nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Galway City pubs and little else

CarlosHarpic

After my second visit to the city on the tribes, and after really wanting to like the place, I realized I hate it. For all the hype about it being a great place there is nothing to do there except pubs.

Now do not give me this "has a theatre" and "race week" as that's not enough and the latter is all about boozing. I would hate to live there.

Where are the museums, interesting locations and urban mystery that makes a city interesting? It's all getting ****faced while listening to ididly reel and jigs and you can get that anywhere.

For all it's alleged coolness, it's offers nothing else to tourist apart from pubs. People slag off Limerick, but that has way more going for it now.

Galway city is rubbish.

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

jiltloop

banie01 wrote: »

I have found my favoirite sequence of events ever!!!
Can I take the strippers to the Axe throwing gallery and bet I dont hit them?

P.S
Do you think it would cost extra to see the gash?
From any axe related injuries of course I mean

You missed out on an auld axe wound euphemism!

Nettle Soup

I am going for a 5km walk on the Prom right now. Heaven on a day like today.

_Dara_

Pixel Eater wrote: »

Small is relative. Bilbao has a population of almost 350,000; Galway 75,000.

It is indeed. For Spain, that's small.

ChikiChiki

Whatever about the city itself, its in a lovely location. An hour and a bit away from the carnage of Dublin on the M4/M6 which is good for business. Nestled amongst some of the most rugged beautiful scenery and coastline in Europe. If your into outdoor activities there is absolute tonnes of stuff within easy reach. I think when I do eventually return to Ireland, its where I'll base myself. You got the best of both worlds.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

Sam Quentin wrote: »

Stay away from alcohol, you will be a much happier person.

I restpecfully disargee

*hic*

Arghus

I'm from Galway and I love Galway, but to an extent the OP is right. For a town of it's size it's pretty well stocked for activities but a lot of what goes on here is people going to the pub.

corner of hells

As someone descended from Judge Lynch I'd have no problem hanging the OP.

See Lynch's memorial window in Galway.

banie01

jiltloop wrote: »

You missed out on an auld axe wound euphemism!

What d'ya think seeing the gash was?:pac::pac:

kweeveen86

I'm from Galway and am inclined to agree with OP.

Galway is great in that it's got a lovely laid-back atmosphere and is beside both the sea and the countryside but having worked in hospitality here for years, there really is very little for visitors to do here - despite Galway having a name as a sort of cultural mecca in Ireland.

The Cathedral and St Nicholas' Church are both worth a visit as is the museum beside the Spanish Arch but there's not much else!

The pub scene is a great asset to have and there are 5+ pubs with live music on a nightly basis, which is something that I have struggled to find in many other cities - even Madrid and Berlin!

Away from drinking, there is loads to do if you're any way active/ sporty/ outdoorsy - football, gaelic, hurling, swimming, sailing, fishing, kayaking, running, hiking, windsurfing, etc, etc.

The trouble is that tourists aren't likely to engage in those activities - unless they're visiting specifially to do something like go hiking in Connemara. The average tourist won't be kept entertained in the city centre for long unless they are up for a trip to the pub - especially on a wet day.
The main question that tourists have asked me through the years is: "what is there to do on a rainy day in Galway?" and the honest answer is "very little"! Shopping centre, Cinema, Bowling, etc. Basically, generic things that are found anywhere. That's where I'm inclined to agree with OP.

Facilities-wise, the irony is that Galway does lack a lot of cultural facilities. The theatre(s) and the live music venues are way too small to accommodate proper international acts and the city is screaming out for another museum and a permanent art gallery.

Chrongen

Some of you people should visit places like Nashua, New Hampshire or Lodi, New Jersey in the US, or Skegness, Luton, Hull in the UK where there is FUCKING NOTHING to do and the pubs are dire. Ever in Algeciras in Spain or Martil in Morocco? Believe me a few days in these places and you'd happily spend the rest of your life in Galway.

dQuetour

Red_Wake wrote: »

As overrated as the Races imo.

If you want good pizza, head out to Spiddal, there's a small rather anonymous looking single story pizzeria on the right hand side of the road run by an Italian.

[Deleted User]

dQuetour wrote: »

If you want good pizza, head out to Spiddal, there's a small rather anonymous looking single story pizzeria on the right hand side of the road run by an Italian.

Opening hours are a bit erratic would be wise to ring first.

Hector Bellend

Have a **** and a few pints.

That'll sort you out

kweeveen86

Hector Bellend wrote: »

Have a **** and a few pints.

That'll sort you out

Sage advice ðŸ˜

Grayson

Arghus wrote: »

I'm from Galway and I love Galway, but to an extent the OP is right. For a town of it's size it's pretty well stocked for activities but a lot of what goes on here is people going to the pub.

It describes most towns in Ireland.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Spanish Arch takes about ten seconds. I've actually seen tourists walking around and through it looking for it because they're expecting something...good.

Half an hour does the museum, same with the cathedral. Town Hall and Black Box theatres are very much more hit than miss outside of the Fleadh and Festival. No decent sized, central visual art venue, when I was there 126 were doing their best and the Fringe Festival were trying to get one going but were finding it hard. IME the arts establishment there is no help to local, emerging or community artists and is focused on two things: the Arts Festival (which ain't what it used to be) and talking, constantly, about what a great cultural hotspot Galway is.

It's a lovely spot to live and I resent the assertion that the only good thing there is pubs because the house parties are also excellent :pac: but yeah, it's overrated for the things it's rated for.

Race week is also known as Rape Week and Racist Week, to give you an idea what it's like to live through it as a local btw. Not the best crowd.

topper75

RicketyCricket wrote: »

Like what?

Like nothing. Precisely nothing to do and see in Limerick. Stay out tourists. Please.

Nearly forgot the please there.

Chrongen

Mekhi Broad Clergyman wrote: »

Spanish Arch takes about ten seconds. I've actually seen tourists walking around and through it looking for it because they're expecting something...good.

Half an hour does the museum, same with the cathedral. Town Hall and Black Box theatres are very much more hit than miss outside of the Fleadh and Festival. No decent sized, central visual art venue, when I was there 126 were doing their best and the Fringe Festival were trying to get one going but were finding it hard. IME the arts establishment there is no help to local, emerging or community artists and is focused on two things: the Arts Festival (which ain't what it used to be) and talking, constantly, about what a great cultural hotspot Galway is.

It's a lovely spot to live and I resent the assertion that the only good thing there is pubs because the house parties are also excellent :pac: but yeah, it's overrated for the things it's rated for.

Race week is also known as Rape Week and Racist Week, to give you an idea what it's like to live through it as a local btw. Not the best crowd.

This is Spanish Arch:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=spanish+arch+galway&dcr=0&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=aE9H6TE66Br3hM%253A%252ClE9wAozO_zqWuM%252C_&usg=__LrKzcsgPJdrHhHomDjfoMQsi5ro%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_6oGf-tzZAhWIDMAKHRMuCloQ9QEISDAC#imgrc=kEVTTD3gxCM7yM:

I've seen old ruins of forts or castles with cows roaming through them on farms that are more impressive than this thing. To the poster who said he gazed upon it in awe....wtf were you smoking?

topper75

Chrongen wrote: »

To the poster who said he gazed upon it in awe....wtf were you smoking?

Oh yeah reminds me. Doesn't all have to be pubs and booze! Galway's homegrown will blast the boredom of any tourist right out their ears.

Add that to the list there OP. How many things on the list now? 2? good good I'm sure there's more.

Chrongen

Basically if you were an IT guy who works remotely, gets paid well and you are also a bit of a pisshead who also likes cooking seafood dishes for friends and you like to have people sleepover on pissy rainy nights then Galway would be Heaven.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

topper75 wrote: »

Oh yeah reminds me. Doesn't all have to be pubs and booze! Galway's homegrown will blast the boredom of any tourist right out their ears.

Add that to the list there OP. How many things on the list now? 2? good good I'm sure there's more.

Oh if we can count each substance as an item on the list we're flying it.

Grab some clothes from St. Nicholas market, develop a taste for psy-trance and hang around looking friendly and you'll have a great weekend

And then it'll be five years later and you may still be mildly tripping.

Butterface

OP, what were you expecting from Galway? Is there some particular activity you wanted to take part in during your visit?

Sam Quentin

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote: »

I restpecfully disargee

*hic*

But tomorrow you will forget that you 'resTpecfully 'disaRgee'...
And you will agree with my post

Grayson

Chrongen wrote: »

Basically if you were an IT guy who works remotely, gets paid well and you are also a bit of a pisshead who also likes cooking seafood dishes for friends and you like to have people sleepover on pissy rainy nights then Galway would be Heaven.

Rent is quite high apparently

JohnnyFlash

There were less dirty looking crusties and stoners hanging around the last time I was down there. Always a good sign.

DEFTLEFTHAND

donegaLroad wrote: »

Galway is an obstacle course for alcoholics. I have also heard it described as the graveyard of ambition.

I have always liked it though.

Think that comes from the large population of crusties in the city.

It's not meant as a slight against the average hard working Galwegian.

jippo nolan

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

There were less dirty looking crusties and stoners hanging around the last time I was down there. Always a good sign.

Designer Crusties!

splinter65

Neyite wrote: »

You don't have to. Hop on a plane to those places if you like. Don't choose to go to Galway and moan that you went to Galway.

The OP is like one of those people who will go to a foreign country and complain about the foreign food, foreign money, foreign language, foreign pubs and it being so crowded with foreigners that it was an awful kip.

I had no choice but to live in Galway in order to progress in the field I was in. I’ve never recommended it to anyone since

bodhrandude

splinter65 wrote: »

I lived in Galway for 2 years and hated it. If your not a slave to sitting in dark wood pubs listening to Fiachra and Aoibheann spewing out the diddly music then you have nothing to do and nowhere to go.
Biggest con ever.

Tis great if yer a trad musician tho SNURK!

bodhrandude

Neyite wrote: »

Spanish Arch
Galway City Museum
Galway Fisheries Museum
National Aquarium
Salthill Prom
Diving at Blackrock tower
Award winning Restaurants
Theatre in the Town hall, Black Box Theatre, and Palais
Coral Beach
Connemara
Art Galleries
Kylemore Abbey
Corrib Cruises
Kayacking
Fishing
Hiking
Camping
Biking
Horseriding
Greyhound Stadium
Football and Rugby matches
Concerts in Pearse Stadium
Live music in most pubs
Medieval City walks
River walks
Merlin Woods
Oranmore Castle
Comedy Clubs
Shopping
GoKarting
Golf
Axe Throwing Gallery
Casino
Lapdancing clubs

That's what I got with 5 mins worth of googling.

Where the hell is this? Sounds like a place where extras for the TV series Vikings would congregate, wouldn't mind checking out this axe throwing gallery.