Galway City pubs and little else

spurshero wrote: »

Galway 2020 European capital of culture.beat off limerick Kilkenny Waterford etc .

Limerick 2014 and Cork 2005 had that before though.

Largely meaningless for the average Joe beyond some outsize French macnas outfit coming on a weekend jolly.

Best of luck with it!

From what I hear!?
I can think of nothing worse than spending a couple of days at the Galway races...

Edit: Actually I'm being quite negative there and maybe a bit jealous!?
It sounds like great craic, just not my scene.

anna080 wrote: »

I’m a Galway native and have been at the races maybe 3 times. I much prefer going into town for the day and taking part in the craic that goes on there, and indeed many do too. The races are grand, but it’s usually raining and Ballybrit is notoriously windy and I’m not all that interested in betting. There’s better craic to be had in town where you can at least be served without standing around in a mile long queue for a glass of wine served in a plastic pint glass

You sound like my kind of filly (no pun) anna.

Pint and a game of cards wit ya in Murty's, then a cheeky second in An Pucan. Game of pool then on eglinton Street....I'll let you win. After, around the corner for a big guzzler at Golden Rickshaw. then I take you down to see a local rock band in the Dubh.

Night ends you maulling the arse off me as I'm dropping you to a taxi up by Dunnes.

Top. date.

Beats Dublin where you're tripping over homeless people/drunks at every street corner. Of course there's more to do in Dublin but I'd hate to leave there. Nobody can say X city is crap as its very subjective.

whatever99 wrote: »

I take the ‘graveyard of ambition’ thing to be referring to people who don’t want to leave Galway because they love it too much, even if it means they’d progress in their careers, eg. wouldn’t want to move to the company head office in Dublin for a great promotion. I know I certainly wouldn’t want to leave.

I’m from Galway, and have lived here most of my life. I love it here, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It’s small enough to not be impersonal, but big enough to have lots to offer. There’s always plays & musicals (amateur & professional)/gigs/sporting events etc. on. There’s lots of other stuff too. I’m not going to list stuff here, but suffice to say, walking down Shop St on a sunny (not very common, but it doesn’t rain all the time) Saturday afternoon, soaking up the atmosphere and the buzz is still one of my favourite things to do.

That is not why Galway sometimes refers to itself as the "graveyard of ambition"...it is because Galway has not distinguished itself in anything...no Galway company has every distinguished itself in any industry (perhaps I am wrong on that) ....nobody with any ambition has come out of the city....I can only think of Christy O'Connor Jn as anyone who has....

Until the late 90s Galway was the most economically depressed Irish city....

whatever99 wrote: »

Anyone I’ve spoken to from Galway takes the same meaning from the graveyard of ambition phrase as I do, which is in my post above.

Philip Tracey is from Galway. Seeing as he’s a famous milliner, I presume he’s ambitious enough.

Not too surprising....

Philip Tracy from Co Galway...about 40 miles from the city?

If you compare Galway to any other Irish city, from an industrial, historical, and cultural point of view, Galway is miles behind...wasn't it also said that during the War of Independence there wasn't a fist thrown in Galway...

It is, Ireland's most culturally irrelevant city....no amount of festivals or tourists are going to change that...a fine place to live no doubt if over priced property and chronic congestion doesn't bother you....

Here is a list of some highlights of my trips back to Galway:

I went to a gig in a pub with my brother in law as it was the first night of the trip and with the time difference, we would be up staying awake late anyway. Didn't know who was playing but knew Galway had a strong enough music scene particularly during the summer that it would be grand. It was a weekday night and there wasn't much of a crowd. To my surprise, the performer was a young lad rapping (Stephen McLoughlin). He rapped over the theme to countdown and had another rap entirely about Tom Hanks movies. It was very entertaining. Something completely unexpected.

Another time (by the way without drinking) went into a gig and a fella called Kevin May did a set which was incredible. Another instance of a random weeknight.

When I lived there, there were amazing local bands like Cartoon Thieves too.

Galway has an amazing music scene.

My brother in law was adamant about trying a Michelin Star place. We went to Loam. I didn't like the look of the menu but went along anyway. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. The music playing in the background was matched to the food. The dessert featured pollen and honey ice cream...you could hear the sound of bees in the background music. It was so well thought out and put together. I didn't expect it at all.

We also ate at Massimos multiple times because we enjoyed it so much. The slice of pizza in Pizza and Pasta Napoli was lovely and we did something I use to do by myself when I lived in the city. We went to the bakery, got some fresh eclairs and ate them while sitting down by the river.

For one of our breakfasts, I brought him to Galway Arms Inn, not necessarily because of the food but because the owner to me epitomizes the Galway character. Laid back, whistling away and having the chat with the locals.

Galway use to have a mediocre food scene. Now Galway has an incredible food scene.

I was looking into hobbies and interests. Classes to take with my wife or kids. I'm not living there but may move back next year. I found that JP McMahon holds cooking classes. He even had a class on cooking the perfect Turkey dinner for the holidays. Right in the backyard, you can learn to cook from a Michelin star chef. He has also staged world-renowned chefs at culinary conference.

I also found several musical classes from renowned locals like David Donahue who set a world record last year.

On top of that the legendary creator of the Doom games, John Romero is actively involved with the Galway coder DoJo.


In Galway you can learn from some of the best talent in the world

When I was a young lad. Don O'Riordan was manager of Galway United. He did a lot with the club to bring up the entire county's grass roots game. After much f*ckery in recent years, the club is now run by the supporters. You can go watch, support and be apart of a club by and for the supporters.

When the Football and Hurling are on, it's a grand day to walk out through Salthill stopping for a 99 or bag of chips along the way.

Lough Corrib is frequently home to international fishing competitions.

Obviously, the Galways Races are renowned across Europe.

The Ironman competitions in the city have really picked up in popularity in recent years.

You can take or leave this one, since it's a bit far from the city but the Connemara cycling race is also a nice event.

The tennis club often holds competitions in Salthill and if pool or snooker are your thing the hall in Eglington has you sorted.

Galway is a yachtsman's dream and you'll see the kayakers out every weekend.

The driving range and golf course on Galway Bay are grand. Not world class or anything but it can scratch an itch if that's your thing.

Purefit is pretty unique. If the rain is too much for you and you'd rather stay active indoors, this is a great option.

Galway has a range of sporting options

The Spanish Arch may not look like much to some but it's steeped in history. When I go down there I picture the merchant ships docking alongside and selling their wears.

The Kings Head is reported to have housed the executioner of King Charles.

When walking over the grating, you are walking over old cellars and underground routes below.

When in Corbett's court, you can see some of the historic city wall.

The Lynch's window memorial down at the back of Eason's sits at the location where the mayor sentenced his own son to death after he admitted to murder.

Lynch's castle itself in the middle of town is worth a look, though it's not all that special imo since it's had a lot of restoration work done. There's a cool protected archaeology site down in Quay Street. Merlin Castle provides another unique landmark in Galway, along with the NUIG Quad and Cathedral.

The museum is free and has some cool medieval chalices and the like in it. Though a lot of the content it is more recent. It's interesting when they have specific exhibits. There's also a lovely view over the Corrib from the bay windows.

The entire city is a mix of some new but mostly old and pretty well-preserved buildings and by well preserved I don't mean like King John's in Limerick which hasn't just been preserved but in large parts restored (nothing wrong with that).

Galway's lack of action in restoring ruins to me actually makes some of them more interesting. For example, (not in Galway city) but if you go to the old ruins of the Marconi wireless station in Clifden, there's feck all there. Ditto the Alcock and Brown landing site, personally I like that. I think it gives a much more true sense of what it was like back then. The horrible ground they landed the plane on that night, how bumpy and marshy it was. How far out it was from the town...

Ross Abbey in Headford has started to rapidly fall apart but if you go today, you'll see it in it's natural state (bar a few gates they hung). I would argue, they should work on restoring parts of that because soon it'll be lost if they don't. Or there's the castle in Clifden which most tourists don't even know about.

Galway's historical sites are unlike most in the rest of the country. To Hell or to Connacht. Many of the historic sites in the other provinces have a much more British influence in architecture. Galway and Connacht less so. Lonely Planet called Galway Ireland's most Irish city and there's some truth to that. (Even if city is a bit of an exaggeration, imo)

There's alot of great histrocial sites to see

There are many art galleries at the end of Shop Street, down Quay Street, down Merchants road and by Dominick's street. The Cottage out by Salthill also regularly showcases local artists works.

Galway has influenced poets, authors, filmmakers and musicians. Even criticisms against the city and council were leveled at them in an poem by a local poet a couple of years ago.

Obviously, the arts festival is good and has been getting better each year attracting larger names.

Even if you don't drink (my wife isn't much of a drinker) you could go to a trad session to soak it in. We went to a session in the Crane a few years ago. My wife is Asian. To her surprise a young Asian lady walked in while a bunch of musicians were playing, sat down beside them and took our her own fiddle and started to join in. It was a big win for Galway in her eyes, it showed inclusiveness and was a great way to share part of our culture.

Shout out to the Taibhearc and Macnas too!

Galway really is a cultural hub

When I lived there, Sometimes I would wake up late on Saturday morning put a big coat on, stick the headphones on and just walk around for hours. Sometimes I would walk down to Salthill, sit on the rocks and watch the ocean or go down to the Spanish Arch and watch the swans or just watch the city go by.

If reading a book is your thing, you can do so in Eyre Square or at any number of beauty spots in the city when it's not raining or in one of the cafes if it is.

Galway is chill

Having said that my biggest problems with the city are the crappy city council. The dog sh1t and litter left around the place by feckless eejits, the terrible traffic and the fact it has the worst hospital in the country.

The drink culture does bother me but it seems to be improving a bit with more people getting into running, rowing etc. but I could say the same thing for any town in Ireland re: the drinking.

The Aquarium needs a lot of improvement. How can it be so poor when it's right on the Atlantic?

Also, good job options are lacking.

Anyway, that's just some of what I love about Galway. I'd move back tomorrow if I could.

whatever99 wrote: »

I take the ‘graveyard of ambition’ thing to be referring to people who don’t want to leave Galway because they love it too much, even if it means they’d progress in their careers, eg. wouldn’t want to move to the company head office in Dublin for a great promotion. I know I certainly wouldn’t want to leave.

I’m from Galway, and have lived here most of my life. I love it here, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It’s small enough to not be impersonal, but big enough to have lots to offer. There’s always plays & musicals (amateur & professional)/gigs/sporting events etc. on. There’s lots of other stuff too. I’m not going to list stuff here, but suffice to say, walking down Shop St on a sunny (not very common, but it doesn’t rain all the time) Saturday afternoon, soaking up the atmosphere and the buzz is still one of my favourite things to do.

Was in Croker for the hurling semi final, my own Tipp vs my birth county. Galway edged Tipp in the end.

It was basically the final, whoever won was going to beat the Deise.


I'm hoping for another Tipp , Galway enconter this summer.


Two best hurling sides in the country.

Silentcorner wrote: »

Not too surprising....

You said yourself, “Galway refers to itself as the graveyard of ambition.” (Can’t multi quote on my phone). Surely by saying “itself”, you meant the people of Galway? So yes, being from Galway, and having spoken about that phrase/heard others mention it, I am confident that most people in Galway would mean it as I’ve said.

Arghus wrote: »

Nonsense. There's Druid for a start, world renowned theatre company from the city.

Druid are state funded pal...like the Irish Chamber Orchestra in Limerick....