Kinvara means the ‘head of the sea’ in Irish and its name aptly describes this lovely sea port village in the south of County Galway in western Ireland. With quite a small population of just over one thousand people, Kinvara has a wonderfully friendly vibe to its community. As the village is located by the sea, there is plenty to do when on a coastal self-catering holiday, particularly around the Kinvara Bay area, including going canoeing or kayaking on the waters.
What Kinvara, Galway offers for Self-Catering Holidays
Wildlife enthusiasts may wish to look out for baby seals and otters, and even just sitting by the sea and gazing out at the boats is a wonderful and relaxing activity in this village. With so much to offer, Kinvara could be an excellent choice for a coastal cottage holiday.
One of the main attractions in Kinvara is the magnificent Dunguaire Castle, which can be found on the eastern side of the village. It is said to have been built in the early 16th century and is an imposing and incredible tower house overlooking the bay. The castle provides part of a beautiful backdrop to the village and makes for wonderful photographs, especially in the sunset.
There are two festivals which you may be lucky enough to catch on a cottage break and these take place once a year in Kinvara. One of these is the ‘Gathering of the Boats which occurs in the middle of August, and celebrates the traditional sailing boat and its long history of trade in the area. Kinvara used to trade goods such as peat, lime, timber and barley, between Galway and
Clare, and this festival which began in 1979 features many events acknowledging and celebrating this trade history with events and competitions on the pier, as well as exciting boat races.
The other festival celebrated in Kinvara is an exciting Irish musical celebration at the beginning of May called The Cuckoo Festival. Having been put on since 1994, the festival takes place on the bank holiday weekend around the time of the year when the first cuckoo can be heard in the trees, and commemorates the old Irish Bealtaine festival. Bealtaine marks the start of summer and visitors to The Cuckoo Festival can expect to hear traditional Irish music in all kinds of forms.
Kinvara is home to gorgeous rows of pretty little shops painted in pastel and bright colours, and many of these shops are individual and unique. It also has a couple of local pubs which make great places to socialise with the locals or nestle into the corner with a beverage and a hearty meal. With its gorgeous coastal port setting it makes the perfect choice for a peaceful seaside cottage holiday in County Galway. Whether you are looking for more information on
coastal holiday cottages,
cottages near a beach or
cottages with sea views, we hope you find the best choice for you on Country Cottages Online.
Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Kinvara, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Galway.
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