From Past 

The first Celts may have come to Ireland as early as the 6th century B.C. They brought with them their language, religion and laws.

South East Galway and neighbouring regions provide the visitor with a rich tapestry of social history, reflected in the many historic buildings still to be seen.

The monastic ruins at Holly Island, Terryglass, Lorrah, Portumna and further upstream on the Shannon at Clonfert and Clonmacnoise testify to this. St Brendan is believed to have sailed up Lough Derg to his monastery at Clonfert before his voyage to America, one thousand years before Columbus !

The Irish Heritage Service cares for many national monuments, inland waterways, parks, gardens and nature reserves. Many of these sites welcome visitors and provide detailed information on their historical significance. 

Pallas Castle, located near Tynagh is yet another historic site and was built by the Burke Family circa 1500. The Burke clan were of Norman origin and controlled South East Galway and Connaught for centuries. 

To Present

Portumna Castle, built circa 1618 by the 4th Earl of Clanricarde is now one of the first castles in Ireland with renaissance features. It is located in a scenic setting overlooking Lough Derg and Portumna Forest Park which was once part of the demesne. Its front gardens and elaborate entrance gates are testimony to the design and craftmanship of the area.

The beautiful round arched west doorway at Clonfert Cathedral is a lovely relic of Irish Romanesque decorative architecture built A.D. 563. Monasteries flourished as centres of learning and sent missionaries to many European countries, bringing with them the classical literature of Greece and Rome. Reports in the 9th century suggested that anyone who spoke Greek on the continent was an Irish person or had been taught by an Irish person. 

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