Roundstone of the Aran Islands, the Mountains of Connemara and the Western Way.
ROUNDSTONE (Cloch na Ron) – “The stone of the seals”, on the west side of Roundstone Bay, is perhaps the most picturesque fishing harbour in Connemara. Roundstone is situated in the heart of Connemara, and is one of the oldest fishing villages on the west coast, and is an area of much natural beauty, as well as being the birth place and inspiration for much of Ireland's artistic creations. It has also been described many times as a "botanist's delight" as many wild flowers, rare to this country, are found in the area known as Errisbeg which rises almost to 1,000 ft (west of the village). Errisbeg Mountain is just under a thousand feet towers over Roundstone village
The Aran Islands (Irish: Oileáin Árann) are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. The largest island is Inishmore (Irish: Árainn (Mhór) or Inis Mór), the middle and second-largest is Inishmaan (Inis Meáin / Inis Meadhóin), and the smallest and most eastern is Inisheer (Inis Thiar or Inis Oírr / Inis Oirthir). Irish is a spoken language on all three islands, and is the language used for the names of the islands and many of the island's villages and place names. There are several Iron Age forts on Inis Mór, including Dún Aengus (Dún Aonghasa) and the Black Fort (Dún Dúchathair). Connacht Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in the province of Connacht.
Gaeltacht regions in Connacht are found in Counties Mayo (notably on Achill Island and Erris) and Galway (notably in Connemara and on the Aran Islands); in Munster, Counties Kerry (notably Dingle), Cork and Waterford. The Mayo and Galway varieties differ from each other in a variety of ways, as Mayo Irish has a number of features in common with Ulster Irish. The only county in Ulster to include Gaeltacht regions today is Donegal, so that the term Donegal Irish is often used synonymously. The phonemic inventory of Munster Irish (based on the accent of West Muskerry in western Cork. It is believed that the name 'Ros Muc' comes from the old Irish "the peninsula of rounded hills". Ros meaning peninsula and Muc meaning rounded hills. Rosmuck (Irish name Ros Muc) is a village in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) of County Galway, Ireland, halfway between the town of Clifden and the city of Galway- an area is recognized as one of the strongest remaining Gaeltacht areas in South Connemara.
All three islands are Gaeltachts, areas of Ireland where Irish Gaelic is still the primary language. English speakers will have no problem, as almost all islanders are fluent in English.
- Inis Mór (sometimes called Árainn) is the largest and most visited of the three islands. Inis Mór was once little more than a lifeless rock on the edge of the Atlantic. Dún Aonghasa (Dun Aengus) is the only stone fort where admission is charged, and is, on reflection, the least worth seeing. The only feature unique to this fort is its "cheveaux de frise", an area of upturned rocks similar to defenses used by the Friseans to defend against cavalry charges.
- Inis Meáin, the middle island, also the least touristed and is the middle island of the three, and has a size and population also almost exactly halfway between that of the other two islands.
- Inis Óirr (Innisheer), the smallest and southernmost island. It is easily visible from the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. The island is Gaelic-speaking.
MOYRUS, a parish, in the barony of BALLINAHINCH, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, approaching the town of Clifden in its north-western part. A monastery for Carmelite or White friars was founded at Ballinahinch in 1356; and another at Tombeola, for Dominican friars, about the yeare 1427, by the O'Flahertys, dynasts of Iar Connaught : in the beginning of Elizabeth's reign, the latter building was wholly demolished for the materials, which were used in the erection of the castle in the lake of Ballinahinch. The parish is situated upon the western coast; it extends from the Killery harbours, on the north, to the bays of Roundstone and Birterbuy, on the south, across a wild and mountainous district, and comprises within its limits the inhabited islands of Masa, Innislackan, and Innistravan, and the uninhabited isles of Mynish, Innisnee, Finish, Croaghnid, Macdara, Freight, Spit, Birr, Cruanakilly (occupied as a deer-park by T. B. Martin, Esq.), Cruanacarra, Innisdaury, and Innismooskerry; also the bays of Roundstone, Birterbuy, and Ardwest.
Mannin bay, though extensive, is but little frequented by large vessels; but a good kelp shore and a valuable herring fishery bring many boats to it occasionally. Between it and Roundstone bay is the peninsula of Bunowen, terminating at Slyne Head. From Slyne Head, where two lighthouses have been erected, the coast turns eastward to Roundstone bay, the entrance to which is sheltered by the islands of Innisnee and Innislacken. Near its mouth is the new village of Roundstone. The boggy peninsula of Rosrua intervenes between Roundstone and Birtirbuy bays, which latter, though deep and with good anchorage, is little frequented: in the offing is the island of Cruanakely, used as a deer-park.
Irish name: Maidhm an tSagairt
Townland: Inis Ní
- Parish: Roundstone, Civil Parish; Moyrus, Barony; Ballynahinch
- French Twin City: Roundstone twinning with Noyelles sous Lens 1st March 003
Irish name Anglicised version Townland Inis Leacan Inis Ní Cooneen na Roan Inis Ní Danes' Fort, The Inis Ní Donegal Inis Ní Fox Island Dún Riacháin Inishnee Light Inis Ní Inishnee National School Inis Ní Old Store, The Cloch na Rón St. Brendan's Well Inis Ní The Wire Iorras Beag Thoir Wire, The Bun na hAbhann Wire, The Inis Ní Aill an Gharraí Rua Inis Ní Aill Dingle Inis Ní Aill na Caillí Inis Ní Aill na gCuil Doire Fhada Thiar Aill na n Éan Inis Ní An Stoiricín Inis Ní Ard na gCapall Inis Ní Cáblachaí Inis Ní Caladh Bháid Mhóir Inis Ní Caladh Cam Inis Ní Caladh Chadhain Inis Ní Caladh Fhlathartaigh Inis Ní Caladh Keane Inis Ní Caladh na bPortán Inis Ní Caladh na Loinge Inis Ní Caorán Inis Ní Cara Beaga Inis Ní Carraig an Bhranda Carrickabrandy Inis Ní Carraig an Fox Inis Ní Carraig Mhór Inis Ní Ceann Ramhar Inis Ní Cill; Cartrún na Cille Kilcartron Inis Ní Cloch Mhór Roisín Inis Ní Cnocán an Tuairín Inis Ní Cnocán Ard Dhaibhéis Inis Ní Cnocán Fhatharta Inis Ní Cnocán MhairgĂn Inis Ní Cnocán Tine Cnáimh Inis Ní Coirnéal Sáraithe Inis Ní Comhartha, An Inis Ní Cora Mháire Ní Iarla Inis Ní Cora Mhór Inis Ní Craobh Creevecartron Inis Ní Crompán Mór Inis Ní Cuainín Inis Ní Cuan Chloch na Rón Roundstone Bay Cloch na Rón Cuan Chluain Aidhle Cloonisle Bay Cluain Aidhle Cuan Leice Inis Ní Díolain Inis Ní Dóilín Freangach Inis Ní Dóilín Mhór Inis Ní Doire Fhatharta Inis Ní Droichead Inis Ní Inishnee bridge Inis Ní Duirling Bhán, An Inis Ní Giúróg Illaunnaguroge Inis Ní Glasoileán Inis Ní Gleann Aill na nÉan Inis Ní Gleann Dúlamáin Inis Ní Gleann na gCapall Inis Ní Gleann na gCat Inis Ní Gleann na gCoileach Inis Ní Loch Bheag Inis Ní Maidhm an tSagairt Inis Ní Maoilín Dóite Inis Ní Muing na Fola Inis Ní Na Bruachaí Mud Hole Inis Ní Oileán an Chlaí Oghly Island Inis Ní Oileán an Choirce Corn Island Inis Ní Oileán an Fort Fort Island Inis Ní Oileán na gCapall Horse Island Inis Ní Poll Phaidí Inis Ní Poll Tobac Inis Ní Roisín Inis Ní Scaith Dhubh Inis Ní Sruthair na Míoltóg Ceannúir Sruthar, An Inis Ní Teampall, An St. Mathias's Chapel Inis Ní Tobar an Rí Inis Ní Tobar Cholm Cille Inis Ní Tobar Cholm Cille Inis Ní Troscaí Inis Ní Tuairín Inis Ní