Bearna

Bearna
Village
The quay in the old part of the town
Bearna Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°15′N 9°09′W / 53.25°N 9.15°W / 53.25; -9.15Coordinates: 53°15′N 9°09′W / 53.25°N 9.15°W / 53.25; -9.15
Country	Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	County Galway
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)- from Census 2011
• Total	1,878
Irish Grid Reference	M232227
Bearna is the only official name. The anglicized spelling Barna has no official status.

Bearna (anglicized as Barna) is a Gaeltacht village in Connemara, west of Galway city in County Galway, Ireland, on the R336 regional road. Once a satellite of Galway city, the village is now rapidly becoming one of its suburbs. Officially the village is regarded as Irish speaking and is therefore a constituent part of the regions of Ireland that make up the Gaeltacht. However, because of its absorption into the city, it has recently become a mainly English speaking village. Nonetheless, Irish is still the main language of its western and northern hinterland and the village has now effectively become the gateway to the largest Irish speaking region in the country

To try to control the major development which has been undertaken in recent years, a very strongly supported local action group has been set up (Pobal Bhearna). In 1976 a community development group called Comharchumann Bearna Teo was formed after five local men put up the purchase money for 2 acres (8,100 m²) at Troscaigh Thiar to be used for community purposes and has succeeded in developing several recreational facilities.

There are 1,500 native Irish speakers in the Bearna ED. According to the 2011 census, 24% of Bearna's locals use Irish as a daily language.

Barna is twinned with Eskevien, Brittany, France. Also known as Esquibien (French)

At the time of the 2011 Census, the total population in this settlement was 1,878, of which Males numbered 920 and Females were 958. The total housing stock was 772, of which vacant households numbered 98. With an approximate area of 1.89 km², this settlement has a 2011 population density of 994 persons per km².

People of note:

Ruairí O'Gorman -- Co-creator of the Quartet of 5 and student in Colaiste Iognaid Galway.

The total population of the Bearna Electoral District (ED) designated as 27044 was 3,630, of which Males numbered 1804 and Females were 1826. The total housing stock was 1363, of which vacant households numbered 142.

There are numerous sporting clubs active in the Bearna area. Barna GAA are one of the largest sports groups in the village fielding gaelic football teams in men's and ladies' competitions. Other Clubs in the parish are Bearna/Na Forbacha hurling club and Barna United soccer club. Notably, Cormac Folan of Freeport in Bearna represented Ireland in Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Bearna Golf Club, two miles north of the village, is a moorland 18 hole golf course with over 400 members.