| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
Galway, which has an affluent, artsy population of 70,000, is one of Ireland's most prosperous cities and also one of its most appealing. It is a busy workaday town, but it also has a lively art and music scene that has made it the unofficial arts capital of the country. The excellent Galway Arts Festival, held every summer, is an accessible, buzzing culture fest. It's not surprising that Galway attracts droves of visitors, but it does so without alienating its long-standing population or losing its character. Tucked between the Atlantic and the navy blue waters of Lough Corrib, Galway was founded by fishermen. After an invasion by the Anglo-Norman forces of Richard de Burgo in the early 13th century, it walled itself in, as so many cities did then, although little remains of those old stone walls. In the center of town, on Shop Street, is Lynch's Castle, dating from 1490 and renovated in the 19th century. It's the oldest Irish medieval town house used daily for commercial purposes (it's now a branch of the Allied Irish Bank). The stern exterior is watched over by a handful of amusing gargoyles. Walk northwest 1 block to Market Street and you'll see the Lynch Memorial Window in a wall above a built-up Gothic doorway. It commemorates the tragic story of the 16th-century Galway mayor James Lynch FitzStephen, who condemned his own son to death for the murder of a Spanish merchant. After finding no one to carry out the deed, he acted as executioner. The act destroye
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | The centre of the city of Galway is dominated by waterways; it's not altogether surprising, therefore, that the original name of the town was Baile na tSruthain , meaning "town of the rivers". Its present name seems to have derived from the river Galoia, or Galvia, which according to folklore took its name from a beautiful woman who drowned in its waters. That name eventually evolved into the Irish Galliamh , which was then anglicised to Galway. Galway was not an established town until after the invasion of the Normans under the De Burgos toward the end of the twelfth century. By 1270, the city walls were under construction, encircling an area of around 25 acres. Over the next two centuries this compact, easily defended town was established. The town began to expand with merchants, servants and tradesmen crossing the Irish Sea to seek their fortunes. Native Irish landowners were gradually dispossessed and forced into the wilds of Connemara, west of the city. By 1450, Norman castles, or Tower Houses , were built to the east of the town. Trade, both local and international, thrived. Certain families, or tribes, came to the fore due to business success and involvement in local affairs. Over time, the most prominent fourteen tribes—Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'Arcy, Deane, Ffont, Ffrench, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris and Skerrett became closely identified with the city; hence Galway is often referred to as The City of the Tribes . Keep a look out for
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There: By Air: Shannon International Airport ( +353 61 71 2000 / http://www.snn.aero ) and Knock International Airport ( +353 1850 67 2222 / http://www.knockairport.com ) provide the most convenient international service into Galway from outside the UK. Both airports are about a 90-minute drive from Galway. Galway Airport ( +353 91 755 569 / http://www.galwayairport.com ) is a regional airport located 6 km from the City Centre and offers service to and from domestic and select international destinations such as London, Manchester and Paris from airlines including: Aer Arann ( http://www.aerarann.com ) British Airways ( http://www.loganair.co.uk ) Euromanx ( http://www.euromanx.com ) The taxi rank is located right outside the main terminal building. Galway Taxi company Big O run the taxi service at Galway Airport and fares run around EUR20-30 to Galway City Centre. Budget Car Rental ( +353 9066 2 7711/ http://www.budget.ie ) operates from Galway Airport. By Bus: Bus Eireann ( +353 91 562 000 / http://www.buseireann.ie ) takes care of most of the long haul domestic routes, stretching out to the far reaches of the island, and in cooperation with Eurolines ( +353 1 836 6111 / http://www.eurolines.ie ) covers some 450 international destinations. Galway is a central hub for the West of Ireland and buses stop at Ceannt Station off of Eyre Square in the centre of the city. CityLink ( +353 91
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | It's very hard to avoid being entertained in Galway. Even popping into the pub for a quiet pint may find you inadvertently tapping your feet at an impromptu traditional music session. Galway's deserved reputation as a magnet for the arts has resulted in a culturally rich atmosphere fielding a wide range of creative expression. Every facet of the arts is represented in Galway, from painting and photography exhibitions to internationally acclaimed theatre to a vibrant and varied music scene. A considerable percentage of the population work in the arts in some capacity, resulting in a dynamic cultural environment. Although the amount of events on offer reaches a peak in the summertime, the winter months also yield a wealth of performances, gigs and exhibitions. The Cuirt Literary Festival kicks off the festival season in April. Cuirt delivers a week of literary happenings, featuring a range of Irish and international writers giving lectures or reading from their work. Assorted debates and a multitude of book launches are also on offer over the seven days, with discussions often continuing into the wee hours. The Galway Arts Festival takes place in July, when the festival season is in full swing and culture vultures from all over flood into the city. The Galway Arts Festival is the biggest arts festival in Ireland, and features an eclectic programme of theatre events over the space of two weeks, including Macnas 's celebrated nighttime parade. The Festival also incorpor
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