GOLF LNKS

Try your hand at the links style of golf for which Ireland is famous. The windswept, oceanside courses will keep you guessing on club selection, the heather-lined fairways will require your judgement, and the pocket-sized greens will test your patience. But after a walking a round, enjoy a pint in the "local" at the Connemara Golf Club. For a local, shorter round, try the Renvyle House, which features an unusual 2,900 yard, par 37 nine-hole course offering unparalleled views of the ocean and surrounding mountains.

HORSE RACING

One of the more colorful spectacles you can enjoy while in Ireland is horse racing. Unlike some of the sterile tracks in the states (where horses are only seen from afar and all betting is through a paramutual window), racing in the West of Ireland is a local event. From looking for your favorite racer in the paddock, to laying a wager with a "turf accountant" (a legal bookie), racing at Ballinrobe or the famous Galway races is a great experience that has not changed much over the last few decades.

HORSEBACK RIDING

The West of Ireland offers the unusual opportunity to ride a horse across country (for the experienced rider) or merely relax on an accompanied trot alng the beach. Several locals can set you up for horseback riding, including the Renvyle House or Diamond's (the pub in Tully). Our children's favorite is to ride the Connemara Ponies at Errislannan Manor outside Clifden (Tel: 095 21134). A delightful young woman, Roisin (said ROH SHEEN), is particularly good with young ones.

GAELIC ATHLETICS

In the late 19th century a group of young men dedicated themselves to a resurgent Irish culture. Central to their efforts was rebuilding a system for traditional, but long forgotten, Irish sports. Among the sports you might enjoy are hurling and Gaelic football. Locally boys and girls can be seen during summer at "the pitch" in Tullycross. Connemara teams compete throughout Galway and regional teams compete in the All-Ireland finals each year.

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