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Voykit pocket guide · Ireland
Oughterard
Sleep 1 night here only if you want a quiet Lough Corrib stop on the N59 between Galway and Clifden; otherwise pass through.
Oughterard is a small town on the north-east shore of Lough Corrib, 26 km north-west of Galway city and the last service town before the Connemara hills. It has a handful of sights, a golf course, trout fishing on the lough and a cluster of B&Bs and one hotel. Most travellers use it as a one-night stop on the N59 to Clifden, or skip it entirely and stay in Galway.
- Country
- Ireland
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (wet, short days, some places closed)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including pubs and taxis.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–140 excl. bed · High €140+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodafone, Three and Eir run the networks; prepaid SIMs (also 48, Tesco Mobile, GoMo) sell in phone shops and newsagents, no registration fuss.
- Emergency
- All services 112 · All services (alternative) 999
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Type G three-pin, like the UK; European and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–15% if service is not included.; Pub: Not expected when ordering at the bar.; Taxi: Round up.; Tour guide or driver: €5–10 per person for a day tour.; Hotel porter: €1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe; occasional local 'boil water' notices are posted by Uisce Éireann.
- Toilets
- Free in shopping centres, museums, pubs (as a customer) and many petrol stations; some public toilets charge 50c.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €3–4.50 |
| Pub lunch or bar food | €12–18 |
| Dinner, main course | €16–26 |
| Pint of stout | €5–6 |
| Taxi, town to Aughnanure Castle | €10–15 |
| Aughnanure Castle entry | Adult €5, child €3 |
| Glengowla Mines guided tour | Adult €15.50, child €8 |
| Brigit's Garden entry | Adult €11, conc €9.50, child €7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SNN · Shannon Airport
- About 1 h 45 min by car via the M18 and N59; no direct bus to Oughterard.
- DUB · Dublin Airport
- About 3 h by car; bus to Galway city, then change to the 419 or 923.
- NOC · Ireland West Airport Knock
- About 1 h 30 min by car; limited onward public transport.
Typical fares
- Bus Galway → Oughterard
- about €8 one way, 45 min (check)
- Taxi in town
- €8–15
- Car hire, one day
- from about €55
Get around
The town is small enough to walk. For Aughnanure Castle, Glengowla Mines, Brigit's Garden or anywhere off the N59 you need a car or a taxi; there is no local bus beyond the main road. O'Halloran Taxi is the local operator.
See and do
Known for
- Aughnanure Castle
- Lough Corrib trout fishing
- The Quiet Man bridge
- Gateway to Connemara
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Galway | Citylink 923 or Bus Éireann 419 from the town centre stop | About 45 min |
| Clifden | Same buses west on the N59 | About 1 h 15 min |
| Leenane | Car via Maam Cross, or bus towards Clifden then change | About 1 h by car |
| Carraroe and Rossaveel | Car south-west via the coast lane | About 1 h |
| Inishbofin Island | Bus to Cleggan, then ferry | 2.5–3 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (Main St)
- Walk to pubs, shops and the bus stop; Connemara Lake Hotel and several B&Bs.
- Glann Road
- 500 m–1 km north of the centre; Crossriver B&B and Currarevagh House.500 m–0.6 mi north of the centre; Crossriver B&B and Currarevagh House.
- Golf Course Road / lough shore
- South side towards the water; Waterfront House and Corrib View.
- Cregg Road and Billamore
- Quiet edges of town, 5–10 min walk in; Woodlands and Carrown Tober House.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dia duitjeea gwit |
| Thank you | Go raibh maith agatguh rev mah agut |
| Please | Le do thoilleh duh hull |
| Excuse me | Gabh mo leithscéalgov muh lesh-kayl |
| How much is it? | Cé mhéad é?kay vade ay |
| Where is the toilet? | Cá bhfuil an leithreas?kaw will un leh-rass |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names quickly; avoid: Over-formality; it reads as coldness
- Conversation: Banter, weather and sport; self-deprecating humour; avoid: Opening with Northern Ireland, religion or the Famine
- Pubs: Buy your round; chat at the bar; avoid: Leaving a round without buying one
- Identity: Say Ireland, or the Republic when you need to distinguish; avoid: 'Southern Ireland' and calling it British
- Driving: Lift a finger from the wheel to thank drivers who pull in for you; avoid: Stopping on narrow bends for photos
Scams and watch-outs
- Public transport is limited to the Galway–Clifden corridor; without a car you are stuck in town.
- Many B&Bs and Currarevagh House close in winter — check before booking a November–February stay.
- Lough Corrib weather turns fast; hire a boat with a local guide rather than going out alone.
- The Quiet Man bridge is on a narrow lane with no parking or facilities.
A quiet, low-crime town; the real risks are wet, unlit rural lanes at night, fast traffic on the N59 and cold water on Lough Corrib. Use 112 or 999 for emergencies.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Oughterard yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Aughnanure Castle
- Lough Corrib trout fishing
- The Quiet Man bridge
- Gateway to Connemara
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Heritage Ireland — Aughnanure Castle: heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/aughnanure-castle/
- Brigit's Garden: www.brigitsgarden.ie/
- Glengowla Mines: glengowlamines.ie
- Citylink timetables: www.citylink.ie/timetables
- Wikivoyage: Oughterard, revision 5069799 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5069799
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Oughterard
Chuig an seoladh seo, le do thoil
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassy in Oughterard; US, UK and most other embassies are in Dublin, with consulates in Galway city for some countries (check).
Garda station is in town; hours vary (check).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/oughterard). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.