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Gort is a rapidly expanding market town situated between Galway City and Ennis, and ideally located to explore the Burren and South Galway/North Clare. Nearby are the famous Coole Park (Nature Reserve and Heritage Centre) formerly the home of Lady Gregory and cradle of the Irish literary revival; Thoor Ballylee ( formerly the home of the poet W B Yeats ) and a small museum at Kiltartan Old School, the Gregory Museum. The town of Kinvara is only 9 miles / 15 km away, with its sea-angling and the Burren is easily accessible to the west. The town of Gort has been designated a heritage town, and its street-plan and shop-fronts (some of the finest examples of traditional shop-fronts in Ireland ) are the reason for this. Gort Heritage Centre located on Church Street is an invaluable resource for visitors and is open Thurs-Mon (closed Tues and Weds). Gort's market day is Friday, beware the mid-late afternoon traffic on this day especially in the summertime when the town receives more visitors and thru-travellers (Galway - Ennis). It is hoped that some of the town's traffic will be abated when a new by-pass is introduced. However, like many by-passes planned for the region in recent years, it seems to have faltered at its planning phase. The countryside around Gort is geologically interesting, being a porous limestone; the Gort River disappears and reappears a number of times before going underground for good just below the town. There are several turloughs (disappearing lakes) in the vicinity, which fill and empty with the rise and fall of the water-table in the ground.
A wide variety of accommodation is available to any visitor to the town or local area, Ireland Mid-West Online recommends Sullivan's Royal Hotel for those seeking hotel accommodation and the Burren View guesthouse for B&B seekers. There are also a number of great places to eat in Gort. Over 20 bars and several cafes and restaurants which have good friendly service and a wide choice of food; ranging from 'fast-food' to several-course meals.. The town has an interesting, small county library, recycling facilities and a Guardai station. There is also a Post Office, Bank of Ireland and an AIB (both with cash-point - ATM - facilities). With regards to health and community welfare, you'll find two doctor's surgerys, chemists and a Social Welfare office. Links |
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The important monastic settlement of 
