The thriving little town of Loughrea (Baile Locha Riach, "Town on the Gray Lough"), the see of the Bishop of Clonfert, lies in the west of Ireland a few miles inland from Galway Bay, at the junction of the N6 and N66.
St Brendan's Cathedral, externally a modest and unassuming church, is notable for a magnificent series of stained glass windows illustrating the development of Irish stained glass in the 20th C., with work by A. E. Childe, Michael Healy, Evie Hone and Sarah Purser, among others. The church has other fine examples of modern art, including a series of Stations of the Cross.
Going southeast from Loughrea along the shores of Lough Rea and turning left at Carrowkeel, the road passes through Duniry and comes to Pallas, which has an imposing 16th C. castle (National Monument), a well-preserved tower house in an outer ward. The curtain walls with their parapet walks and towers are largely undamaged.
20mi/30km southeast of Loughrea at the north end of Lough Derg, where the Shannon flows into the lough, lies Portumna, with a nine-hole golf course, good fishing and a marina for sailing and rowing.
Hours:
April 1 to October 1: 10am-6pm
Tips: Contact the head office for the admission costs. Last admission 45 minutes before closing.
Guides: Interpretive sessions sometimes available.
On the outskirts of the town, in the beautiful Portumna Forest Park, are Portumna Castle (1618; National Monument), a large fortified mansion with corner towers, and the ruins of a Dominican friary (National Monument); a church with a beautiful east window and various conventual buildings.
The 17th C. walled kitchen garden has been recently restored.
Address: Portumna Castle and Gardens, Portumna , Ireland
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Portumna Castle and Gardens
