24407BRI
opening days/times, entrance fees, etc. listed on yellow pages
NB
- City sightseeing with TM. There are different ways of handling this (coach tour/walking tour/freetime) depending on itinerary and group’s wishes.
- Drop off either at coach bays on Merchants Road just south of Eyre Square, at lay-bys near Spanish Parade (coach cannot wait here but is closer) or on Claddagh Quays across Wolfetone Bridge.
- Galway is a real festival town, so always call and see what’s on.
Galway – sightseeing with tour manager
By Coach
You could include: Eyre Square and JFK Memorial park; the Claddagh (now 1930’s bungalows across the river from the Old Town); the new Catholic Cathedral (1965 – big green, copper dome) of St Nicholas and Our Lady Assumed into Heaven; the port, Spanish Arch; the Salmon Weir, St Nicholas’s Church.
On Foot
You could explore the pedestrian Old Town in more detail. Most sights of interest cluster along Quay St/High St/Shop St axis. Starting at Eyre Square you see:
Redeveloped city square.
Browne Doorway – stranded medieval merchant’s door, from a former house on Abbeygate St;
Quincentennial Fountain – red metal in shape of Galway Hooker Boat, 1984;
Medieval Wall – 60m stretch inside Eyre Square Shopping Centre;
Take William St onto Shop St and on the corner of Abbeygate St you see;
Lynch’s Castle – once home of 64 Lynch mayors now AIB Bank;
Down Church Lane turn left onto Market St to see;
Lynch’s Window – 19th C memorial to local legend of the popular son of a Lynch Mayor who hanged him out of the window for murdering a Spanish youth;
Nora Barnacle’s Home – museum to Joyce’s wife, opposite at 8 Bowling Green; (seldom open)
Collegiate Church of St Nicholas of Myra – main gates on Market St, dedicated to patron saint of travellers, legend that Christopher Columbus knelt in prayer here.
Back to High Street (continuation of Shop Street) and opposite you is
The King’s Head Pub – medieval building, legend says Charles I’s executioner received it as a gift from parliament.
At end of Quay Street you come to Spanish Parade named for Galway’s exotic trading past. This was the main quay area and the Fishmarket. Point out Spanish Arch (extension to city wall), the Claddagh area on other side of river (Claddagh Ring Fame). Near the river is a statue given by the people of Genoa in 1993 to commemorate Columbus landing here in 1477.
Padraic O’Conaire statue – pioneer writer of modern Gaelic, 1882-1928, which is situated in the foyer of the Galway Museum near The Spanish Arch).
If time permits allow the group free time to explore/shop in the Old Town from here.
FACTS AND FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS
Facilities/places of interest
Tourist Information www. galwaytourism.ie galwaytourism
Public Toilets –Located at rear on the ground floor of the Eyre Square Shopping Centre.
Money: ATMs in Old Town plus several banks on Eyre Square.
Shopping: Old Town has many (traditionally 14) small pedestrian shopping streets with interesting shops. Lots of places to buy Claddagh rings here (none on the Claddagh itself, it’s a residential area).
Post Office: Eglinton Street, off William Street.
Places of Interest (see Walking Tour above). Also;
Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch.
Nora Barnacle Home/Museum, No 8 Bowling Green (seldom open)
Fish and Chips McDonagh’s Restaurant and Fish and Chips Bar on the main street.
Salthill (nearby seaside resort) is within walking distance of Galway – a magnificent 2 mile stretch of promenade with views of the bay and the “Burren”.
Entertainment: Trad on the Prom, A traditional music show at the Leisureland Theatre,Salthill. May -September. www.tradontheprom.com