Connemara ( ) is a district in the west of
Ireland, the boundaries of which are not well defined. Some define it to be the land contained by
Killary Harbour, the Maam Valley,
Lough Corrib (as far as
Moycullen); a line from there to the sea at
Barna and the
Atlantic Ocean. The historical territory of Connemara, as defined by the 17th century historian
Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh in his book
West or H-Iar Connaught, was coextensive with the barony of Ballynahinch, This is a broad peninsula stretching from
Killary Harbour on the north to Kilkieran Bay on the south. The boundary runs from the north along the spine of the
Maumturk Mountains then along a series of small rivers and across upland west of
Maam Cross eventually following the course of the Invermore river before meeting the sea west of the
Ros Muc peninsula.