Take yourself back in time to the Bronze and Iron ages and stand among the stones and earth of the ancient ring forts in Galway and the Aran Islands. A ring fort, or rath, lios, caiseal, cathair and dún as they are also known, were fortified settlements which were prominent during the Bronze and Iron ages and were built using earth or stone. A ráth and lios often related to an earthen ring fort while caiseal, cathair and dún were typically associated with a stone fort.

It was believed that around 50,000 ring forts once existed in Ireland alone. Although many of these settlements have now disappeared over time, there are still several remains of both earth and stone forts to be seen across Ireland. In fact, some of the best preserved and impressive stone forts can still be found on the Aran Islands today.

Further to these forts, there are also a few remains of Souterrains still in existence in Ireland. A Souterrain was an underground structure often associated with settlements during the Iron age. Check out the different forts and settlements to be found throughout Galway below and get a sense of what life might have been like many centuries ago.