Oranmore (Irish: Órán Mór) is a village in County Galway on the outskirts of the city of Galway in the west of Ireland. With its major housing developments, Oranmore is rapidly becoming a part of Galway's commuter or suburban belt.
Map of Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland
Oranmore is 9 km (5.6 mi) east of Galway City on the edge of Oranmore Bay, an inlet of Galway Bay.
Oranmore is the anglicisation of Uarán Mór. The first written record of Oranmore is in the Annals of the Four Masters. It was originally called Fuarán Mór ("Great Spring" in Irish). The name refers to a spring to the northwest of the main village. A bi-lingual information sign was erected by Oranmore Community Development Association in 2010 outlining the history of the spring.
The focus of industry has shifted from dairy agriculture to tourism, manufacturing and logistics. Oranmore now has four hotels and several restaurants.
Oranmore Judo Club trains in Oranmore Community Hall, Wednesdays and Fridays, Juniors – 6.30 – 7.30pm; Seniors – 7.30 – 8.30pm afterward (Sept – July).
Galway Bay Sailing Club is in Renville, Maree.
Oranmore-Maree GAA Club has active gaelic football, hurling and camogie
Naomh Mhuire Ladies Football Club, Oranmore Maree run teams from Under 10 to Minor and Junior.
Oranmore Badminton Club
Maree Badminton Club
Maree Basketball Club
Galway Bay Golf Resort in Renvile, Oranmore
Oranmore railway station opened on August 1, 1851, closed on June 17, 1963 and reopened on Sunday July 28, 2013. Trains connect directly with Galway, Athenry, Athlone, Portarlington, Kildare and Dublin Heuston, as well as on the Western Rail Corridor to Ennis and Limerick.
Bus Éireann, Citylink and Nestor Bus services through Oranmore serve Galway, Dublin, Cork and Dublin and Shannon Airports.
Oranmore village is near the old N6 Galway to Dublin road and the N18/N20 from Galway to Limerick. The new M6 Motorway connects to the existing road at Doughiska and will, in the future, connect with the M18 at Glenascaul. The former N6 leading into Oranmore has been reclassified as the R446 regional road. The M18 motorway is in the planning stage and as proposed would connect to the new M6 at Rathmorrissey at a three level interchange. This road will run close to Oranmore but will not connect directly to it, and instead motorists will have to access it using the existing N18 at Kiltiernan or the M6 at Rathmorrissey.
Oranmore aerodrome was a Royal Air Force base in World War I. It later became a civil airfield serving the city of Galway.
Joseph Henry Blake, nobleman and socialist, grew up on a nearby estate in Treanlaur, Maree.
Thomas Nicholas Redington, Irish politician, born here.
Joe Howley, Irishman involved in the struggle for Irish Independence, was killed by the British in December 1920. A statue stands in Oranmore in his honour.
Bill King, round-the-world sailor and owner of Oranmore Castle.
