Overview
Oughterard sits where the Owenriff River runs into Lough Corrib, 26 km north-west of Galway on the N59, and has long been billed as the gateway to Connemara. For anglers it is a destination in its own right, the chief fishing centre on the lake, but there is enough within a few kilometres, a fine tower house, a show mine and a famous film bridge, to fill a day even if you never pick up a rod. The 2022 census counted 1,846 people, up 40% in six years, so this is a town growing rather than emptying.
If you do one thing here, make it Aughnanure Castle, three kilometres east of the centre.
Aughnanure Castle and around
Aughnanure is a well-preserved 16th-century O’Flaherty tower house, built on a rocky outcrop above an underground stream, with a double bawn, the remains of a banqueting hall and a good stock of local ghost stories. It opens spring to autumn and charges a modest admission; prices and hours change, so check before setting off.
Eight kilometres west on the N59 is the Quiet Man Bridge, the stone arch from John Ford’s 1952 film, with a free lay-by to pull in for a photograph. Glengowla Mines, Ireland’s only show mine, runs guided tours through old silver and lead workings and a crystal cavern, with sheepdog demonstrations on the farm. It is seasonal, roughly spring to autumn, so ring ahead to confirm times.
In the town itself, the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (built 1829) holds a stained-glass window attributed to Harry Clarke, and the early-19th-century courthouse is now the public library. Oughterard had its own railway station from 1895 to 1935; today Citylink and Bus Éireann keep it linked to Galway by road.
Angling and the lake
Lough Corrib is one of Ireland’s great wild trout and salmon fisheries, and fishing it is free. You just need a boat, hired through local B&Bs or the town’s angling centre, and the Oughterard Angling School runs instruction with APGAI-certified guides. The early-May mayfly hatch is the highlight of the fishing calendar, when trout rise hard and the serious anglers arrive; the town also holds a four-day fishing festival in early May, with art exhibitions and concerts alongside the rods.
If you would rather stay dry, Corrib Cruises’ Corrib Queen sails from the pier daily except Tuesdays, leaving around midday for Inchagoill Island and its early monastic remains. The round trip takes about two hours.
Walking and the outdoors
Oughterard is the official start of the Western Way, a 200 km waymarked route that heads west toward Clifden and on into Mayo. The first stretch follows the lakeshore before climbing into the hills, a gentle way into Connemara’s terrain. The Hill of Doon viewpoint, 13 km out along the scenic north-eastern shore, is an easy drive for a wide view over the water.
For something lighter, Curraghduff Farm just outside town offers alpaca walks and glamping. Golfers can play Oughterard Golf Club, an 18-hole parkland course (par 70, 6,735 yards) laid out around 1970 between the lake and the hills, with a bar and restaurant for afterwards.
Getting there and around
By road: the N59 links Galway City, Oughterard and Clifden. There is free street parking around the square and a free car park opposite Supermac’s. By bus: Citylink (Route 923) and Bus Éireann (Route 419) run between Galway and Oughterard, roughly hourly to two-hourly, stopping in the town centre. By air: Connemara Regional Airport at Inverin is about 45 km north-west, with scheduled flights to Dublin.
Most town-centre attractions are wheelchair-friendly; Glengowla Mines involves stairs and uneven ground, so enquire ahead if that matters. The Community Tourist Office runs a visitor information point with maps and event listings.
Eating and staying
Powers Thatched Bar & Restaurant serves a locally sourced menu in a traditional thatched pub and is the pick of the town for food. Quick stops and trad sessions turn up at Supermac’s, Faherty’s and the Angler’s Bar, and the Connemara Greenway Café is known for its homemade cooking. For beds, the Connemara Lake Hotel is central; Camillaun Lodge sits on the river with its own boat hire for anglers, and there is a good spread of B&Bs and self-catering cottages.
Come in the first week of May if you are here to fish, when the mayfly and the festival land together and the lake is at its busiest.