Loughrea (/lɒxˈreɪ/ lokh-RAY; Irish: Baile Locha Riach, meaning 'town of the grey/speckled lake'), is a town in County Galway, Ireland.

It lies to the north of a range of wooded hills, the Slieve Aughty Mountains and Lough Rea, the lake from which it takes its name.

The town is in an area that was historically called Trícha Máenmaige, which was under the control of Ui Fhiachrach Fionn, and later of the Uí Maine.

[6] The modern town was founded in 1236 by Richard de Burgo, an Anglo-Norman knight who built a castle along an ancient route between the River Shannon and the west coast.

The Burghs even assumed the White Wand and the role of Irish clan chiefs in the following centuries, until 1543 when Ulick "Bourck, alias Mac William", embraced the surrender and regrant policies of Henry VIII, receiving it back to pass down under primogeniture with the new title, the Earl of Clanricarde.

They were not involved in any major battles and instead they mainly protected the local Sinn Féin Club members.

Loughrea was historically a farming town that cut its industrial teeth with the Tynagh mines, 10 km (6 mi) to the east.

Loughrea's tourist infrastructure is supported by several hotels, a country resort, as well as many bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants, coffee shops and pubs.

4,585 of the population are Irish nationals, with 143 British, 257 Polish or Lithuanian, 198 other EU 28, 217 rest of the world and 105 not stated.

Spring-fed Loughrea Lake (Lough Rea) is overlooked by Knockash and fished for brown trout, pike and perch.

The Loughrea dwellers in ancient times would have sought protection from raiders by living in the comparative security provided by the lake.

There is a stone relief sculpture in town, on Millenium House, West Bridge, of Stoney Brennan's face.

Actor Kiefer Sutherland has an affection for the town, twice visiting family as a young boy and is said to have been amazed at the skill of the players down at the handball alley.