In the south-east of Co. Galway, Portumna is the main town with Boula and Gortanumera nearby. The scenic area is home to the beautiful Forest Park, the recently restored Portumna Castle and the historic Irish Workhouse Centre. Also, a tourist destination for boaters and anglers who can take a trip on the Shannon River or head to nearby Lough Derg and go kayaking, windsurfing or water skiing. In addition to long distance walking and cycling trails, there are a number of successful active sports clubs: GAA, golf, rugby, soccer and tennis.

Only six miles from Portumna, Woodford and Looscaun are situated between the Shannon River and the Slieve Aughty mountains, with three ancient oak forests and the ruins of a ring-fort over a thousand years old. The area has ample tourist accommodation, a popular restaurant/function venue, several quaint pubs, a grocer, hardware, two post offices, a garden nursery, three schools, a playground and two churches. You can learn more about Woodford’s past at the Heritage Centre, where you can also trace your ancestry with the help of the East Galway Family History Society.

Abbey and Duniry are located between Portumna and Loughrea, it is home to the ruins of the 13th century Abbey of Kilnalahan, unique in being the site of the sole foundation of the Carthusian Order in Ireland. Close by is a long established holy well, The Ladywell, which is still visited by pilgrims and Mass held at certain times of the year. Look out for the colourful mural just past the village square and don’t leave without a visit to Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese.

Both about 10kms from Portumna, Tynagh is a vibrant farming village with a national school, church, Gordons’ restaurant, Harney’s pub and and the well-known Pallas Karting go-kart track. Historic features include Pallas Castle and Tynagh Mines now occupied by Tynagh Power Plant. Killeen also has its own church and national school and the award winning Killeen Cheese. Historic features include Flowerhill House & Equestrian Centre, Killeen House (Eva of The Nation, Ballyshrule) and the peaceful place that is Kilcorban Cemetery (Kilcorban Madonna now held in Museum Loughrea) The main sporting Club in the parish is (TAD) Tynagh Abbey Duniry Hurling and Camogie Club.

The main Ballinasloe to Portumna road runs north/south through the centre of this parish. Tiernascragh is known as the land at the head of the esker or sand hill, formed as a result of the Ice Age and is the main feature of the town land. The parish graveyard is sited on the esker and contains the ruins of the earliest known church dated to the 17th century. The town of Killimor is on the N65 between Loughrea and Portumna. A wealth of research has been carried out in their Heritage Centre over the past ten years resulting in the publication of Killimor Our Parish and Our People. They have a national school, church, post office, public library, health centre, supermarket, pharmacy and restaurant.