Connemara

From Free net encyclopedia

(Redirected from Conamara)

For the region on Jupiter's moon Europa, see Conamara Chaos.

Connemara (Irish Conamara), which derives from Conmhaicne Mara (meaning: descendants of Con Mhac, of the sea), is a district in the west of Ireland (County Galway). The Conmhaicne Mara were a branch of the Conmhaicne, an early tribal grouping that had a number of branches located in different parts of Connacht. As this branch of Conmhaicne were located by the sea they became known as the Conmhaicne Mara i.e. of the sea. Connemara lies in the territory of Iar Connacht "West Connacht", which is the portion of County Galway west of Lough Corrib and the portion of County Mayo in the barony of Ross. Connemara was traditionally divided into North Connemara and South Connemara. The mountains of the Twelve Bens and the Owenglin river, which flows into the sea at Clifden, marked the boundary between the two parts. Connemara is bounded on the west, south and north by the Atlantic. Connemara's land boundary with the rest of County Galway is marked by the Invermore River (which flows into the north of Kilkieran Bay), Loch Oorid, (which lies a few miles west of Maam (or Maum) Cross), and the western spine of the Maumturks mountains in the north of which the boundary meets the sea at the Killary a few miles west of Leenaun.

The term Connemara or Conamara is now commonly used (although incorrectly) to describe all of Galway west of Lough Corrib. Conamara is often used to describe the Irish-speaking areas of west Galway, however this is inaccurate as some of these areas are outside of the traditional boundary of Connemara. A more limited definition, although still incorrect, is that the boundary of Connemara with the rest of Galway begins where the Irish speaking area starts west of Galway. Another misconception, also incorrect, is that Connemara's eastern boundary ends around Inveran and Maam Cross.

Connemara is composed of the Catholic parishes of Carna, Clifden (Omey and Ballindoon), Ballynakill, Roundstone and Inishbofin. The territory contains the civil parishes of Moyrus, Ballynakill, Omey, Ballindoon, Inishbofin (the last parish was for a time part of the territory of the Clan O'Malley).

The coast of Connemara consists of a number of peninsulas. The peninsula of Iorras Ainbhtheach in the south is the largest and contains the villages of Carna and Kilkieran. The peninsula of Errismore consists of the area west of the village of Ballyconeely. Errisbeg peninsula lies to the south of the village of Roundstone. The Errislannan peninsula lies just south of the town of Clifden. The peninsulas of Aughris, Cleggan and Rinville (or Renvyle) are found in the north-west of Connemara. There are numerous islands found off the coast of Connemara of which Inishbofin is the largest, other islands include Omey, Inishark, High Island, Friars Island, Feenish and Mweenish.

The main town of Connemara is An Clochán / Clifden. The area around Clifden is rich with megalithic tombs. The famous green/white Connemara Marble was a trade treasure used by the inhabitants of the time and continues to be of great value today.

[edit]