Loughrea

united kingdom

Loughrea sits handily on the M6, just 40 kilometres from Galway city and perfectly placed for touring the west. The town serves as a proper hub for day trips to the Burren, Cliffs of Moher, and Galway Bay, while connecting easily to Dublin (185km), Athlone, and the midlands. St Brendan's Cathedral houses what's arguably Ireland's finest collection of Arts and Crafts stained glass, with stunning windows by Harry Clarke and Evie Hone from the early 1900s that draw visitors from across the country.