Barna
Quaint coastal village near Gawlay City
Barna is tranquil seaside village, located just 8km from Galway along the R336 coast road west.
Once a satellite of Galway city, Barna village is now rapidly becoming one of its suburbs. It was originally known as Freeport as boats docked here to avoid mooring taxes at the Galway Port. Barna is a charming little holiday spot with a fine restaurants and bars including the popular Twelve Hotel and Donnellys pub and restaurant. There are also many nice cafes such as Nourish and great take-away food outlets with Hooked, Morellis and Indigarden.
A few mins walk from the village are Barna Woods and Rusheen Bay Woods which offer wonderful walks in native woodland close to the sea and include a swan sanctuary and nature reserve for birds. Along the sea you’ll find the popular blue flag beach of Silverstand with its unique backdrop of coastal drumlins which command impressive views over Galway Bay. Behind Silverstrand is Rusheen Bay Windsurfing Centre which offers equipment rental for windsurfing, paddleboarding and kayaking along with courses from April to October. There are also two other excellent bathing beaches closer to the village either side of the idyllic stone Barna pier.
Bathing, boating and shore fishing are attractions.
In pictures
Where to stay
Barna offers a range a high quality accommodation options from hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s.
How to get to Barna
Travel to Barna by bus with Bus Eireann on bus route 404 west. Barna is essentially a suburb of Galway City, so there are numerous local routes serving it every day. Alternatively follow the R336 west from Galway to Barna.
Barna Village map
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