Galway, Ireland
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Galway, Ireland
For many travellers Galway is the highlight of their tour of Ireland, a land where traditional Irish culture is tangible, home to beautiful scenery and fascinating history.
On Ireland‘s Wild Atlantic west coast, Galway [Irish: Gaillimh] is Ireland‘s second-biggest county by area, and home to Galway City, the Republic of Ireland‘s third-biggest city. Galway is centre of traditional Irish culture, home to the country‘s largest Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) region, on the Connemara Peninsula and the Aran Islands.
Galway City developed as a major trading centre under Anglo-Norman rule in the Middle Ages. Thanks to its western location, it traded extensively with Spain. Today, much of the medieval city remains intact, a charming warren of narrow streets and ancient pubs. The city has a vibrant and arty vibe, thanks to a large student population and its reputation as a centre for traditional Irish music. Head into one of the city’s traditional pubs (or listen on the streets) and you’re likely to encounter a ‘trad’ session. In summer the city plays host to a number of festivals – devoted to music, film, and even oysters – and was declared a European City of Culture for 2020.
Outside of the city, Galway offers some of Ireland‘s very best scenery. To the east of the city are the classic landscapes of the Emerald Isle: rolling hills and farmlands, and the heritage town of Athenry. The more spectacular west forms part of Ireland‘s Wild Atlantic Way, particularly Connemara National Park, 2000 hectares of bog, mountains, heath, and woodlands, fringed by the wild Atlantic sea. The park includes the majority of the Twelve Bens mountain range. More remote than the similar Killarney National Park, Connemara National Park offers walks of a variety of different levels.
The Connemara area is also home to Kylemore Abbey, a neo-Gothic 19th century mansion evoking the romantic Irish castles of the Middle Ages, perfectly situated on the shores of Pollacapall Lough. The Abbey was built for a wealthy businessman from Great Britain, Mitchell Henry, who had spent his honeymoon in the area. Garden buffs will particularly enjoy the intricate walled Victorian garden, a short walk from the main house.
Galway’s coastline forms part of Ireland‘s famous Wild Atlantic Way: a rugged and beautiful stretch of coastline, all sheer cliffs and pristine beaches, overlooking remote Atlantic islands such as Skellig Michael. The Wild Atlantic route spans from Cork in the south, through the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in County Clare; before passing through Galway and remote Donegal, coming to an end at the Giant’s Causeway, in Northern Ireland.