A break in Ireland

Galway City

Back in April we had a holiday in Ireland consisting of a three centre break in Galway/Mayo and it was most enjoyable. We drove the length of Wales to cross on the Holyhead/Dublin ferry choosing to do that because it would make the route to Galway more direct and, as it turned out, mostly motorway. Even getting out of Dublin was easy, you just follow the signs for the tunnel and drive through that for ages until you see light at the end. Galway City was now just three hours away. We had a splendid hotel, so much so that we felt it appropriate to dress for dinner.

The first day we wandered around to get our bearings. The place was so busy with one big pedestrian area packed with people, some sitting outside drinking coffees, street musicians, window shoppers and some, I’m sure just trying to get on with their work. This is truly a vibrant city!



At the top end of Eyre Square were two open topped city tour buses we chose the second one because it seemed more jolly and fun. We’re glad that we did. We bought our tickets but that didn’t yet entitle us to take our seats on the top deck, oh no, first we had to have a chat with our genial driver. He was clearly a man who loved his work which consisted, quite simply of driving his bus and passing on to his passengers the fascinating history of his city.

The time came for us to set off and some stretches of absorbent cloth was torn off a drum and handed to us so that we could wipe the seats down. Well you have to sit on the top deck no matter that the day had not yet quite arrived at its temperature and there had been recent rain. So away we went sweeping thrillingly around all obstacles in our way on this seemingly driverless vehicle while a smooth Irish brogue told us about the de Burgos. The de Burgos were a Norman family who arrived with the invasion in 1185 and set up a commercial centre. From Galway the Trade Winds took ships to France, Spain, the Canary Islands and Holland as well as to London and Bristol

Behind Galway City is Lough Corrib, a huge mass of water covering an area of 180 square kilometres making it the largest body of water in the Republic of Ireland. We cross over a bridge now and see a remarkably fast-flowing river, this is the River Corrib which, guess what - drains Lough Corrib to the sea and as the sea is only six kilometres away the river is all of six kilometres long making it the shortest river in Europe. We see a salmon weir with fishermen wading and casting hoping for a bit of luck.



Over the bridge now and we find ourselves on a roundabout and whereas back home roundabouts are covered by flower beds this one is covered by a cathedral. More about that later.

It is not long before we reach the Atlantic or that part of it that is Galway Bay. I’ve heard tell that it is a good place in which to watch the sun go down but we are a bit early – it is not yet midday. We now arrive at the Claddagh, the maritime area and home of the Galway Hooker, a brown red-sailed fishing boat. Hardiman’s History of Galway described the sight of 500 fishing boats at the Claddagh as ‘perhaps one of the most satisfying that can well be imagined’. As with so many things the Galway Hooker is back in popularity and there is an annual festival held where the boats race across Galway Bay from Connemara to Kinvara.

We pass by the Spanish Arch and up through the town catching passing glimpses of tourists, taverns, cafes and shops and street musicians suggesting, were it not for the distinctive Irish feel, something much more continental.

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