Template:Infobox Irish Place Loughrea (Baile Locha Riach in Irish) is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies on Loch Riach, "the grey lake" although some say the name derives from Loch Riabhach which means "speckled lake" which seems more appropriate given its beauty. The town has a range of hills along its southern boundary.
The population of the town and its immediate hinterland is in the region of 4500, the town is undergoing a period of rapid expansion as it increasingly becomes a commuter town for the city of Galway. As of 2004 the town is widely known for its traffic hold-ups (commonly referred to by locals and passers through as "gridlock-rea"). This problem was largely resolved with the opening of a by-pass in December 2005. Loughrea was traditionally a farming town; however, it now hosts a number of pharmaceutical and data processing industries. Tourism and small cottage industries also play an important role.
Loughrea was served by a railway branch until 1975. The line was Ireland's last operational truly rural railway branch line, having outlasted most other country railway lines of this type by 10 - 20 years, and even surviving to have diesel trains used on it. The link road from the proposed Ballinasloe - Galway dual carriageway to Loughrea will obliterate most of the remains of the trackbed. Photographs of Attymon Junction to Loughrea railway trackbed
See also
List of towns in the Republic of Ireland Conchobar Maenmaige Ua Conchobhair
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