Furbo: Coastal Views, Culture and Active Experiences

Furbo has several distinct facets: coastal views, places with historical significance and a range of activities. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider whether views, cultural history or activities should be the focus of your stay.

Coastal Views and Food by the Water

From Furbo Beach, you can look across the bay to the hills of the Burren in County Clare. Pádraicíns is also by the water and offers views of Furbo Beach and Galway Bay. Pádraicíns Seafood Bar in Furbo serves fresh food daily. The distinction between these two settings can help with planning your trip: the view from the beach draws your attention to the landscape across the bay, while Pádraicíns combines a waterside view with food. You can therefore think of a coastal outing more as a landscape experience or as an opportunity to combine the scenery with a meal. Which option shapes your day depends on your interests; the examples mentioned show that Furbo offers both possibilities.

Local History and the Irish Name

The Irish name Trá na bhForbacha means “beach of the springs” and gives the place name a distinctive linguistic connection. Furbo’s buildings and memorial sites also have different historical associations. The Blake Mausoleum was built around 1860. Réalt na Mara Church was built in 1933 on a church site in Furbo donated by the Blakes. The 1916 Memorial Garden opened as part of the 1916–2016 commemorative decade; at its centre stands a sculpture of an Easter lily. The bell of Réalt na Mara Church used to hang in Teach Mór. The dates also give local history a timeline: from the construction around 1860, through the building of the church in 1933, to the garden’s opening during the 1916–2016 commemorative decade. Alongside the chronology are different forms of remembrance: a mausoleum, a church and a memorial garden each have their own associations; the name and the story of the bell add linguistic and inherited aspects. Together, they offer an introduction to history that extends beyond a single building.

Activities to Suit Your Interests

Eile Mental Activity Park in Furbo offers paintball, E-combat laser tag, disc golf, archery, zorbing and orienteering. If you are comparing different interests with your fellow travellers, this specific range offers several options for planning your day.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Furbo Beach is accessible from Galway by car or bus. Bus Éireann operates bus services to the beach. Eile Mental Activity Park is in Furbo, on the outskirts of Galway city, and can be reached via the N59 Clifden Road and the R336 Coast Road. The coastal road runs west through Furbo to Spiddal.

More places to consider when planning your trip: Ballinasloe, Cornamona, Clifden, Athenry, Kilkieran, Gowlaun, Cloghbrack, Barna.

For the broader travel overview: Galway.