Day 14: Diamond Hill, Letterfrack
Diamond Hill is a large hill south-east of Letterfrack in County Galway.
I came to Letterfrack to visit GMIT Galway, the former site of St Joseph’s Industrial School. The school was opened in 1887, and run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers (more on that in my next post)
After wandering around the college grounds for awhile, I made my way up to the Connemara National Park Visitor’s Centre, located behind GMIT. I then set out to climb Diamond Hill.
From here, the fully signposted and surfaced track took me along the Sruffaunboy Nature Trail before branching off towards the cone of Diamond Hill.
Gravel footpaths and wooden boardwalks eased the passage over the bog as I approached the mountains, with a steady climb up the western slopes to the summit ridge.
From here, look to the sea to Inishturk, Inishbofin and Inishshark; to Tully Mountain rising over Ballynakill Harbour and along the intricate Connemara coastline.
Connemara is Irish landscape at its most dramatic. With soaring mountains, scattered loughs and an intricate coastline, this remote part of Galway is a world away from the trappings of urban life.
Kate Kelsen 