Galway
Harbour City On Galway Bay, Medieval Town Of The Tribes Of Galway, European Capital Of Culture 2020 And The Gateway To Connemara And The Aran Islands · Galway, Galway
Galway is the lively harbour city of the west of Ireland, where the River Corrib runs fast into Galway Bay. Its small medieval core was run for centuries by fourteen merchant families, the Tribes of Galway, and their stone townhouses, lanes and the church of St Nicholas still shape the Latin Quarter. People come for the atmosphere more than any single sight: buskers on Shop Street, trad music sessions every night, oysters and chowder, the Spanish Arch and the colourful Long Walk, the Claddagh with its famous ring, and the long seafront promenade at Salthill. A young, arty university town and European Capital of Culture 2020, it packs the summer with festivals - the Arts Festival in July, the Races around the start of August, oysters in September. It is also the base for day trips to Connemara, the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher. The honest caveats: it is one of the wettest cities in Ireland, hotel prices soar during festival weeks, and the centre is loud with hen and stag parties on summer weekends.
Galway city centre, from Eyre Square along Shop Street and Quay Street to the Spanish Arch, the Claddagh and the Salthill promenade, Galway, Galway, Ireland
A city open all year. Shops mostly open about 09:00-18:00, later on Thursdays and from about noon on Sundays; pubs open until about 23:30, later at weekends, and music sessions usually start after 21:00. Galway City Museum opens most days except some Mondays (confirm). Trains from Dublin Heuston take about 2-2.5 hours to Ceannt Station; coaches from Dublin city and Dublin Airport take about 2.5 hours. Book hotels months ahead for the Arts Festival (July) and Race Week (around the August bank holiday).