Galway (county)

County on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Connacht; county town Galway; area 5,940 sq km/2,293 sq mi; population (2002) 209,100. Lead and zinc are found at Tynagh, and marble is quarried and processed at several sites. The main farming activity is cattle and sheep grazing. The Connemara National Park is in Galway. Towns include Salthill, a suburb of Galway city and seaside resort, Ballinasloe, Clifden, and Tuam.

Features
Galway is rich in early archaeological remains, including ring forts, tumuli, stone circles, and crannógs (artificial islands); the Turoe Stone with its La Tène carvings dates from the 1st century BC. There are also a significant number of monastic remains in the county. Much of west Galway, including parts of Connemara, is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area).