Monty Halls talks to Discover Ireland about...
Connemara's friendly locals, amazing sealife and finding the perfect pint!
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Monty's Great Irish Escape
We get the lowdown from the man himself on his 6 months living on the West coast of Ireland.
Are there any great restaurants you would recommend people try out when in Roundstone or the surrounding area so Connemara, Galway?
"Where to begin? Ballynahinch Castle was spectacular, O'Dowds did really good local sea food, and the few times I ate out in Clifton the food was excellent. If I had to pick one I guess it was Ballynahinch, but only because it gave me a chance to eat in a castle and briefly convince myself that I was royalty."
Roundstone is one of the oldest fishing villages on the West Coast, where did you head to to eat fresh fish?
" O'Dowds was the place. Right on harbour (go upstairs in the coffee shop for the best view of a small fishing port in Ireland). It always had a real bustle about it, and the food was excellent. If you're hungry the Roundstone House Hotel always did massive portions - the ideal place to go after a day out on the beach doing what masqueraded as work. The Beola Restaurant did really classy food too, with refreshingly eccentric - and extremely friendly - service. Living in Roundstone was never a survival situation in terms of eating I must say."Can you recommend anywhere for a great night out? Did you come across any trad music sessions in Roundstone?
"There's a very strong presence of trad music in Roundstone. The Shamrock always had great bands on, and you could go there for a quiet pint that very swiftly turned into a very noisy pint. The best night out I had in Roundstone was in the Shamrock, a night I only dimly recall but have been assured by others was fairly historic."
Which were your favourite spots for a quiet pint?
"Again the Shamrock was ideal early evening, with lots of friendly locals and some rugby on the tele. Kings Bar is a classic village bar, small and intimate, frequented mainly by the locals but again a great place for a natter and a more reflective sup if you’re in that mood."
Did you meet many interesting locals?
"The outstanding feature of Roundstone is the people - quite the friendliest bunch we've ever worked with. Michael Reynolds runs the village shop, and is the font of all knowledge about the goings on in the village. Lynn Hill runs the Anglers Retreat B&B, and is simply the most inspirational person you'll ever meet - in her sixties with the energy of a twenty year old (don’t expect to get a word in edgeways though!). Martin O'Malley knows the local waters like the back of his hand, and looks like a rather dashing pirate, and Paddy "Shoulders" McDonnagh is a true local legend. He won the all Ireland currach championships in the sixties (hence the "Shoulders" tag), and is very much the living history of the village."You mentioned Ballynahinch Castle as a must-see destination. Are there any other sites you recommend people visiting when in Connemara? Perhaps Dog’s Bay for a day at the beach or Errisbeg Mountain for walkers?
"Both would be unmissable. Dogs Bay is a glorious beach, absolutely beautiful and unspoilt. Errisbeg is a good, energetic walk if you’re in the mood, and the view from the top is absolutely spectacular looking out over the bog and along the coast. I'd also say that Inishlacken Island is a must see - complete with the abandoned village and an ancient shell midden that dates back thousands of years."
Any scenic drives that you would recommend?
"Along the coast to Clifden is very beautiful indeed, as is the road to Galway. It's almost impossible to avoid the scenery in Connemara, but for a very good overview the Sky Road out of Clifden is unmissable. Mind you there's always the coast by Renvyle, and then again you'd be mad not to drive along Loch Inagh..."
You worked closely with the Irish Whale and Dolphin group, can you give any tips for people looking to spot a whale or a dolphin i.e. is there a particularly good time to take a boat trip?
"The whales and dolphins are there year round, but the best time to see them is definitely late summer. The optimum strategy is to find a bit of high ground and scan the sea with binoculars - you'll probably see more doing that than on a boat trip. Mind you, a trip to the Aran Islands is spectacular regardless of what you see, and you've got a very good chance of picking up a sighting en route."Roundstone is also well known for creativity and there are a number of artists in the village. Did you bring home any souvenirs?
"We nearly bought home a car full. There's some really spectacular art produced from the village, and one of the real pleasures in life was to stroll along the high street browsing the numerous small galleries. The main things I bought home were memories that'll last a lifetime, and a moderately damaged liver. A great summer in a magical place."
Find out more about Monty at http://www.montyhalls.co.uk
