Carna, County Galway
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Carna is a small village in Connemara, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, located on the west coast of Ireland about 50km west of the city of Galway.
The National University of Ireland, Galway has an Irish language and educational centre called Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim in Carna. It also operates a marine biology station in Mweenish and an atmospheric research station in Mace Head, Carna, which is run by the university's physics department.[citation needed]
Carna is famous for the building of Galway Hookers,Gleoteags and Pucans, traditional Irish boats. It is the birthplace of Joe Heaney, a famous traditional singer of Sean Nos (lit. Gaelic for Old Style), which is still sung in the area
The town is in the Gaeltacht, so Irish Gaelic is an everyday language at home.
Off the coast of Mace Head in Carna Parish is Mac Daras Island. This is the location of a stone, early christian church and cross of Saint Mac Dara. Patron Saint of fishermen and sailors in the area. There is a pilgramage to the Island once a year on July 16th followed by a race of traditional boats.
Another archeological gem in the area is a crannog on Lake Scannive, still with walls intact.
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