Ballyconneely () is a village and small ribbon development in west Connemara, County Galway Ireland.
Name
19th century antiquarian John O'Donovan documents a number of variants of the village, including Ballyconneely, Baile 'ic Conghaile, Ballykineely, Ballycunneely, and Balyconneely. An Post Placenames Branch archival notes Baile Uí Chonghaile, Baile 'ic Confhaola and other various spellings.
The surname, Conneely, was originally Mac Conghaile (Ó Conghaile contemporaneously), whereas Ó Conghaola (modern spelling Ó Conaola - Conneally) is an entirely unrelated sept, located in southern County Galway belonging to the Uí bhFhiachrach Aidne. Archival records from the early 20th century attests the origin of the village's name to that of Muintear Chlann Chonghaile or Clann Mhic Conghaile. built in 1905, which was used to send the first transatlantic wireless message, to Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, in 1907.
A team of Dutch botanists studied lakes and water chemistry around Ballyconneelly in 1975 and throughout Ireland until 2010, due to the island's unique post-Ice Age landscape no longer found in the Netherlands.
Tourism and amenities
Every July, the Ballyconneely pony show attracts people from the surrounding county to exhibit livestock and visit the travelling funfair. Ballyconneely breeds Connemara ponies, including some home and overseas champions. Legend has it that the breed originated when Arabian horses come ashore from a Spanish shipwreck near Slyne Head and bred with the small native pony.
Attractions include a 27-hole golf links, and Roundstone Bog three miles to the east, an expanse of moor, lake and stream, containing wildlife and rare plants. The beaches have edible shellfish and molluscs accessible at low tide, including clams, cockles, mussels, razorfish, sea urchins, shrimp and scallops, and with local knowledge, the occasional lobster. Connemara Smokehouse and Visitor Centre is located at Bunowen Pier, a small harbour used by local fishermen and boat owners.
Two shops, a post office, a community hall, and a local parish hall make up the village centre. Other businesses in the area include a hotel, a golf course with club house, guest-houses, bed-and-breakfast establishments, and holiday homes.
Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has a holiday home in Dunloughan, close to the Connemara Golf Links.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland