Known as na Gaillimhe in Irish ("City of Galway") Galway City is located in County Galway in the West of Ireland. With a population of over 65,000 people, Galway is relatively small compared to the other Irish cities; however what it lacks in size it more than makes up for with character. Galway is very accessible from all over Ireland whether it is by road, rail or air. The city of Galway can be traced back to 1124 when Dn Bun na Gaillimhe ("Fort at the Mouth of the Gaillimh") was constructed. During the 1230s Galway was captured by the Anglo Norman Richard Mor de Burgh. During the Middle Ages Galway was a very important port town, particularly for trade coming form Spain and France. The city also had the miss-fortune to be captured by Cromwell until the city fell into the hands of the Williamites. The city declined into ruin and did not really recover until the beginning of the 20th century when economic prosperity returned. Galway has a rich tradition in Irish culture in its main three forms, Irish music, the Irish language and Irish dancing. Much of this richness of culture is due its location in close proximity to a nearby Gealtach (Irish speaking area.) If you are interested in Irish Music, many pubs will have traditional music at least once a week in Galway. The center of Galway is more or less built surrounding Eire Square which has recently been renovated. Often referred to as the 'city of pubs,' Galway's Eire Square is surrounded by Pubs and the compulsory fast food multiples. The night life here is second to none, and it is not unusual for people from all over Ireland to visit Galway to enjoy the nightlife. Galway is a city of two parts with the second being Salthill, a coastal resort which is famous for bumper cars and slot machines. It is not as tacky as it could be, and today Salthill has evolved into a more balanced offering with restaurants, cafes and bars along side a few remaining fun emporiums. What really marks Galway out from the other cities in Ireland are the streets in and around the center of Galway which are cobble stoned and and soaked in history. There are fantastic shops and bars along these streets and it is easy to spend an afternoon ambling around shopping and drinking coffee. If you are visiting Ireland, a visit to Galway is an absolute must. |
