Summary of Attractions in Galway
A city adorned with canals along the Corrib River, Galway is endearingly known as the “City of the Tribes.” This moniker harkens back to the 14 families that dominated trade and governance in Galway from the 13th to the 19th centuries.
Intriguingly, remnants of these tribes still exist, exemplified by Lynch’s Castle, a fortified residence from the 16th century displaying the Lynch family crest prominently on its facade.
Galway serves as a hub for traditional Irish music, evident as you traverse the vibrant pedestrian thoroughfares of the Latin Quarter, teeming with buskers, where music and dance constantly enliven the pubs.
In the bay, sailing to the lush Aran Islands, which face the Atlantic, reveals an environment seemingly frozen in time for centuries. Meanwhile, the Wild Atlantic Way offers access to two National Parks within a 90-minute drive from Galway.
1. Latin Quarter
A curvilinear district of cobblestone paths in Galway’s historic center, the Latin Quarter stretches from O’Brien’s Bridge to the Spanish Arch on the River Corrib’s left bank.
Within this compact area, numerous beloved pubs, bars, restaurants, galleries, and shops attract visitors.
If you seek traditional Irish crafts, the Latin Quarter is a treasure trove, featuring establishments like the Galway Woollen Market that offers authentic knitwear made from locally sourced wool for your own projects.
Continuous performances by street entertainers create a cultural backdrop as you indulge in window shopping, sightseeing, or socializing at local bars.
2. Eyre Square
Galway’s primary public gathering space is situated just north of the Latin Quarter, originally a town green in front of the old gates designated for market activities.
In the 2000s, Eyre Square underwent substantial renovations, transforming it into a contemporary plaza.
Among the new artistic installations is the Quincentennial Fountain, featuring an abstract representation of one of Galway’s traditional sailing vessels known as the “Hooker.”
A bronze statue of Pádraic Ó Conaire, a prominent Irish-language writer, is a highlight, alongside a bust of John F. Kennedy, who was awarded the freedom of Galway.
The 14 Tribes of Galway are depicted with flags displaying their respective family colors.
The Eyre Square Centre, located on the square’s southern border, serves as Galway’s premier shopping venue, housing over 70 retail chains and dining options.
3. Quay Street
Descending towards the river, Quay Street is a lively pedestrian thoroughfare adorned with vibrant storefronts, fashionable boutiques, and outdoor terraces of bars and restaurants sheltered under canopies.
Regardless of the weather, lively buskers provide entertainment along the route.
The atmosphere in the pubs is energetic and inviting, often featuring live music, dance performances, and affordable prices, all while situated in the heart of the tourist area.
Among the bars and restaurants, one can discover shops like Twice as Nice, specializing in vintage clothing and wool, and the Wooden Heart next door, known for its handmade traditional wooden toys.
4. Salthill Promenade
Heading southwest from the city center, visitors will encounter the Salthill Promenade, which spans two kilometers and offers stunning views from the bay’s northern side.
If fortunate enough to walk the promenade on a clear day, one may see the outline of The Burren in County Clare and the peaks of Connemara in the northwest.
The area behind the promenade was used for agricultural purposes until the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, transitioning to early tourism in 1860 with the establishment of the Eglinton Hotel, still in operation today.
The promenade is lined with bars, seafood restaurants, and cafés, making it a favored destination for locals and visitors alike.
Guests can visit the Galway Atlantaquaria, managed by the National Aquarium of Ireland, or observe the colorful sails of yachts traversing the water during summer months.
5. Galway Cathedral
Upon viewing Galway Cathedral, one might mistakenly assume that this stately limestone structure is centuries old.
However, construction began in 1958 and concluded in 1965, situated on the site of the former city prison.
The architectural style reflects a mélange of influences: Romanesque in its unadorned walls and narrow semi-circular windows, Gothic in the ornate rose window above the main entrance, and Renaissance in the captivating dome reminiscent of Il Duomo di Firenze.
The cathedral’s stained glass windows were created by British artist Patrick Pollen, who also produced a mosaic featuring the crucifixion and St Joseph the Worker. The Virgin Mary is depicted by German-Irish sculptor Imogen Stuart.
6. St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church
This church, originating in 1320, stands as Ireland’s largest medieval parish church, offering regular services.
Dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of mariners, it is constructed from Galway’s signature gray limestone.
In the midst of the 17th century, the renowned genealogical compilation, Leabhar na nGenealach, documenting the heritage of Irish families, was written here.
The majority of the existing architecture dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, reflecting enlargement efforts made during this time.
Inside, evidence of iconoclasm from the Puritan troops of Oliver Cromwell during the 17th century can be found.
The baptismal font, dating from this era, features a carved image of a dog, while the oldest ledger stone in the church belongs to one Adam Bures, originating from the 1200s.
7. Galway City Museum
Situated by the Corrib River, the Galway City Museum opened in a new facility in 2007 and serves as a diverse and complimentary attraction, focusing on Galway’s archaeology, cultural history, art, and natural history.
A traditional Galway sailboat known as a “hooker” and the “Great Mace,” an impressive ornamental silver piece crafted in Dublin during the early 18th century, are on display.
Fragments from the 16th and 17th centuries can be explored in the “Medieval Stone Collection,” which includes corbels, plaques, coats of arms, chimney pieces, and two complete 16th-century fireplaces.
Additionally, a photography gallery chronicles the city’s evolution from the 1950s onward, along with artefacts such as pipes, bottles, and tin signs from local pubs dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries.
8. Kirwan’s Lane
Named after one of Galway’s 14 Tribes, Kirwan’s Lane is a charming thoroughfare nestled within the remnants of Galway’s ancient city walls.
This narrow pedestrian way meanders through a ravine adorned with rustic stone houses, some of which date back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
These edifices host a variety of pubs, restaurants, cafes, and artisan shops, with outdoor seating available during favorable weather.
At Busker Browne’s Pub, traces of the Dominican Slate Nunnery, donated by John Kirwan in 1686, can still be observed.
9. Spanish Arch
Positioned directly in front of the Galway City Museum are the last remaining arches of Ceann an Bhalla, also referred to as the Front Wall.
Known as the Spanish Arch, this structure was originally part of a defensive fortification extending from the old Martin’s Tower to the Corrib River, intended to protect Galway’s quays.
While the arches may not resonate as a monumental landmark, it is notable that they date back to 1584 and endured damage from the tsunami associated with the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake.
10. Corrib Princess River Cruise
From May to September, visitors can embark on a boat journey along the River Corrib, leading to the lake of the same name.
The Corrib River Princess operates twice daily from Woodquay in the heart of the city. This 90-minute excursion offers stunning views of the lush pastoral landscape, characterized by farms lining the lake’s southern and eastern shores and heath and bog on the northern and western banks.
The lake is renowned for its numerous islands, with the latest count exceeding 1,300.
As the river winds past, glimpses of Menlo Castle, a 16th-century estate that succumbed to flames in 1910 and is now completely enveloped in ivy, can be seen.
The Corrib Princess departs at 12:30 and 14:30, with an additional sailing at 16:30 during July and August.
11. Fishery Watchtower Museum
The only structure of its kind in Ireland, the Fishery Watchtower operates as a Victorian “draft netting station.” Constructed in a neo-Romanesque style in 1853, it was built to monitor fish stocks and detect any illegal fishing activities along the river.
“Draft netting” refers to a method of salmon fishing involving the suspension of a single net between the shore and a rowboat.
After renovations completed in 2015, the tower now houses a quaint free museum featuring fishing gear, historical photographs, and tanks for young salmon and elvers (eel larvae).
12. Lynch’s Castle
Located at the junction of Shop Street and Abbeygate Street, this imposing limestone building stands apart from its surroundings.
Lynch’s Castle, a fortified structure with origins tracing back to the 14th century, acquired its present architectural style in the 16th century.
This residence provided enhanced security against raids for the Lynch family, whose Anglo-Norman lineage made them one of the 14 tribes that wielded influence in Galway during that period.
In a notable historical episode in 1493, James Lynch Fitzstephen, then mayor, famously hanged his son from a window here for murdering a Spanish sailor.
The main facade features the Lynch family crest, complemented by another framed panel bearing the coat of arms of Henry VII, whose reign spanned from 1484 to 1509.
13. Wild Atlantic Way
Galway is situated along a celebrated tourist route that follows the western coast of Ireland for 2,500 kilometers, extending from the northernmost point at Malin Head to Kinsale Harbour in the south.
Approximately halfway along this route, Galway provides unparalleled access to extraordinary road trips in both northern and southern directions.
Travelers can venture into The Burren in County Clare, home to a unique glaciated karst landscape rich with spectacular limestone formations.
Proceeding northward leads to Connemara National Park, notable for its impressive mountain ranges which include over 50 peaks.
The cone-shaped Diamond Hill, accessible from the village of Letterfrack, offers one of Ireland’s premier hiking experiences, featuring a route past a 5,000-year-old burial site and culminating at a summit with breathtaking views of distant mountains and the sea.
14. Aran Islands
Located at the convergence of Galway Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, this cluster of rocky islands can be accessed by ferry.
During peak summer months, an efficient inter-island ferry service allows easy traversal between the islands.
The farming communities on the Aran Islands evolved through centuries of cultivating the land and enriching it with seaweed, resulting in an isolated, rural character distinctive in modern Europe.
Notably, Irish Gaelic remains the primary language spoken here.
The islands boast ancient forts such as the impressive Dún Aonghasa, perched on 100-meter-high cliffs on Inishmore.
Pastures are interspersed with centuries-old limestone dry-stone walls, and hiking trails guide visitors to cliff edges, beaches molded by the Atlantic’s force, old Medieval churches, and additional Neolithic forts.
15. Dunguaire Castle
Regarded as the most photographed castle in Ireland, this 16th-century tower house is indeed picturesque.
It is situated approximately half an hour from Galway on a promontory on the southern side of the bay, nearly surrounded by water.
Both the 23-meter tower and its surrounding wall were erected in 1520 by the Hynes Clan, a family with a millennium-long presence in the region.
The castle underwent restoration in the 1920s under Oliver St John Gogarty, whose guests included literary luminaries such as W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and George Bernard Shaw.
During the summer months, you can partake in a “Dunguaire Castle Banquet,” enjoying medieval-inspired cuisine while being entertained by live performances, particularly featuring the works of Yeats, Gogarty, and Shaw.
