, Corr na Móna, Craughwell
Dunmore
Eyrecourt
Furbo
Glenamaddy, Gort
Headford, Hollygrove
Inverin
Kilcolgan, Kilconnell, Kilkerrin, Kilkieran, Killimor, Kilronan, Kiltullagh, Kinvara
Laurencetown, Labane, Leenaun, Lettercallow, Letterfrack, Lettermore, Loughrea
Maam Cross, Maum, Menlough, Monivea, Mountbellew, Moycullen, Muckanaghederdauhaulia
Newbridge, New Inn
Oranmore, Oughterard
Peterswell, Portumna
Recess, Rosmuck, Rossaveal, Roundstone,Roscam
Skehana, Spiddal
Tuam, Turloughmore
Williamstown, Woodford
[edit] Climate
The location of County Galway, situated on the west coast of Ireland, allows it to be directly influenced by the Gulf-Stream. Temperature extremes are rare and short lived, though inland areas, particularly east of the Corrib, can boast some of the highest recorded temperatures of the summer in the island of Ireland (sometimes exceeding 30 °C); though these temperatures only occur when land warmed east winds sweep the area; the opposite effect can occur in the winter. Overall, however, Galway is influenced mainly by Atlantic airstreams which bring ample rainfall in between the fleeting sunshine. Rainfall occurs in every month of the year, though the late autumn and winter months can be particularly wet as Atlantic cyclonic activity increases and passes over and around the area, and which is why Galway tends to bear the brunt of severe windstorms that can occur between August and March. The county on average receives about 1300mm of rainfall annually, though some areas along the west coast of the county can receive up to 1900mm and beyond. Extreme weather such as blizzards, thunderstorms, flashflooding and hail, though rare, can and do occur, particularly when air masses of continental origin are undercut by more humid and unstable Atlantic flows.

[edit] Fauna and Flora
One of the least densely populated counties, County Galway harbors a variety of wildlife. The regions biodiversity is best represented by Connemara National Park situated in the west of the county.

[edit] Demographics
The population of the county at the April 2006 census was 159,052 (Figure does not include that of Galway City as it is a separate administrative unit).

[edit] Galway Septs
Galway was the home to many powerful Irish septs. Common surnames include Clark, Connolly, Coyne, Curley, Egan, Ford, Hannon, Hession, Joyce, Kelly, Lohan, Lydon, Madden, Manion, Mc Donagh Nee, O'Connor, O'Flaherty, O'Shaughnessy, and Tierney. In addition, many notable Norman-Irish families can be found in Galway, such as Barrett, Birmingham, Browne, Burke, Lynch, Martyn, Skerrett, Stanton and Staunton.

[edit] Politics
[edit] European elections
County Galway is part of the North–West constituency for the purposes of European elections.

[edit] National Elections (for Dáil Éireann)
County Galway is divided into two electoral constituencies for the purposes of electing TDs to Dáil Eireann during general elections. These are:

Galway East, Electorate: 73659, Example towns: Ballinasloe, Tuam, Loughrea.
Galway West, Electorate: 82213, Example towns: Galway City, Clifden.
[edit] Local Elections
Many smaller constituencies exist for the purposes of local elections.

The local county administration is provided by Galway County Council

[edit] See also
Connacht Irish
Galway East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Galway West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Galway GAA
List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Galway)
[edit] Select bibilography
^ For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy March 14 1865.
^ Census for post 1821 figures.
^ http://www.histpop.org
^ http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census
^ Lee, JJ (1981). "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses". in Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A.. Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
^ Mokyr, Joel; O Grada, Cormac (November), "New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850", The Economic History Review Volume 37 (Issue 4): 473-488, doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x, http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract
History of Galway, James Hardiman, 1820
Education in the the Diocese of Kilmachduagh in the nineteenth century, Sr. Mary de Lourdes Fahy, Convent of Mercy, Gort, 1972
The Anglo-Normans and their castles in County Galway, Patrick Holland, pp. 1-26, in Galway:History and Society, 1996. ISBN 0 906602 75 0
From Warlords to Landlords: Political and Social Change in Galway 1540-1640, Bernadette Cunningham, pp. 97-130, op.cit.
The Politics of the 'Protestant Ascendancy': County Galway 1650-1832, James Kelly, pp. 229-270, op.cit.
The Galway Tribes as Landowners and Gentry, Patrick Melville, pp. 319-370, op.cit.
Scríobhaithe Lámhscríbhinní Gaeilge i nGaillimh 1700-1900, William Mahon, pp. 623-250, op.cit.
Early Eccleiastical Settlement Names of County Galway, Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig, pp. 795-816, op. cit
[edit] External links
Galway County Council
Tourist information website
Map of Galway
*FLIRT FM* Galways Student Radio Station NUIG/GMIT
Galway GAA
County Galway Guide
/ local newspaper
Extensive list of places in County Galway.
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Carnmore
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This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007)
Carnmore
Cearn Mór
Location


Coordinates:
53°20′19″N 8°56′44″W / 53.3386°N 8.94542°W / 53.3386; -8.94542
Irish grid reference
M370324
Statistics
Province: Connacht
County: County Galway
Elevation: 12 m
Population (2002)

Carnmore (Irish: Cearn Mór) is located at the southern end of the parish of Claregalway, approximately 8 miles (13 km) east of Galway city in County Galway, Ireland. Carnmore lies within the Gaeltacht although the vast majority of residents there use English as their first language. The area is most widely known for being the location of Galway Airport and also for its Senior Hurling team.

Of archaeological interest in the area there is a beautiful Souterrain which was discovered a few years ago - it had two or three chambers and a creep entrance to each chamber which were well built and about 7-foot (2.1 m) high. It was filled in because it was close to the foundation of a dwelling house. There is also a Lisheen in Carnmore where mostly children are buried but some adults too. There are also a few Dolmen type burial sites in the area. In Claregalway there is the Franciscan Friary whose walls and tower are in good condition. There are the remains of five castles in the parish, most of them in ruins - Claregalway, Cloghmoyle, Lydican, Lissarulla and Kiltrogue.

Carnmore Hurling Club was not founded until 1944, even though there has been hurling played in the parish since the foundation of the GAA (and much earlier).