Galway

Understand

thumb | 300px | Galway's Quay St

Galway expanded from a small fishing village from the 13th century, when the Anglo-Normans captured the area and built a fortified city. A charter of 1396 granted power to 14 merchant families, and this elite would later be mocked by Cromwell as "tribes", hence the nickname "City of the Tribes".

This illustrious 14, now immortalised in the names of the city roundabouts, were Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'arcy, Deane, Font, Ffrench, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris, and Skerritt. All but two were Anglo-Norman rather than Gaelic. They're often described as an oligarchy, cartel or cabal, but by medieval standards 14 influential families operating an urban centre looks positively diverse. Imagine the Medici welcoming the Borgias and Sforzas to Florence: "Sure the city is big enough for all of us, and let's bring in the Albizzi, the Alberti...." They prospered through trade with Spain and Portugal, and by loyalty to the Crown, but that was the reason for Cromwell besieging and smashing the city. They recovered somewhat during the Restoration, but fell forever with the ousting of the catholic Stuart monarchy.

Under the Hanoverian kings, power and fortune throughout Ireland centred on a tight little "Protestant Ascendancy", just to show everyone what a cartel or cabal really looks like. Sea trade also moved away to Dublin and Waterford. Galway stagnated until the 20th century, recovering slowly with independence, and more rapidly later wit…

Get around

300px|thumb|alt=Galway Cathedral across a river with bright green plants in the foreground.|Galway Cathedral from across Salmon Weir bridge

Walk: Central Galway is easily accessible on foot, and Salthill is a pleasant 30-minute walk from the centre, down the Prom to Blackrock.

Taxis: there are ranks in Eyre Square and Bridge Street. Fares are nationally regulated and taxis must use the meter. You can use the TFI website to calculate rates. Bike: TFI Bikes operates bike share in Galway. As of 2025, prices are €3 for a 3-day pass (with a €150 deposit!). The pass includes unlimited 30-minute journeys, and reasonably priced amounts for longer rides. While drivers are fairly considerate of bicycles, there is limited bicycle-specific infrastructure in the city.

Try not to bring a car into town, it's congested and has limited, expensive parking. Central parking lots include Dyke Road and at the Cathedral.

See

thumb | 300px | Salthill: Get in without a boat

Do

What's on? Listen to Galway Bay Radio on 95.8 FM, or read This is Galway, or the Galway Advertiser online or in print (free) on Thursdays. Walk: Stroll along the banks of the River Corrib and the Eglington Canal, or along the promenade to the diving platform at Salthill, or out along the causeway to Mutton Island. Guided walks: Galway Civic Trust have 90-min walks May–Sep on Tu Th at 2PM, W at 12:30PM and 2PM and F at 11AM starting from Hall of the Red Earl and finishing at Eyre Square. Donations welcome, no booking. thumb | 300px | The Galway Races Kayaking is a choice of gentle paddles on the upper river and lough, sea kayaking, and white water on the lower Corrib right in the heart of the city. The white water flow depends on recent rainfall and the status of the locks above. There's a standing wave at O'Brien's Bridge to test your sense of humour, and the Eglinton Canal rejoins the river at the Jury Drop: it faces Jurys Inn Hotel (now Leonardo's), where onlookers can express their verdict on your skill. Golf: Galway GC is in Salthill. Further out are Bearna, Glenlo Abbey and Galway Bay. Rugby Union: Connacht Rugby are one of the four Irish professional teams playing in the United Rugby Championship (formerly Pro14), the European and predominantly Celtic tournament. Their home stadium is The Sportsground, capacity 8000, a mile northeast of the centre. Gaelic games: the County GAA team plays Gaelic football and hurling at Pearse Stadium (capacity 26,200), in Salthill 2 km …

Buy

Middle Street, parallel to Shop Street, is good for creative independent outlets, including Charlie Byrne's Bookshop and Kenny's gallery/bookshop.

Eat

thumb | 300px | Nora Barnacle met Joyce in Dublin

Grain & Grill is within Maldron Hotel, see Sleep. Serves food daily noon–9PM (Sa Su 12:30–9PM). Others worth trying are Finnegans on Market St and Kirwan's Lane Seafood.

Drink

thumb | 300px | King's Head on High St

See also Galway City Pub Guide for current reviews, photos and videos. Galway Hooker is the local beer, brewed since 2014 at Oranmore at the head of Galway Bay. It's a chemical-free pale ale: "We couldn't afford chemicals." They don't do brewery tours but the product is widely available. Others worth a look: Blue Note on West William St, Tigh Chóilí on Mainguard St, and Front Door on Cross St.

Sleep

thumb | 300px | Claddagh Rings are with crown or without As Galway is a popular destination, there's a large selection of accommodation in all price brackets.

Stay safe

As elsewhere in Ireland dial 112 or 999 for emergencies. To report non emergency crime you can contact the local Garda Station (+353 91 538000 for Millstreet and general Galway City or +353 91 514720 for Salthill). A Garda can also take a report of a crime from you in person in any station.

Galway is a safe town by any standards, but give the swerve to damnfool drunks.

Galway is very accepting of LGBTQ+ people, so if you're a same-sex couple you should have absolutely no concern about displaying your affection in public. In fact, you might even get compliments that you make a cute couple! Trans people should have no issues either, every now and again there are isolated incidents of insults and the like, but they never involve violence and you should pay these no mind. There's probably no place in the world where LGBTQ+ people never get insulted ever, but Galway is probably one of the places where it happens the least.

Connect

As of 2025, Galway has 5G with all Irish carriers.