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Connemara Day Trip from Galway: Kylemore Abbey and Ross Errily Friary
Delve into the rugged wilderness of Connemara, an Irish county thronged with historic monuments and natural splendor, on a full-day tour from Galway City. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, explore the perfectly preserved Franciscan friary of Ross Errilly Friary and enjoy some leisurely free time in Cong, a picturesque village. Gaze at the tranquil surfaces of Lough Carrib and Loch NaFooey and discover the elaborate walled gardens of Kylemore Abbey. Enjoy a pleasant balance of guided tours and independent exploration during this enriching excursion.
Full day trip to Connemara from Galway city with an expert guide
Explore Ross Errilly Friary, one of Ireland’s best preserved Franciscan friaries
Spend time at leisure in Cong village, where 'The Quiet Man' was filmed in the 1950s
Travel around Lough Carrib and Loch Na Fooey—two of Ireland’s most picturesque lakes
Visit Kylemore Abbey and admire its Victorian walled gardens (entry at your own expense)
Transport by luxury coach
What To Expect
Depart from Galway Coach Station in a luxury, air-conditioned coach and admire stunning natural panoramas as you travel through the Irish countryside towards Headford, home to the ancient Ross Errilly Friary. Receive an insightful introduction to the sacred structure from your expert guide and then set out to explore the medieval tombs and atmospheric cloisters that beg to be discovered.
After thorough exploration, travel onward to Cong village to delight in the quaintness of the setting for John Wayne epic movie, The Quiet Man. Stroll the cobbled streets during some leisurely free time, perhaps ambling over to Cong Woods to see the 11th-century Ashford Castle.
Head next to County Connemara, home to the unspoiled glacier lake, Loch Na Fooey, and absorb sweeping countryside vistas. Listen to tales of Connemara’s rich culture and learn about the time-honored Irish traditions that are still preserved in the region.
Next, venture to Kylemore Abbey and immerse yourself in the sacred ambience of an ancient Benedictine abbey shrouded in history. Hear legends surrounding the construction of the abbey and enter the abbey at your own expense. Spend ample time inside the Irish national treasure, opting to enjoy lunch at your own expense if you wish.
On the return journey to Galway, meander through the incredible tableau of Connemara’s Inagh Valley and the Mamm Turks Mountains and then bid your guide and group farewell on arrival at Galway Coach Station.
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the pick up location?
A:
We offer pick ups from most hotels in Galway City. Let us know where you are staying in the 'Special Requirements' box in the Traveler Details section during checkout. Or you can let us know after booking by visiting 'Manage my Booking' and emailing us there.
Jul 2019
Q:
Where is the meeting point?
A:
The meeting point for this tour will be at Galway Coach Station on Fairgreen Road opposite to Discover Ireland Centre (Tourist Information Office).
This was our second time doing this tour and we were glad we did. We saw things we did not see the first time around due to renovations. The tour operator was very insightful along the way.all in all it was a lovely day, despite the rain!
This tour was excellent. Connemara is beautiful. Kylemore Abbey was amazing. Mike was a great tour guide. He was informative and very funny. I would highly recommend this tour.
The tour was very good, our guide was quite informative! Kylemore Abbey was beautiful. My only disappointment was that The Quiet Man Museum was closed and this had been the main reason for taking the tour.
This was a great day trip. The bus picked us up at our hotel which we greatly appreciated. We made several stops on our way to Kylemore Abbey and each one was great to see. My only complaint is that the stop at Cong was too short. There were several places to take pictures and a great souvenir/gift shop.30 minutes was not enough time to do it all. 15 minutes more would have been nice. The stops at the lakes and fjords were very picturesque. The walk through Ross Errily Friary was interesting. The highlight of the trip was Kylemore Abbey where we had 2 1/2 hours. That was perfect. It gave us enough time to walk slowly through the gardens, see the first floor of the house and the church and mausoleum. We enjoyed every minute of the day.
The abbey and friary were great - and reasonably priced for the booking fees (bus, driver, guide etc).
The driver was fantastic and funny.
The company - Galway Tours - was appalling. No markings on the buses, no signs for which tour went where, when, or how. And the office had no signage at all. We only found it at the last minute as we wandered around with the other lost travelers.
Each location was seen at its best as the sun was shining the whole day. Connemara is really Gods country and showed why Ireland is the Emerald Isle. A must visit for anyone on the West coast of Ireland. The bus company provided an excellent driver who did not impart too much when talking, but gave enough information about the sites as was needed.
Mike D, our tour guide, was a cheeky delight. I think, doing this tour after the Cliffs of Moher, it was a tad underwhelming. But still beautiful nonetheless. The weather was also particularly dreary in general. But overall, it was nice to see a different part of the Irish countryside.
Our driver "Michael" was amazing. He could drive the BIG bus smoothly and told us the detailed history, facts of places and even sang a beautiful song. He made the trip very interesting. We enjoyed it very much. Michael was an asset to the tour company. He was also very polite.
Enjoyable trip to Connemara which was helped by Michael the driver who was entertaining and informative.
Sad note, I lost my glasses so if you have a spare set let me know
We'll reserve your spot today, and you can cancel up to two days before your experience without making a payment. Secure your spot with ease, stay flexible, and never miss out.
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Reserve now and pay later to secure your spot, commitment-free.
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Come back to pay once your plans are set, or let auto-pay kick in two days before your experience.
Enjoy your experience
Now you're all set! Have a great time.
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