Has anybody done this? Looking for recommendations. I know it’s been discussed before in old threads.
Flowerhill is about an hour from Galway city. It’s very rough and ready, but good for an outing. They have some lovely schoolmaster XC horses, and mostly BN/N types of fences. Nearly all the riding is done in a line hunt style though, so really more of a kick and hold on type of ride.
Probably wouldn’t do more than a few rides there - it gets very samey.
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I rode twice in Ireland, once on Achill Island and on the Dingle Peninsula, but don’t remember how far from Galway. I remember driving near or thru Galway. Visited the Horse Museum around that area, and memory is that it needed some updating. This was 8 years ago, so lots could have changed. Can’t remember where in Ireland, but stopped at an estate where they took you down in carts to the house, you got to walk around for awhile, then they took you back to your car. The gentleman let me drive the pony back, but after seeing pics of me driving my own horse, so I got to ride and drive in Ireland!!!
Hope you find a ride and enjoy the rest of your trip!!!
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I rode at Castlefergus and really enjoyed it. It’d be about an hour south, but they horses were lovely and so were the people. I was in a family group and they were great about letting me get away to do more than walk and trot as a more experienced rider. It was a countryside trek vs doing any XC or anything. The views were incredible and so was the history. Its about an hour south of Galway.
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According to Google Maps, the distance between Galway City and the town of Dingle is about 250 km (about 155 mi), 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
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Thanks for the distance from Galway. We were just driving around and stopping for the nite. Also, 8 years, some memories have faded, but it was a good trip. 3 months in Europe on the trains, 11 countries!!! We did rent a car in Ireland and got very off the beaten path!!!
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One of our kids is spending a couple of weeks in Tipperary this autumn at two different places. I can find out where, but it’s quite a ways from Galway 
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I road at a few different places. Diamond’s Equine in Renvyle where I had a nice canter on the beach on a horse that I really got on well with. I did a walk and trot ride at Moycullen Riding Centre in the bogs and is close to Galway, horses were well cared for and good at their jobs.
I did a third ride, which I’m not going to name, as I just didn’t get along with the horse. The horse knew his job but I wanted to control the pace so we just didn’t get long.
LetItBe
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I rode at Castlefergus 2 weeks ago. I was with two non-riding friends, they only walked but I got to trot and canter a bit. Got a nice history lesson of the area and it was very pretty.
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Aille Cross Equestrian Center. They are about 30 min outside Galway, right near village of Lochrea. Its been years, but their founder, Willie Leahy was widely known for quality of horses. I did one week long ride throughout Connemara region (best vacation ever). Went back another year in winter to fox hunt. Willie died a few years ago but his family continues to run their operations. Not sure what shorter options or day rides they offer but for sure check them out.
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Sadly Willie Leahy passed away a year or so ago so there is not much going on at Aille Cross any longer.
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Oh, that’s so sad. I knew he died but thought his sons/family had kept things going. They were so much fun when I was there.
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I think they may have tried but Covid restrictions and insurance etc made it difficult. Would be great if they started it up again tho
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Cáit gets great reviews. She’s local, very connected, and can get you to several different areas in one week (around Oughterard, Omey Island, Ballynahinch).
There is one even more local to us that I heard about, let me follow up and I’ll revert ASAP.
I’m not as familiar with the East Galway scene.
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