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KILCHREEST RAMBLERS |
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Isserkelly Castle, Kilchreest |
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Kilchreest, a small village 3 miles from Loughrea, Co. Galway on the N66 is set in the foothills of The Slieve Aughty Mountains. This mountain range is spread over both counties Galway and Clare. The highest mountain is Maghera in County Clare which rises to 400m (1,314 ft) The mountain range consists of two ridges divided by The Owendallaigh River which flows west into Lough Cutra. Scattered throughout are many ruins of whole villages and isolated houses and the abandoned schools remind us of the many families who worked their small holding and cut their turf on the many bogs in the villages between the mountains.. The Slieve Aughty hills contain vast tracks of some of the most desolate landscapes in Ireland. The mountains are often referred to by their Gaelic name “Sliabh Echtge”. The Lady Echtge, granddaughter to Finde, one of the Tuatha de Danann gave her name to the hills. She married Fergus Mac Ruiri who held the hills and mountains by his right of cupbearer to the King of Connaught. He bestowed the mountain valleys to Echtge to feed the cows which she brought with her as her dowry. Two of these cows, which had been previously remarkable for their fruitfulness and great flow of milk were placed on each side of a river, which has been called “Abhainn Da Loilgheach” - River Of The Two Milk Cows. The largest inland farm in Ireland is located on Slieve Aughty in rural south east County Galway. The farm comprises 71 Vesta V52 wind turbines collectively generating an average of 60MW. The site is an impressive show case of wind turbine technology. Each Vesta V52 turbine blade measures over 20m in length. The tips travel at over 180Km/h and takes 3 seconds to make a full rotation.
Please click HERE for a list of upcoming events Or HERE for contact information.
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Derrybrien. |
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The Nativity, Kilchreest |
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Windmill at Sonnagh |
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© Alan Cronin 2010 Galway, Ireland |