Renvyle

Renvyle (Rinn Mhaoile - The Bald Peninsula) is a peninsula situated in North-West Connemara in Co. Galway, not far from the border with Co. Mayo. It is surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean and by the Dawros river on the other side. It contains the villages of Tully and Tully Cross. Renvyle is situated in the parish of Ballinakill and historically was part of the barony of Ballynahinch. The villages of Leenane and Letterfrack are close by and Llifden is the nearest town, lying 12 miles (9 km) to the south.

The peninsula is dominated by Letter Hill (also known as Tully Mountain) which is 356m high. The Twelve Bens Mountains are also visible, as is Mweelrea, the largest mountain in Connacht. The islands of Inishturk, Inishbofin, Cramp, and Freachoileán lie off the rugged coastline. The area attracts a large number of tourists. Facilities include a pharmacy, three primary schools, a doctor's surgery, two hotels, numerous B&Bs, a post office, supermarket, hardware shop, a church, community centre, credit union, several pubs, horse-riding, golf course and a creche. Several festivals take place in the area including The Connemara Mussel Festival, Bog Week and Sea Week.

The ruins of the castle of Grace O'Malley (Gráinne Mhaol) can be found on the peninsula's western fringe. Close by, in Cashleen, is the ruined medieval church of the Church of the Seven Daughters which was named after the Seven Sisters of Renvyle who preached in the area. The Renvyle House, currently a hotel, is also situated in Rusheenduff in West Renvyle. It was initially the home of the Blake family who were landlords and owned the peninsula as far as Lettergesh East in the 19th century. The house was sold before the War of Independence to author and senator Oliver St. John Gogarty. It was burned to the ground during the Civil War by the IRA, apparently due to St. John-Gogarty's government sympathies, but was re-opened as a hotel in 1930.

One of Marconi's first radio receiving stations was built at Tooreena on the peninsula and operated for a short time.The world-renowned Kylemore Abbey is also two miles away and was the main place of education for teenage girls in the area until it was closed in 2010. Secondary school students now generally attend Clifden Community School or Coláiste Naomh Feichín, Corr na Móna. There are three national schools in the area, namely Eagle's Nest NS, Tully NS and Lettergesh NS.

Renvyle GAA, Gráinne Mhaoils and West Coast United are some of the sporting teams based in the vicinity.

References

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1. Connemara by Tim Robinson ISBN 0 9504002 5 4, Folding Landscapes.
2. http://www.wildatlanticway.com
3. http://www.connemaramusselfest.com
4. http://www.renvyle.com/en/history_48584/