Galway Girl
Hello again, and welcome to the second installment of our road trip adventure in Ireland this summer. Stay tuned for upcoming posts in our summer travel series, featuring Ireland and Scotland.
Today, we’re exploring the medieval city of Galway, the “Town of the Streams” from ancient folklore, that sits on the western coast of Ireland.
The original Galway Girl
A fast-flowing river runs through Galway, and out to Galway Bay.
Once there was a girl named Gaillimh Breasail, the daughter of a local chief. As the myth goes, she drowned in this river. In remembrance, the people named both the river and town after her.
The river’s original name in Irish Gaelic translates to “River of Galway”, but it was renamed River Corrib as the years passed by. Still, the river and the people of Galway never forgot this woman. Walking by this fast-flowing, rushing river, you can sense an undercurrent of mystery, the secrets that surely lie in its watery depths.
Galway Girl Itinerary: What to do in 1 day
Once you reach Galway, I highly recommend you throw the itinerary straight out the window. We had a few things listed that we wanted to see and do specifically, but had already decided prior to visiting that we would really leave “what to do” largely up to chance, and give our wandering instincts a chance to activate.
I recognize that can feel nearly impossible in today’s world, so I have compiled a guide of what we most enjoyed in Galway to inspire you to book that Ireland trip! I’ll also share a bucket list with the top things to do in just 1 day in Galway.
O'Brien’s Bridge, River Galway, Ireland
Home alongside the River Galway, Ireland
Check out the University Of Galway
Exploring Galway University in Galway, Ireland
Galway has a thriving university, and it’s worth a stop by to admire the college itself, which was built in the 1800s. I’m fascinated by architecture (I bet you couldn’t tell) and any type of greenery on structures, so this was a favorite of mine that I was instantly enchanted by.
Visit Dunguaire Castle
Dunguaire Castle is a stunning architectural beauty built by the O’Hynes clan in the 16th century. I highly recommend you visit this castle on your way to your next destination, especially if that destination is the Cliffs of Moher since it is on the way.
While not technically in Galway, Dunguaire Castle is right outside, located in Galway County, and is absolutely worth adding to your Ireland bucket list. This was our first castle sighting of the trip, and my heart lit up the moment I saw this medieval masterpiece peeking through brush and overgrowth.
Dunguaire Castle is picture-perfect, situated right on the shores of Galway Bay near Kinvara in County Galway. It was not a surprise at all for me to learn that it is the most photographed castle in Ireland.
The castle is easily accessible from the main road, and once inside, you can purchase a ticket to explore the castle's interior. Walking through the grounds itself is open to the public, but if you want the best view you’ll need to purchase a ticket to explore the inside and get to the top of the castle.
A winding staircase designed to make you dizzy (convince me otherwise, architects) brings you up each floor so you can get a taste of what living in the 16th century in a castle was like. You’ll pass a banquet hall and living quarters. But the top floor itself has a beautiful surprise - it allows you direct access to the ramparts. Walk the narrow landing path along the ramparts for a lovely view of the surrounding landscape.
In the 1920s, the writer Oliver St. John Gogarty bought the castle and it became a meeting spot for other writers, including the famed W.B. Yeats and George Bernard Shaw. I can certainly see why writers would be attracted to a place like this, there is inspiration everywhere you look.
Quaint village surrounding Dunghaire Castle as seen from the top of the castle
Explore the Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is the most happening spot in Galway! We stayed at a small, snug-type hotel in the Latin Quarter, directly on Quay Street, one of the main spots for bars and restaurants. Definitely worth staying around here for the location. We walked out our hotel door and were directly on Quay Street, right in the thick of it. We had heard reviews that it can get noisy over there at night since the bars are open really late, for which the hotel kindly provided earplugs, but neither of us needed them.
Did you know that Galway is considered to be the festival capital of Ireland, and that they host over 100 festivals per year? Spend any time here and you will believe it! It feels like the New Orleans of Ireland.
The Latin Quarter really is the center of it all and you’ll be able to eat, drink, listen to street musicians, and party here! Great spot to eat lunch or dinner, listen to live musicians and people-watch.
Galway Bucketlist
I mentioned before that you really don’t need an itinerary for Galway. While I believe that to be true, I still want to share a list for you to have, look into, and consider adding to your own Galway adventure.
What to do in Galway: a bucket list
Walk along Quay Street, and the rest of the Latin Quarter for a lively music/pub atmosphere, shopping, and an active nightlife scene.
Visit the University of Galway.
Walk under the famed Spanish Arch, down the Long Walk, and stop for a while by Galway Harbor.
Visit St. Nicholas Collegiate Church. Not only is it a medieval marvel, built in 1320, but it is also the largest medieval church that is still operating. Recent research shows that Christopher Columbus actually worshiped here in 1477 at a stop in Galway.
Check out live trad (traditional) sessions in pubs such as Taaffes and Tigh Cóilí.
The Front Door in Galway’s Latin Quarter is also worth visiting. One of the largest pubs in Galway, with 2 floors and 5 bars, you walk in and are astounded every time you find a new hidden room right around the corner or up the stairs. The Front Door is also famous for its Sonny Molloy’s whiskey bar which offers a wide and delicious variety of whiskeys.
P.S. For craft beer lovers, make sure to try a Galway Hooker craft beer.
If you haven’t already elsewhere in Ireland, you need to try a traditional Irish breakfast! If not in Galway, at some point in your trip.
Other things to consider:
Staying in the area longer than a day?
Into history? Pop into the Galway City Museum.
Before you visit, check if any music festivals or special events are going on. While we were there, the Galway Early Music Festival was happening.
Have a beach day. If you are staying for longer than 1 day, why not have a beach day? If so, head west to Salthill Beach (on Galway Bay).
Take a day trip to Aran Islands. Why not take a day trip to the Aran Islands from Galway? There’s a ferry that goes directly from Galway City to the Aran Islands with Aran Island Ferries. It’s about 1.5 hours. On your way back, you will sail right by the Cliffs of Moher, which is a great way to see the infamous cliffs from a different angle.
What to know before visiting Galway
How to get to Galway from Dublin
After exploring Dublin, we hopped on the Irish Rail to Galway. The entire journey to Galway, took us about 2.5 hours. Since Dublin is on the east coast of Ireland, and Galway is on the west coast of Ireland, traveling by train is lovely. You’ll pass right through the middle of Ireland's gorgeous countryside. Coming from Dublin, this might be your first real glimpse of it!
Getting from Dublin to Galway Take a 2.5 hour train from Dublin to Galway. We pre-booked in advance of our trip with Irish Rail.
Train ticket pricing Our tickets ran $15/person or $30/total.
Train logistics In Dublin you’ll leave from Heuston station, and arrive at Ceannt station in Galway.
Will I need a car in Galway?
No. Not within Galway itself. Book accommodations close to the Latin Quarter. Everything you will be seeing is within the area. Now, since we were heading to Cliffs of Mohr the next day, and moving on to the Kerry region of Ireland, we needed to pick up a car our last morning in Galway for the rest of our Ireland tour.
Found some musicians in their own little beautiful world sitting on Galway Harbor just through the Spanish Arch, Galway
How long should I plan to stay in Galway?
We had one full day and night in Galway, and in our minds, that was the perfect amount of time there. Not because there wasn’t enough to see or do in Galway, but because there was still so much more to see and do in Ireland. More that was calling us forward.
And on that note, I’ll see you in the next installment, where we explore the Cliffs of Moher and then continue on our journey on the Wild Atlantic Way to traverse the wonderful Ring of Kerry, before heading to Scotland.
An old Celtic blessing crosses my mind as a way to say until next time….
May the road rise up to meet you,
