The city of Galway is internationally celebrated as a focus of entertainment ; with an all-embracing mixture of tin whistles, bodhrns, harps, bagpipes, banjos, guitars, fiddles, jugglers, wizards in colorful masks poets, painters, and puppeteers to amuse visitors. Actors in standard Irish costume can often be sighted around town. A range of curious cafs can be found on narrow cobblestone streets, and live music is hosted across the week by a large range of public homes.
Galway's historic streets still manage to maintain a up to date vibe. One quarter of the city's population consists of students, while what remains of the medieval city walls sits beside shops selling handcrafted Claddagh rings, stacks of secondhand and new books and Aran sweaters. A long promenade leads to the tidal suburb of Salthill, where at night the moon's glow illuminates Galway Bay, source of the area's famous oysters.
The town has a variety of drinking and eating options, ranging from the market where farmers in wellies sell soil-covered vegetables to adventuresome fusion bistros redefining Irish cuisine. Rambling public houses with wooden staircases serve Guinness, Galway Hooker ale and Irish coffees.
Even by Irish standards, this is a stormy county, yet the rain fails to dampen Galway's atmosphere. When it is sunny Galway town is brim-full of life, and it's colourful at any point of year but especially during its many famous holidays. It is frequently termed the most 'Irish ' of Ireland's cities. It's the only one where visitors can hear Irish spoken in the stores, pubs and streets.
Gaillimh, the Irish word for Galway, has its roots in the Irish word gaill, that means 'foreigners' or 'outsiders' ; an appropriate term through its history. The city commenced as a tiny fishing town at the mouth of the salmon-filled Stream Corrib. It was to become a major city in 1232, when the Anglo-Normans, with Richard de Burgo as their leader, caught territory. The foundations of its fortified walls can be dated to about 1270.
A charter granted by Richard II in 1396 transferred power to 14 merchant families or 'tribes' thus the pet name 'City of the Tribes'. The ruling merchant families, most of whom were dependable to the Crown, successfully maintained the city's independent status. Galway's location on the Atlantic supported a successful trade in salt, fish, spices and wine with Spain and Portugal. The city was to ultimately be weakened , however , by its support of the English in 1651 when the town was held siege by Cromwell. The city dropped in 1652. In 1691, William of Orange and his military added to the havoc. Trade slid off with Spain and, as the sea traffic of Waterford and Dublin kept growing, Galway languished for centuries.
In the early 1900s the town was awakened when tourists started to return and student numbers started to grow. In 1934, the stone-paved streets and thatched homes of Claddagh were replaced to make way for clinical, modern buildings, and ever since construction has expanded. As it is only about three hours from the capital, the city's population continues to increase today as new residents move in. Galway is one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe, yet it remains true to its energetic roots.
Galway's historic streets still manage to maintain a up to date vibe. One quarter of the city's population consists of students, while what remains of the medieval city walls sits beside shops selling handcrafted Claddagh rings, stacks of secondhand and new books and Aran sweaters. A long promenade leads to the tidal suburb of Salthill, where at night the moon's glow illuminates Galway Bay, source of the area's famous oysters.
The town has a variety of drinking and eating options, ranging from the market where farmers in wellies sell soil-covered vegetables to adventuresome fusion bistros redefining Irish cuisine. Rambling public houses with wooden staircases serve Guinness, Galway Hooker ale and Irish coffees.
Even by Irish standards, this is a stormy county, yet the rain fails to dampen Galway's atmosphere. When it is sunny Galway town is brim-full of life, and it's colourful at any point of year but especially during its many famous holidays. It is frequently termed the most 'Irish ' of Ireland's cities. It's the only one where visitors can hear Irish spoken in the stores, pubs and streets.
Gaillimh, the Irish word for Galway, has its roots in the Irish word gaill, that means 'foreigners' or 'outsiders' ; an appropriate term through its history. The city commenced as a tiny fishing town at the mouth of the salmon-filled Stream Corrib. It was to become a major city in 1232, when the Anglo-Normans, with Richard de Burgo as their leader, caught territory. The foundations of its fortified walls can be dated to about 1270.
A charter granted by Richard II in 1396 transferred power to 14 merchant families or 'tribes' thus the pet name 'City of the Tribes'. The ruling merchant families, most of whom were dependable to the Crown, successfully maintained the city's independent status. Galway's location on the Atlantic supported a successful trade in salt, fish, spices and wine with Spain and Portugal. The city was to ultimately be weakened , however , by its support of the English in 1651 when the town was held siege by Cromwell. The city dropped in 1652. In 1691, William of Orange and his military added to the havoc. Trade slid off with Spain and, as the sea traffic of Waterford and Dublin kept growing, Galway languished for centuries.
In the early 1900s the town was awakened when tourists started to return and student numbers started to grow. In 1934, the stone-paved streets and thatched homes of Claddagh were replaced to make way for clinical, modern buildings, and ever since construction has expanded. As it is only about three hours from the capital, the city's population continues to increase today as new residents move in. Galway is one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe, yet it remains true to its energetic roots.
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A good option, especially for larger groups or families who may want accommodation which is cheaper than a Galway hotel may be Galway Self Catering which is of a very high standard and very affordable.
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