Clifden - The Capital of Connemara Nestling at the foot of Clifden Bay between mountains and the sea is the capital of Connemara. A small market town, it was founded by John D'Arcy in 1812 and grew rapidly in the first half of the nineteenth century. John D'Arcy's own home was Clifden Castle, a gothic structure now in ruins, situated on the Sky Road overlooking the sea. The Sky Road to the west of the town gives the most breathtaking views of the ocean, islands and mountains that one is ever likely to behold. At the Owenglen cascade, which is two minutes walk away from the town, one can witness salmon leaping upstream. To the south of the town is the site of Marconi's wireless station, opened in 1907 where the first wireless messages were exchanged with Nova Scotia. In 1919 the first non-stop transatlantic flight made by Alcock and Brown landed nearby. A monument, in the shape of the wing of the plane, stands on the Errislannon road and affords one a lovely view of the surrounding boglands.