DESTINATION - Galway

The quality of life, light and landscape weave a magical spell over visitors who come to the West of Ireland. The County of Galway is endowed with great natural beauty and the region has a living Gaelic culture, with strong Irish-speaking communities.

The second largest county in Ireland, Galway is set on the west coast. Its heavily indented Atlantic coastline provides a myriad of wide bays, sheltered harbors, deep fjords and island clusters. Lough Corrib, Ireland’s second-largest lake, divides the county in two—the fertile farmlands, with their traditional dry stonewalls in the east, and mountainous Connemara, where the Irish culture and language thrives, in the west. At the mouth of Galway Bay lie the three Aran Islands—Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer, whose inhabitants also maintain a distinctly Gaelic culture. Towering mountain ranges such as the Twelve Bens and the Maamturks enrich the west coast of the county.

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History of Galway

Galway originated as a crossing point on the River Corrib, giving an access to Connemara denied further north by the Lough. It was seized by the Norman family of De Burgos in the 13th century and developed as a strong Anglo-Norman colony, ruled by an oligarchy of 14 families. They maintained control despite continual attacks by the belligerent Connacht clans.

Galway was granted a charter and city status in 1484 by Richard III and was proudly loyal to the English Crown for the next two hundred years. During this time the city prospered, developing a flourishing trade with the continent, especially Spain. However, its loyalty to the monarch ensured that when Cromwellian forces arrived in 1652 the place was besieged without mercy. It was Cromwell who coined the originally derisory term "the fourteen tribes of Galway". This didn't worry the Irish, who returned the disdain by proudly adopting the name as a title.

The history of Claddagh, a fishing village that existed long before Galway was founded alongside it, is quite distinct from that of the city proper. An Irish-speaking village of thatched cottages, Claddagh was fiercely independent, having its own laws, customs and chief. Boat-building skills are still passed down through generations, though of course this work has massively declined, and the old vessels known as Galway hookers are now used more by boating enthusiasts than for fishing. It is from here that the famous Claddagh ring originates, worn by Irish people all over the world.

Exploring Galway
Galway is experiencing a real growth in artistic activity, and it’s at its most vibrant during The Galway Arts Festival. During the last two weeks in July, practitioners of theatre, music, poetry and the visual arts create a rich cultural jamboree. There’s plenty to detain you year round too: the king of all Galway festivals, the riotous Galway Races usually takes place during the first week in August. At the end of September, the Galway Oyster Festival completes the annual round.

With its narrow streets, old stone shop-fronts and bustling pubs, Galway city is a delight. It is the west coast’s liveliest and most populous settlement, and the administrative capital of County Galway. Its university attracts a notably bohemian crowd, and its boisterous nightlife keeps them there. Galway’s tightly packed town center lies on both sides of the river Corrib; most of the main shopping areas are east of the river. Among the many interesting stone buildings are Lynch’s Castle, a townhouse which dates in part back to the 14th century, and the Spanish Arch, all that remains of the city’s old walls.

Galway is the home of the versatile Druid Theatre Company in Chapel Lane; a relatively young company, it produces 6 new plays a year—many of them new works by Irish authors. The most exciting artistic development of recent years has been the emergence of the local street theatre troupe Macnas. This internationally acclaimed group have elevated the art of street theatre to new heights; to watch one of their flamboyant street performances is a truly exhilarating experience. The Galway Arts Center, Nun’s Island, is used as a performance space for dance, theatre and music. It’s also a good place to find out what's going on in the arts locally.

A hugely successful development in Galway is the Design Concourse Ireland off Cross Street. Housed in a beautifully restored medieval town house, it stocks the best of contemporary Irish design, including jewelry, furniture and tweed from both the Republic and the North. Salthill, Galway’s seaside resort, is replete with amusement arcades, discos, seasonal cafés and a fairground—as well as scores more hotels and B&Bs.

Some Ireland Fund Grantees in Galway

Inishbofin Development
Inishbofin Development is dedicated to enhancing the social, cultural, and economic life of the island of Inishbofin. Assistance from The Ireland Funds has been used for a bi-annual arts festival bringing music, art exhibitions, drama, and teaching workshops to the island. In addition they have brought adult education classes, a women’s group, FAS scheme, swimming classes, conservation programs and playgroups.

Galway Simon Community
Since 1979 the Galway Simon Community (GSC) has provided a range of services to people who are homeless. It provides supported housing with care for 20 people, incorporating a resettlement unit for up to 7 residents, 2 move-on projects, and a high support residential unit. The organization also has an outreach service, a soup run and a charity shop. The GSC is expanding the charity shop floor space and building three units of social housing overhead. By increasing the floor space it will allow the organization to sell furniture–a far more profitable endeavor than selling clothes, the shop’s current stock. GSC has used funds from The AIF to purchase fixtures and fittings that are required for the shop to generate more revenue. Early in 2004 the GSC plans to introduce additional transitional housing project providing move-on accommodation for women who have been in the Women’s Project.

Ellis Tate Center For The Arts
Provision for the arts in North West Connemara is sadly lacking. People have to travel over 50 miles to the nearest cinema or theater yet when touring companies have visited the area they have been met with large and responsive audiences, albeit in unsuitable venues. Having identified that there was a tremendous need for some kind of an arts center in North West Connemara, a group of local residents got together and set up a structure in which to develop their planned project. An old grain store was purchased in the village of Letterfrack with the plan of converting it into an arts center for the community. Funding has been used to complete three artists’ studios. The facilities now include an auditorium, an exhibition space, workshop / studio space and a cafe. The auditorium is an adaptable space suitable for theater, film screenings, concerts, lectures and recitals. It also doubles to house exhibitions by local and visiting artists.

The Irish Wheelchair Association
The Irish Wheelchair Association was founded in 1960 by a small group of wheelchair users who wanted to do something about their exclusion from all aspects of life. It is a national organization dedicated to the achievement of full social, economic and educational integration of people with disabilities as equal, independent and participative members within the general community. The IWA offers a wide range of services, such as peer counseling, day resource centers/clubs, independent living apartments and respite care/holiday breaks. Support from The AIF has allowed the association to develop a library of resource materials, particularly audio-visual equipment and specialist books not available in Ireland.

Galway -The Essentials

Population
Galway city has a population of 67,270. Galway county has a total population of over 140,000.

Weather
Galway has a mild, temperate climate. Showers can occur at any time of the year, but usually pass quickly. Average temperatures in summer range from 16-20°C / 60-67°F and in winter, from 4-7°C / 39-44°F.

City Transport
You're almost bound to arrive in Galway at Eyre Square, also known as the J.F. Kennedy Memorial Park. The Bus Éireann and train stations are off the south side of the square, while the tourist office is nearby on Forster Street.

Business Hours
Most businesses are open Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm. Stores are open Monday - Saturday 9am to 6pm with late opening on Thursday and Friday until 9pm. Many city center stores open on Sunday from 12pm to 6pm.

Pubs
Official opening hours for pubs are 10.30am to 11.30pm, Monday to Wednesday. Closing is at 11.30am Thursday to Saturday, and 11.00pm on Sunday.

Top Tourist Attractions
The Aran Islands

Dún Aenghus on Inishmore

Aughrim Interpretative Center

Castles: Athenry Castle, Aughnanure Castle, Bunowen Castle–once the home of Grace O’Malley, Dunguaire Castle, Portumna Castle and Forest Park, Claregalway Abbey

Connemara National Park

Coole Park (the home of Lady Gregory and birthplace of the Irish Literary Renaissance)

Killary Harbor (Ireland’s best-known fjord and location of Kylemore Abbey)

Rosmuck (with its memorial cottage in honor of 1916 Rebellion leader Padraig Pearse)

Thoor Ballylee (the home of W.B. Yeats and inspiration for his poems in ‘The Tower’)