The village of Abbey is situated 7 miles west of Portumna and 11 miles from Loughrea, south east of Galway city on the northern shore of Lough Rea. County Galway’s winner, for three years running, of Ireland’s Tidy Towns competition, the village of Abbey offers two pubs and a supermarket, and a monastery dating back to the 11th Century, from which the village takes its name. Portumna is nearby, offering good fishing and watersports, while the medieval town of Loughrea is host to several shops and pubs, two 4 star hotels, an 18 hole golf course and a lake, renowned for its fishing. Gort, is a medium sized market town on the Galway-to-Ennis Road, situated in a gap between the Slieve Aughty Mountains and the Burren to the south. There is a strong tradition of Irish music in the locality and many pubs stage sessions at night. With the cosmopolitan delights of Galway city and the popular beach at Salthill also within driving distance, this is an ideal touring base.