Galway, county, Republic of Ireland

Galway gôlˈwā [key], county, 2,293 sq mi (5,939 sq km), W Republic of Ireland. The county town is Galway. The county is divided into two sections by Lough Corrib. The mountains of the Connemara region lie to the west; to the east stretches a rolling plain, partially covered with bogs. Principal rivers are the Clare, the Clarinbridge, the Dunkelin, and the Shannon (which forms part of the eastern boundary) and its tributary, the Suck. The shoreline is extremely irregular, and there are numerous islands, the chief of which are the Aran Islands, lying off the mouth of Galway Bay. The main industries are agriculture (sheep, cattle, oats, and potatoes) and fishing (salmon). Marble is quarried, and some light manufacturing has developed.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: British and Irish Political Geography