Fly Fishing at Milltown Galway

One of Galway's tidiest towns

Milltown County Galway

Sunset on the River Clare in MilltownHeritage TrailRestaurants
Sli Na Slainte Walk
River WalkHeritage ParkCloondroon LakeThe River Clare
A picture the the River Clare going under the N17 at MilltownMilltown Drama SocietyMilltown BadmintonMilltown GAAKarateBrowniesKayakingAngling
Indoor SoccerAstro Turf PitchHandball AlleyBug HotelPlaygroundTennisBasketball

Latest News

Milltown Our Vision - Draft Plan

After a very successful "Milltown - Our Vision" workshop, the draft plan is available to view.  Any comments or observations can be sent to admin@millowngalway.com. Click here or the image below to view the report.
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Local Wildlife in Milltown

There were wildlife cameras installed along the River bank near the village recently.  Imagine our surprise to see what was found.  Keep your eyes peeled when you are walking along the river and through the countryside, you never know what…

Stories from the Waterside Competition

On Tuesday the 21st April 2020, the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) launched a national Storytelling Competition ‘Stories from the Waterside’ / ‘Scéalta Ó Thaobh An Uisce’. The competition is open to all with €4,000…
Fishing on the River Clare, Milltown

About Us

The village of Milltown is located on the N17 western corridor close to the Galway-Mayo border, 48km north of Galway City. The Clare River flows east-west through the village on its journey to the Corrib and is spanned by a fine limestone bridge built in 1856 as part of a Famine Relief Scheme. The present village is essentially a Sráid-Bhaile that has developed north and south of the bridge.

In former times the best ford crossing of the river was some fifty metres east of the present bridge and it was here that the De Birminghams built their castle to command and defend the ford. Near the castle, the old town grew up inhabited by castle retainers, tradesmen, stone-masons, smiths, weavers, tailors, horse boys, cowboys and corn millers.

Two mills were constructed along this stretch of the Clare River – O’Grady’s at Milltown and Birmingham’s at Lack- hence the name, the town of the mill or Baile an Mhuilinn. Milltown was called the town of the mill for at least four hundred years. Birmingham’s mill operated until the late 1800’s and O’Grady’s mill closed in the 1950s as a result of the Corrib Drainage Scheme.

The place we now know as Milltown made its first appearance in historical records in 1589. The eminent historian Hubert Knox points out in his History of Mayo that Sir Murrogh O’ Flahery and his army came to attack Edward Birmingham; they stormed the castle, burnt half of Milltown and destroyed the castle’s corn but failed to take the castle after a bloody fight. They then burnt sixteen other villages on their way back to Cong and seized three thousand cattle.

The low-lying and gently undulating landscape in the Milltown area is a rich and varied patchwork of green fields, raised bogs, small lakes and turloughs, rivers and streams, conifer plantation, woods and hedgerows, and low hills. Hidden from view is the karstified limestone with streams and channels that run below the surface. The natural environment influenced the pattern of human settlement in this area over the millennia, and people have shaped the land over the generations to produce the cultural landscape we see today.

In recent years, great progress has been made in restoring the angling resource in the area. Kayakers now frequent the river and walkers can enjoy a stroll through the award-winning Heritage Park, along the River Walk and Slí na Sláinte route. Local interest in history, archaeology and music has fuelled several heritage and cultural projects that celebrate local people, events and traditions.

Visitors to Milltown can avail of the many facilities and services the village has to offer including restaurants, pubs, shops, service stations, Post Office, accommodation and a Business Park.

Tidy Towns

MIlltown has won 3 gold medal awards in the national Tidy Towns Competitions.

  • National Tidy Towns Silver Medal 2016
  • National Tidy Towns Bronze Medal 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
  • County Award Winners 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996
  • County Award Runners Up 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013
  • County Heritage Award Winners
  • Pride of Place Awards Runners up – Category Three 2010
  • SuperValu Endeavour Award 1993
  • National Endeavour Award 1964

Heritage Awards

Milltown has won Heritage awards.

  • County Heritage Award Winners Jockey’s Monument (1686) Restoration 2011
  • Galway County Council Heritage Award Winners  Successful negotiations with farmers regarding River Walk extension 2010

Recycling Awards

Milltown has won awards for their efforts in recycling and environmental awareness

  • Value Water Awards Winners 2016
  • Repak PakMan Awards Finalists 2016
  • Pride of Place Awards Runners up – Category Three 2010
  • National Bring Bank Award Winners 2008
  • Fas Community Awards Western Region Special Merit 2002, 1999
  •  Gilbenkian Civic Trust Ireland Environmental Awards National Finalists River Clare Walk 1998
  • SuperValu Endeavour Award 1993
  • Ireland West Tourism Environmental Quality Awards Regional Award Winners River Clare Walk (Galway, Roscommon, Sligo) 1991
  • Ireland West Tourism Environmental Quality Awards County Award Winners River Clare Walk 1991