Ireland is famous for its pubs, and Galway’s pubs are some of the liveliest in the country. Treat yourself to a pint of Guinness, and before finishing your drink, you’ll be chatted up by friendly locals or stomped to the beat of an Irish jig played by a local band.
Head into Galway city center and you will be dazzled. Tigh Neáchtain on Cross Street is a good place to start. With its warm nooks, crannies, knick-knacks and mementos, this is the bar that seems to be emulating every bar in the world.
The pressed-tin ceiling and stained-glass windows at O’Connell’s are another charm. Murphy’s and Garavan’s are other local favourites, the latter known for its fine whiskey selection.
Be sure to sample the local Galway Hooker Irish Pale Ale. It’s named after a local boat, is brewed locally, and is available on cask at every pub. Avoid Guinness and order a Hooker in Galway and you’ll make friends for life.
If your idea of Irish music is Ed Sheeran singing about Galway Girl, then you were educated locally in Galway. The city lives and breathes music and is considered the spiritual home of traditional Irish music.
From street performers on street corners to rowdy traditional Galway is filled with violins, tin whistles and Bodlanda unique handheld drum made of goat leather.
Finding a live show is actually as easy as pricking up your ears and following the music. Almost every bar in town offers live music, and buskers are great too.
Having said that, some bars are more regarded by locals than others.grab a suitable spouse (traditional concerts and dances, pronounced “kay-lee”) at Tig Cóilí, Taaffes, The Crane Bar and An Púcán. Upbeat music, boozy singing and upbeat jigs are guaranteed to make for a great evening.
With its main street of colorful buildings and medieval arches, Galway has become one of the most beautiful places in Ireland.
But it’s a base from which to explore some of the most stunning scenery in Ireland. The wild beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Aran Islands and Connemara are all within easy reach.
follow wild atlantic road Get out of town and you’re in for a treat. The cascading Cliffs of Moher are majestic and fascinating, especially in stormy weather when the Atlantic is raging.
Burren’s rocky lunar landscape is unlike any other in the country. Connemara National Park is a world unto itself – a swamp, empty valleys and placid lakes, dotted with cozy pubs warmed by peat fires to beat the chill.
Galway has always been a cultural centre: a place that attracted painters, musicians and other artists and allowed them to create.
Arguably Ireland’s most bohemian city, it has a rich and full calendar of festivals and events, including an annual comedy festival, Loughrea Medieval Festival, a jazz festival, one of Ireland’s largest St Patrick’s Day parades and of course There is the famous Galway horse racing.
This heritage will receive an even greater boost in 2020 as Galway serves as European Capital of Culture. It will be Ireland’s largest ever cultural event, kicking off with a week-long “Hot Celebration” in February and hosting more than 1,900 events throughout the year.
Expect French trapezemen to perform daring acts in Eyre Square, Finnish light artists to illuminate the Connemara Mountains, Homer’s Odyssey to be performed on the beach, and a giant mirror pavilion set in the swamp. And music. lot music.
You can’t visit Galway without trying the world famous oysters. Harvested from the clean, clear Atlantic waters, they are fat and salty and sought after by chefs around the world. Such is their prominence that a long-running festival, the Galway Oyster and Seafood Festival, is held every September in their honor.
To be honest, all the seafood in Galway has a touch. Delicious West Coast monkfish is a signature dish at Oscars, a popular seafood bistro in town. West Coast crab is also delicious, a good reason to try Kai, the trendiest cafe in town. Nimmos’ Michelin-starred Ard Bia uses only locally sourced fish of the day.
Fresh seafood can also be sampled more casually. Held in the shadow of the medieval church of St Nicholas, the weekend market offers street food including sushi, curries and Mediterranean dishes. McDonald’s fish and chips are addictive. If you’re in town in late March, the Galway Food Festival can give you an overview of the food scene in this part of Ireland.
