Galway City pubs and little else

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...

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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!

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

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:

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.