Galway

Gal-way, a maritime county in the west of Ireland, in the province of Connaught, having the Atlantic Ocean on the W., Clare and Galway Bay on the S., Mayo and Roscommon on the N., and Roscommon, King's County, and Tipperary on the E. It is the largest county after Cork, and contains over a million and a half acres. Lough Corrib, which covers 30,000 acres and has many islands, divides the county into an eastern part, which is for the most part level, with much bog, but having in the N. fertile land and in the S. the Slievebaughty mountains, and a western part - sometimes called Connemara - which is mountainous and wild. There are many harbours on the coast, used chiefly by fishermen, who with the agricultural population make up the inhabitants. In the west are the mountains of Binabola or the Twelve Pins, which reach 2,400 feet in height. The Shannon is the only large river, others being the Suck, the Claregalway, and the Ballynatrinch. Of the lakes, which west of Lough Corrib are about 130 in number, Lough Rea is noted for its scenery. Other tracts - called "furloughs" - are underwaterforpart of the year. The county is rich in minerals, and there are mineral springs. Among the antiquities of the county are cromlechs, seven round towers, and many ruins of monastic buildings, the chief of these being that of Knockmoy, with its frescoes illustrating ancient Irish costumes. There are also Anglo-Norman remains. The town of Galway, capital and a county in itself, is on the N. shore of Galway Bay, on the river Corrib, which unites Lough Corrib with the Atlantic. It returns one member. There are some curious old buildings and a notable cruciform church. Brewing, tanning, distilling, and paper-making are carried on, and there is a good salmon fishery. Galway Bay, between Galway and Clare, has a length of 30 miles and an average width of 10 miles, and its entrance is protected by the three isles of Aran - Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer.