Galway is a large county divided into two contrasting regionsby the expanse of Lough Corrib.

To the west, lying between the lake and the Atlantic, is Connemara - a region of superb scenic grandeur dominated by the rocky mountain range known as the Twelve Bens. A great many of the inhabitants are Irish speakers, and much of the ancient Gaelic culture is preserved., East of Lough Corrib, a fertile limestone plain extends to the Galway-Roscommon border and the River Shannon.

Galway city with its seaside suburb of Salthill lies south of the lake. It is an important tourist centre and a gateway to the scenic areas of the county.