Claregalway

Claregalway lies within a Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area and most locals traditionally spoke English only as a second language. The village is in a civil parish and barony of the same name. Evidence of ancient settlement around the village include a number of ringfort, bawn, enclosure and crannog sites in the townlands of Claregalway, Cloonacauneen, Lydacan and Pollaghrevagh. Among the larger historical sites, within the village bounds on the banks of the River Clare, are Claregalway Friary, founded in mid-13th century, and a Norman tower house dating to the 16th century. According to the Annals of Connacht, O'Domnaill (of the O'Donnell's of Tírconnell) and Macwilliam Burke (of the Burkes of Mayo "burnt the town" of Claregalway in In 2001, a restoration of an old bridge over the old course of the River Clare was completed. These nine stone arches are above the level of the current road. The civil parish of Claregalway (Baile Chláir) is approximately 50 km (19 sq mi) in area and spans 29 townlands. Some of the larger townlands include Carnmore, Lydican, Loughgeorge and Cregboy.