Connemara & Local Area

Letterfrack

Letterfrack, 5 km beyond Kylemore, is an enchanting village on Barnaderg Bay, which was founded by the Society of Friends (the Quakers) in the 19th century as one of a series of mission settlements along the north Connemara coast. Here you have a selection of places to stay including hotels, self catering hostels and B&B’s. Letterfrack is the home of Connemara National Park which encompasses thousands of acres of Blanket Bog. The Park’s Visitor Centre is located just outside of Letterfrack village on the Clifden Road. Along with a visit to Kylemore Abbey, to climb the Diamond Hill in Letterfrack is one of the ‘have to do’ items on your trip to Connemara. The National Park is adjacent to Kylemore and as you look across the lakes from the Abbey you are gazing onto Connemara National Park. Letterfrack is home to a number of small but engaging and creative community festivals during the year organised by Connemara Environmental Education and Cultural Centre. To find out more about Bog Week, Sea Week, The Poetry Trail and Halloween Festival of light visit www.ceecc.org As part of these festivals wonderful musical performances are hosted in our Gothic church at Kylemore so watch our events page for updates. While in the village it is a good idea to pop into the ‘Connemara West’ building and visit the permanent exhibition by the renowned Furniture Design and Restoration College based in Letterfrack. A part of the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology this college has become a flagship for rural development and design innovation. The Play Trail here at Kylemore was designed and built by students of the College.