Roundstone, County Galway

Infobox Irish Place
name = Roundstone
gaeilge = Cloch na Rón
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 41px; top: 45px
north coord = 53.4 | west coord = 9.91667 | irish grid = L725405
area = | elevation = m
province = Connacht
county = County Galway
population = | town pop = 239 | rural pop = 423
census yr = 2002
web = |

Roundstone (Irish: "Cloch na Rón" meaning "Seal's Rock") is a village in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland, located on the west coast of Ireland. The town of Clifden is nearby to the north.

The anglicised name is an error on the part of the British colonial Ordnance Survey who translated the village name; while "Cloch" certainly means Stone or Rock, "Rón" means Seal, not Round. Still, according to Tim Robinson (in "Connemara - Listening to the Wind", 2006) the names Cloch na Rón and Roundstone may be totally independent. The bay is referred to as Round-stone Haven as early as 1684 (Roderick O'Flaherty), and the rock after which it is named stands like a marker at the entrance and is strikingly round.The village has a thriving centre for designer/makers.

Alcock and Brown, the first nonstop transatlantic fliers, crash landed in the blanket bog between Roundstone and Clifden.

Photos

ee also

*Gurteen Bay
* List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Galway)

External links

* [http://www.roundstone.ie/ Official website]
* [http://www.connemaraireland.com/roundstone/ Tourist information site]
* [http://www.roundstoneartsweek.net/ The annual Roundstone Art's Week]
* [http://www.roundstonesummerfest.com/ Roundstone Summerfest]