Ballynahinch, County Galway Ballynahinch, County Galway Ballynahinch or Ballinahinch () is situated close to Recess in County Galway in the west of Ireland, on the road from Recess to Roundstone. It also lies on the route of the former railway line from Galway city to Clifden (the "Capital of Connemara"). The name comes from the Irish "Baile na hInse" meaning "settlement of the island". Ballynahinch Castle, built in the 17th century for the Martyn family, one of whose better-known members was 'Humanity Dick' founder of the RSPCA, has been used as a hotel since 1946. The Castle was originally built in about 1684
Galway music, song and dancing traditions. It is sometimes referred to as the 'Bilingual Capital of Ireland', although like elsewhere in the Republic of Ireland, inhabitants converse mostly in English. The city is well known for its "Irishness", mainly because it has on its doorstep the Galway Gaeltacht. Irish theatre, television and radio production and Irish music form a component of Galway city life, with both An Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre, in Galway city itself, while TG4 and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta headquarters are in the Connemara Gaeltacht elsewhere in County Galway. Four electoral divisions, or neighbourhoods (out of