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Aran Islands

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The three islands of Inishmore, Inishman and Inisheer stretch across the mouth of Galway Bay. Fishing is the main industry and tourism a close second. Old island traditions live on; the currach is still used by some for fishing and for the summer currach races. Most island women knit the traditional Aran sweater and pass on the skill. Gaelic is the first language among the islanders but most are bilingual. The islands are a paradise of flora and fauna. Inishmore is a vast open-air museum, rich in archaeological and monasitc sites. Civilization has existed here for over 4,000 years and the landscape is dotted with the remains of settlements, chapels and forts, the best example being Dn Aongus. The Aran Islands are considered part of the Connemara region of County County Galway.