"Galway County Republic of Ireland, a maritime county, western Republic of Ireland, in Connaught
Province, bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean; after county Cork, Galway
is the largest Irish county. Most of the eastern part of county Galway is a
plain with extensive bogs, but the Connemara region in the west, extending
south from county Mayo to Galway Bay, is rugged in terrain, with Benbaun
Mountain, in the Twelve Pins (Twelve Bens) group, reaching a height of 730 m
(2395 ft) above sea level. The Galway coast has many inlets and is dotted with
islands. The county has numerous lakes, the largest being Lough Corrib, 43 km
(27 mi) long. The economy of county Galway is based largely upon the growing
of wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes and the raising of sheep, pigs, and
poultry. Fishing, gathering kelp, and quarrying limestone, gravel, marl, and
black and red marble are also important. The principal towns of the county are
the county borough Galway, Ballinasloe, Tuam, and Loughrea. Several ancient
encampments, burial sites, and ruins of castles and monasteries are in the
county. Area, 5939 sq km (2293 sq mi); population (1991) 180,364.
[From "Galway (county, Republic of Ireland)," Microsoft(R)
Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.]
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