Roundstone
The fishing village of Roundstone lies on the Western arm of Bertaghboy Bay in Connemara, 48 miles west of Galway and 15 miles south of Clifden.

View from Outside Odowds of the The Pier

Situated in the heart of Connemara, Roundstone village is one of the oldest fishing villages on the west coast. Today, its harbour is still busy with local fisherman returning with the day’s catch of lobster, crayfish and crab.

Roundstone village was founded in the 1820s by the celebrated Alexander Nimmo who, as engineer for the Western District. He built houses, roads and harbours throughout the west of Ireland. In 1835 a Franciscan monastery was established in Roundstone and by the 1840s 75 houses had been built. The village supported an active fishing industry as it still does today. Roundstone derives its name from the Gaelic "Cloch na Rón" , meaning seals' rock.

View from Outside Odowds of the Roundstone Regatta

Today Roundstone is a busy tourist destination and is a major attraction for artists and botanists alike. Roundstone bog is a unique lowlying blanket bog and lake complex, rich in plants and features of historical interest. This area is internationally famous for its collection of heather species.

View from Outside Odowds of the The 12 Pins

The twelve Bens north of the village provide ideal terrain for walking , hiking, climbing, and other outdoor pursuits. Other less demanding walks can be discovered along little-used boreens and wild shorelines.

This is the fisherman's paradise. The village is within easy reach of numerous fishing lakes, rivers and streams. Brown trout may be caught aplenty but the prize of them all is the majestic Atlantic Salmon and nearby are some of the best, internationally renowned game fisheries. There is first rate sea fishing locally and international-class charters are available. Boats are available on hire from the village.

View of Gurteen Beach located 5 mins drive from Odowds

There are renowned safe and sandy beaches at Do\'s Bay and at Gurteen Bay and in the many coves along the shoreline. Excellent sailing and windsurfing facilities are to be found along the coast from Roundstone.

View of Gurteen Bay and Dogs Bay from the top of Errisbeg Mountain which overlooks Roundtone and takes 1 hour to walk up and down

A 27 hole golf links lies 20 minutes drive away at Ballyconneely.

The Arts Week Parade

Highlights of the year are the local ‘Arts Week’ in late June and the Roundstone Regatta in July, both occasions for excellent food, traditional music, street dancing, boats and sailing. These are followed by a summerfest weekend in mid August and the landlubbers raft race towards the end of the month.