Galway Guide
Don’t be put of by its craggy, weather-beaten shores; Galway is one of Ireland’s most hospitable cities. With various festivals on throughout the year, the city always buzzes with activity; sports fans will love the Galway Races, culture vultures will lap up the Arts week and Film Fleadh, and foodies will adore the International Oyster Festival. Galway is also home to the largest medieval parish church in Ireland, St Nicholas Collegiate Church, built in 1320. Christopher Columbus is said to have worshipped here in 1477, and it is still in use.
By day, discover quaint landmarks, embedded along the rocky coast, each with a connection to Ireland’s great literary tradition; from Thoor Ballylee, a Norman Tower on the Galway-Limerick Road, bought by the poet Yeat’s in 1917, to the Nora Barnacle Museum, the home of James Joyce’s wife. The neighbouring Aran Islands, unique, sparsely populated pockets of Ireland’s past, were immortalized in the work of playwright JM Synge, and make a wonderful day trip. Take a plane to Inis Mor, the largest of the three islands, and witness tiny fields edged with crumbling stone walls. If you want to stay longer, Celtic Spirit, www.irish-culture.ch offer traditional holidays in the region, where you can immerse yourself in a forgotten culture, by learning basket weaving, set-dancing and the Irish language.
By night, stroll along the main streets and you are greeted by buskers, stilt-walkers and a carnival atmosphere. Eyre Square is the place to meet and greet, before heading off to a number of local bars - the boutique g hotel has an excellent cocktail bar with eccentric décor. For dinner, walk for a mile along the coastal road to Salthill village, where Da Roberta’s serve excellent Tuscan cuisine. For comforts closer to home, nothing beats a steaming plate of Fish and Chips, and many of the pubs and restaurants in the city centre only serve locally sourced food. You can shop til you drop at The Royal Tara China Visitor Centre, in Mervue, 3km from Galway, the leading manufacturer of bone china in Ireland, with free tours every hour, and an excellent gift shop. For less fragile souvenirs, Cobwebs in the city centre stocks vintage and antique costume jewellery, handbags, teddies and other curios.
Planning Your Stay: The chicest hotels in Galway are the Radisson SAS www.radissonsas.com and the stylish g hotel www.theghotel.ie, with a five-star spa. If you’re travelling on a budget, try www.goireland.com for cheaper hotels .
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