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The West:Layout 1 02/05/2007 17:17 Page 173
CO. GALWAY
North of County Clare and stretching
MAYO
ROSCOMMON
from Ballinasloe in the midlands right
to the Atlantic coast, Galway City is
Renvyle
at the mouth of the River Corrib and
Clifden
Tuam
Oughterard
Roundstone Ballinasloe
the liveliest and most popular town
Athenry
GALWAY
Kinvara
on the west coast. The county’s
Loughrea
Clarinbridge
The Aran
extremely varied landscape ranges
Gort
Islands
Portumna
from inland farming plains to the
CLARE
TIPPERARY valleys and wild, rugged coastline of
Connemara. There’s excellent fishing
on Lough Corrib, the largest lake
south of the border. Offshore, the windswept Aran Islands comprise
the most extensive Irish-speaking community in Ireland.
Quality in Parking
Galway:
Eyre Square, Galway City.
Railway, Lough Atalia Road
(091) 530157
the town goes wild. Other annual events include the Cuírt Festival of
www.q-park.ie
Literature in April, the extravagant Galway Arts Festival in mid-July,
and the Galway International Oyster Festival at the end of September.
The Tourist Information Office on Forster Street off Eyre Square has
full details of these and other events and is open daily in summer and
year round from Mon. to Fri. 9am–5.45pm and Saturday
9am–12.45pm. Tel: (091) 537700.
Eyre Square itself is the geographical focal point of the east city. On
its west side is Browne’s Doorway, once part of the home of one of the
GALWAY CITY city’s great merchants and dating from 1627. The whole southern side
In Irish, Galway’s name means “stony river”, and it is thought the city of the square is taken up by the Great Southern Hotel. The Square has
had its early beginnings as a fishing village. In the area known as the recently undergone extensive renovation but continues to feature a
Claddagh, there was once a fishing community which lived by its own sculpture evoking a Galway hooker (fishing vessel), the JFK Memorial
laws and had its own style of dress. Although the old thatched Park, the Browne Doorway and the Liam Mellows statue.
cottages are long gone, the distinctive Claddagh ring is still worn on Number 8 Bowling Green, opposite the Lynch Memorial, was once
many hands, wherever the Irish are in the world. Over the centuries, the home of James Joyce’s wife, Nora Barnacle. There is a small
this ‘City of the Tribes’ (so called because of its 12 prosperous ruling museum dedicated to them both which is open in summer.
families) expanded to become a Norman walled town and by the 14th The 14th century Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas of Myra is off
century had developed into a thriving merchant centre whose ships Shop Street. It still retains its original form and is the biggest
traded as far afield as Spain and Portugal. The city was granted its medieval parish church in the country. Inside, the ornate tombs are
charter by King Richard II in 1396 when he proclaimed its people to well worth a visit. And it is said that Christopher Columbus came here
be his loyal subjects. Names to conjure with then and now, not all to hear Mass and pray some years before his voyage to the New World.
terribly Irish-sounding, are Browne, Joyce and Lynch. Spanish Arch was once a fish market and an extension of the city
In recent times, Galway has undergone a most unprecedented walls through which ships unloaded their cargo. Most of the produce
revival. It is a delightful, prosperous city filled with excellent pubs, that landed here came from Spain, hence the name. The Galway City
hotels and restaurants, brimming with history and adjacent to some of Museum at the arch is currently under construction. Check with the
the most remarkable landscapes in Ireland. A gateway to Connemara tourist office for openings. Also worth a visit is the Royal Tara Gift
and the West, Galway has a burgeoning arts, music, crafts and cultural Centre and families will enjoy the Galway Atlantaquaria in Salthill,
scene. During Galway Race Week, beginning on July 30th in 2007, Ireland’s largest aquarium.
Grattan Lodge
Quality Bed & Breakfast
LUXURY GUESTHOUSE
12 Grattan Park, Salthill, Galway
*All rooms en suite * Gourmet Breakfast
Tel: +353 91 589068
*Golf and Tour Groups * Parking
Fax: +353 91 582933
*B&B with dinner packages available
Approved by Irish Tourist board
Email: grattanlodge@eircom.net
Web: www.grattanlodge.net
Bistro & Wine Bar
Serving good food and wine all day
Ideally located Bed & Breakfast close to Galway City Centre
Ashford Manor, 7 College Rd. Galway
T: +353 (0) 91 569941, E: asfordmanor@esatclear.ie, W: ashfordmanor.ie
and with spectacular views of Galway Bay and Clare Hills
“only minutes from Galway city centre”
the west 173
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