Connemara

Connemara refers to the mountainous country in this western part of County Galway. Like all mountains in Ireland, these feel like very old mountains. And geologically, they are very old mountains. The core of the hilly region is a dozen rounded peaks called the Twelve Bens or Twelve Pins. They aren't terribly high - none rise beyond 2500'. Peat blankets their slopes, taking the place of the long gone forests that once covered the Irish landscape.

Connemara National Park itself only occupies a small portion of the larger region -- mainly a couple thousand acres that was part of the Kylemore Abbey Estate.