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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.

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milehip

Your Face wrote: »

I'm not sure people are even giving out about Galway anymore.
This just seems like a general ranting thread now.

Galway just brings out the best in people.

Butterface

Silentcorner wrote: »

I assume you are referring to me...

It can be quiet subtle, for instance, everytime the RTE cameras are in Galway for whatever, they will always show a short quick clip of a Macnas Parade and refer to the city rich cultural offering....

Everytime the RTE cameras are in Limerick, they will show a short clip of a young fella on a sulky and burnt out homes....they are prolific at finding excuses to show young fellas on sulkies and burnt out houses...

Repeat those little short clips over and over and over and you'd be amazed at the impact those images have on how both cities are perceived....

RTE also broadcast live the Galway Races every year (careful never to show drunk people about the town/racecourse) giving the cities racing festival invaluable exposure....watch the 6 One News on RTE during the festival, it is comical the stories they invent to ram the races down us...

RTE have always supported festivals in Galway, covering them in news bulletins, they never extended that courtesy to any other Irish city or town...again, these would slip by unnoticed to most people...

RTE were a little more balanced in the run up to the 2020 EU COC decision, but I know they got a lot of stick in Limerick for how they treated Limerick COC in 2014...they (RTE) disgraced themselves that year, and that is saying something considering what they have done to Limerick in the past...

I don't expect too many people to agree with what I have outlined, but most people have no idea how media are capable of creating and shaping perceptions...we all foolishly believe we make up our own minds....if we did the world of advertising wouldn't exist...

I'm not from Galway, so perhaps I'm not as sensitive to media coverage of the city. Although, I have to say that when I do see a report on Galway I normally pay attention to it because I went to college there and lived there during my 20s. I still visit the city on a monthly basis.. more often than I visit my own hometown on the east coast.

To be honest, I'm not one to notice RTE's coverage, but I would imagine the coverage of the Galway races has as much to do with its timing (summer holidays), the best dressed competition, and of course, gambling, as to dwelling on the actual location of the races. There is no denying that the Galway Races is a festival in the sense that it extends from Ballybrit race course into the city centre. The other racing festivals in Ireland cannot compete for the party atmosphere that the Galway races offers.

From memory, I don't recall any negative coverage of Limerick before or during their tenure as EU COC. Again, I'm not from Limerick, so perhaps any negative coverage of the city did not stick out to me.

As mentioned previously on this thread, comparing Galway and Limerick is futile. This should extend to the media coverage of both cities.

Your Face

milehip wrote: »

Galway just brings out the best in people.

It must be confronting.

Redo91

Wompa1 wrote: »

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.

Close thread

elefant

Silentcorner wrote: »

....nobody with any ambition has come out of the city....I can only think of Christy O'Connor Jn as anyone who has....

Aonghus von Bismarck.

Fin.

ToddyDoody

It's a rural city that doesn't have the status hang-ups that some other places have.

John_Rambo

Cracking city to visit, great fun and it's small, but that's ok, people like that. Needs more investment in public transport, maybe a light rail and a ban on cars in areas, the single occupant car congestion is woeful. Certainly needs a lot more pedestrianised areas along with the already immensely successful ones, maybe semi covered with awnings because of rain.

It's a great gateway to the beauty that surrounds it.

There maybe a certain pride that's mistaken as smugness. There maybe a smugness that's mistaken as pride. But it is a city to be proud of.

Daisy78

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Katgurl wrote: »

Yeah. You're too lazy.

Even the way people walk in galway does my nut... Meandering all over the path in that slow aimless manner.

Sounds more like the junkies you'd see on O Connell Street or maybe the inbred skangers hassling people on the Luas Red Line.

At least our "workshy" good for nothings have a creative streak, their cousins up in Dublin 1 only care about shooting up and mugging poor unsuspecting tourists!!

milehip

Daisy78 wrote: »

At least our "workshy" good for nothings have a creative streak, their cousins up in Dublin 1 only care about shooting up and mugging poor unsuspecting tourists!!

You must be forgetting about Gerald Barry's exploits.

Daisy78

milehip wrote: »

Daisy78 wrote: »

At least our "workshy" good for nothings have a creative streak, their cousins up in Dublin 1 only care about shooting up and mugging poor unsuspecting tourists!!

You must be forgetting about Gerald Barry's exploits.

Who is not originally from Galway from what I recollect.

fergiesfolly

Daisy78 wrote: »

Who is not originally from Galway from what I recollect.

Pretty sure he is.

And Jesus, this has taken some tangent.

Your Face

fergiesfolly wrote: »

And Jesus, this has taken some tangent.

It should have been nipped in the bud pages ago.

Dempsey

Silentcorner wrote: »

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....

A small startup turned into the market leader for driving assistance systems for all the major car brands in the world...

dd972

It does seem like a place where no one works, everyone's a student, daytripper or tourist, I've always found the natives of that county very nice people on the whole though.

Badly Drunk Boy

jh79 wrote: »

Never heard that at all as long as i have lived there.

Connemara is the most racist place i've ever encountered in Ireland. The n word was completely socially acceptable from Spiddal to Carraroe.

I've relatives in Clifden (a bit further on in Connemara) and they are very racist (but nice people at the same time). Then again, my brother is racist too, which is probably why he gets on better with them. I don't know about the population in general, but if the restaurants are anything to go by, they don't like 'that foreign muck!".

Arghus wrote: »

Hate the races and all the suit wearing and fake tanning crap that goes with them...

RACIST! :pac:

Katgurl

Daisy78 wrote: »

At least our "workshy" good for nothings have a creative streak, their cousins up in Dublin 1 only care about shooting up and mugging poor unsuspecting tourists!!

Yes if by creative streak you mean sitting in neachtains all day pontificating about the novel you're going to write.

CarlosHarpic

_Puma_ wrote: »

If you have visited Galway twice and the only things you have ended up doing is going to pubs then I suspect that is more a general reflection on you rather than the City itself.

In fairness its an easy trap to fall into. Being Irish it seems everything revolves around going to the pub, but Galway has a wealth of options if you broaden your horizons a little.

There is absolutely nothing there but pubs. This was my original point. I mean literally nothing in that city for tourists apart from getting ****faced.

It chic status with the national media says more about what a bunch of uncultured dipsos they are, than it validates "cool Galway city's" completely undeserving self-image

There are villages around the country with more to do and see.

siltirocker

topper75 wrote: »

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!

Where did people pull this Limerick craic from I have read it 4 or 5 times in this thread.

Limerick was never the European Capital of Culture.

Dublin was 1991 (infastructure grants pretty much lead to modern day Dublin Bus), Cork in 2005 (cited by the council as having huge effects on the Marque and Pairc Ui Chaoimh funding down the road), and Galway 2020.

Limerick was designated Irish City of Culture by for 2014 by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. And it was a disaster.

Big different between that and being the European Capital of Culture.

Graces7

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.

That is cheating. A lot of what you list is neither in or near Galway CITY! CITY ... as opposed to Galway COUNTY. Connemara? Kylemore? etc etc etc

It has a great DEALZ shop! But no toilets in Tesco

Wompa1

Graces7 wrote: »

That is cheating. A lot of what you list is neither in or near Galway CITY! CITY ... as opposed to Galway COUNTY. Connemara? Kylemore? etc etc etc

It has a great DEALZ shop! But no toilets in Tesco

The toilets are just outside it, walk past the Boots and take a right. There's another restroom down by the secondary Tesco that sells electronics and sh1t. Please, please, please! Pay it forward.

dok_golf

what talent has come out of mullingar or Navan? Hector? Tommy tiernan? 007? Joe Dolan, Bezzie, Niall Horan?

Beechwoodspark

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

I've relatives in Clifden (a bit further on in Connemara) and they are very racist (but nice people at the same time). Then again, my brother is racist too, which is probably why he gets on better with them. I don't know about the population in general, but if the restaurants are anything to go by, they don't like 'that foreign muck!".

RACIST! :pac:

Have friends in Connemara and spent time there with them and frequented a few pubs and racist talk was common. The n word etc when watching football matches. Seems to be almost a badge of pride with some in the community there.

Mrs OBumble

Graces7 wrote: »

That is cheating. A lot of what you list is neither in or near Galway CITY! CITY ... as opposed to Galway COUNTY. Connemara? Kylemore? etc etc etc

It has a great DEALZ shop! But no toilets in Tesco

Eh? Almost all the stuff in tjat list is in the city. Except kylemore oranmore castle.

Connemara starts when you cross the Corrib.

frozenfrozen

What are some things I should do in and around connemara. I went to that coral beach this morning it was nice

[Deleted User]

Galway City has a strange enough vibe IMO and I lived there for six or seven years.
It is very, very laid back, it's not that people there don't work hard, they just don't have a live to work attitude at all.
I think there's a fair bit for visitors TBH, beaches, loads of cultural stuff, restaurants.
One thing no one likes there is the immense traffic, especially in the mornings and evenings. The outer city bypass is desperately needed.
I didn't find it very friendly, people seem to have their cliques and stick with them to a pretty large extent.
That said it is a way nicer place than Limerick, where I also spent a year.

regular_slob

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

Galway City has a strange enough vibe IMO and I lived there for six or seven years.
It is very, very laid back, it's not that people there don't work hard, they just don't have a live to work attitude at all.
I think there's a fair bit for visitors TBH, beaches, loads of cultural stuff, restaurants.
One thing no one likes there is the immense traffic, especially in the mornings and evenings. The outer city bypass is desperately needed.
I didn't find it very friendly, people seem to have their cliques and stick with them to a pretty large extent.
That said it is a way nicer place than Limerick, where I also spent a year.

limerick and galway while almost identical in size are very different places , galway city is a very middle class place where as limerick is the most working class city in ireland , galway city has very little crime , limerick is riddled with it due to being penned in from all sides by the worst council estates in the country

galway really outperforms on every metric where as limerick underperforms , the evidence is there in terms of house prices , average house in galway is about a hundred thousand euro more expensive

pjohnson

regular_slob wrote: »

limerick and galway while almost identical in size are very different places , galway city is a very middle class place where as limerick is the most working class city in ireland , galway city has very little crime , limerick is riddled with it due to being penned in from all sides by the worst council estates in the country

galway really outperforms on every metric where as limerick underperforms , the evidence is there in terms of house prices , average house in galway is about a hundred thousand euro more expensive

Galway City has very little crime?

regular_slob

pjohnson wrote: »

Galway City has very little crime?

yes this is true !

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

It’s not a city it’s 2 streets and some pubs surrounded by a giant traffic jam. Last time I was there I never saw so many fights in my life. Seemed to be lots of travellers beating the heads off each other.

MarkY91

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

It’s not a city it’s 2 streets and some pubs surrounded by a giant traffic jam. Last time I was there I never saw so many fights in my life. Seemed to be lots of travellers beating the heads off each other.

Yeah I have to laugh at how it is called a city.

My foreign girlfriend barely classes Dublin as a city. Her french housemate said it's like a town. I could only imgien what he would think of Galway City.