Loughrea Baile Locha Riach
Location
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53°11′49″N 8°34′01″W / 53.1969, -8.5669
Irish grid reference M621163
Statistics
Province:	Connacht
County:	County Galway
Elevation:	115 m
Population (2002)  - Town:  - Environs:	4,004  832
Website: www.loughrea.ie

Loughrea (Baile Locha Riach in Irish) is a town in County Galway, Ireland. Basic concept of GPS operation A GPS receiver calculates its position by carefully timing the signals sent by the constellation of GPS Satellites high above the Earth The Irish grid reference system is a system of geographic Grid references commonly used in Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland Poetic description This dinnseanchas poem named Ard Ruide (Ruide Headland poetically describes the kingdoms of Ireland Since the late 16th century the Island of Ireland has been divided into 32 counties ( Irish language contae or condae County Galway (Contae na Gaillimhe is located on the West Coast of Ireland. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. County Galway (Contae na Gaillimhe is located on the West Coast of Ireland. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. The town has a range of wooded hills, the Sliabh Aughty, along its southern boundary.

The population of the town and its immediate hinterland is in the region of 4500, and is undergoing a period of expansion, as it increasingly becomes a commuter town for the city of Galway. Galway (Gaillimh is the only city in the province of Connacht in Ireland.

Name

The town takes its name from Loch Riach (Irish for "the grey lake") on which it lies. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. It is also suggested that the lake's name derives from Loch Riabhach - meaning "speckled lake". (The term 'riabhach/speckled' is used as the name for the local Irish-language multi-faith primary school: Gaelscoil Riabhach. ^[1])

Economy

Loughrea was traditionally a farming town that cut its industrial teeth with Tynagh Mines, 6 km to the east. Tynagh was for 15 years (1960-1975) the most important zinc and silver mine in Ireland. Tynagh ( Tíne in Irish) is a village and parish in south-east County Galway in Ireland. Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 Silver mining refers to the Resource extraction of the Precious metal element Silver by Mining. As well as being a dormer town for Galway, Loughrea now hosts a number of pharmaceutical and data-processing industries. Tourism and small cottage industries also play an important role in the community. Loughrea's tourist infrastructure is supported by several hotels, a country-resort, as well as many Bed and Breakfasts, Restaurants, Coffee-shops and Pubs.

Places of interest

Crannog reconstruction

The Turoe stone in nearby Bullaun (8km north) is perhaps the most important Celtic monument in the area and the Cathedral of St. Brendan on the lakeshore, in the town centre, is considered an important repositary of Celtic-revival art and architecture in Ireland. The Turoe stone is a Granite stone decorated in a Celtic style located in the village of Bullaun County Galway, Ireland, 6km north of Loughrea A Bullaun or Bullan (from a word cognate with 'bowl' and French 'bol' is the term used for the depression in a stone which is often water filled Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts Saint Brendan of Clonfert or Bréanainn of Clonfert (c 484 &ndash c Spring-fed, Loughrea Lake overlooked by Knockash is popular for fishing, with an abundance of trout, pike and perch. It is also an important bird sanctuary as well as being popular for water-sports and swimming. Immediately behind the Loughrea boat house are the remains of an old crannog. For Canada's organic brewery see Crannóg Ales A crannóg is an artificial island usually originally built in lakes rivers and estuarine waters and most often The Loughrea dwellers of another time would have sought protection from raiders by living in comparative security provided by the lake.

Horse-riding and trekking are well catered for in Aille and Kylebrack, 6km to the south. For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description Karting is catered for in Tynagh, and the Turoe Petting Farm in Bullaun is popular. Tynagh ( Tíne in Irish) is a village and parish in south-east County Galway in Ireland. There is a museum in Dartfield, in Kilrickle, 8 km to the east.

Transport

Loughrea was historically served by the Midland Great Western Railway and a railway branch from Attymon Junction^[2], until 1975. The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR main line extended from Broadstone in Dublin to the Midlands ( Mullingar, to Athlone) and onwards This line was Ireland's last operational rural railway branch line, having outlasted most other country railway lines of this type by 10 - 20 years, and even surviving to have diesel trains used on it. The link road from the proposed Ballinasloe - Galway dual carriageway to Loughrea will remove most of the remains of the original trackbed. Loughrea railway station opened on 1 December 1890 and finally closed on 3 November 1975. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[3]

Sport and culture

Loughrea Lake

St Brendans de la Salle National School, Loughrea

Loughrea GAA Club were 2006 Galway Hurling and 2006 Connacht Hurling champions. The Galway Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Galway Clubs The Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the senior hurling clubs in Connacht. They also reached the 2007 All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship final, but lost out to Ballyhale Shamrocks. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. Ballyhale Shamrocks is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the Parish of Ballyhale in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Loughrea has a Rugby club, Loughrea Rugby Club, an 18-hole golf course and a competitive Athletic Club. Each year, In October, the town plays host to the BAFFLE International Poetry Slam. Loughrea also boasts a thriving Musical and Dramatic Society, Historical society, and an active community association. In the 2006 National Glór na nGael awards for Irish language in local communities Loughrea's Glór committee was awarded first price in its category as well as prices in other categories. GLOR has an umbrella committee which involves local organisations in the promotion of Irish and the language has a visible presence in the town.

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Galway)
• List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
• Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobhair
• Marquis de St Ruth

References

External links

• Loughrea.ie - Galway County Council website for Loughrea