Galway Guide
FESTIVALS
Baboro International Arts Festival for Children
Internationally acclaimed childrens festival running in galway for the last 13 years, renowned for high quality national and international arts performances and workshops for children and families. This festival takes place in October and is a seven day event
www.baboro.ie | Phone 091 562667
Galway Arts Festival
Regarded as one of Europe’s key cultural events Galway Arts Festivals is an international celebration of the performing and visual arts. Over its history the Festival has become a vital showcase for irish arts and international events and is now firmly established as Irelands leading arts festival. The festival takes place from the 12th to 25th July 2010.
www.galwayartsfestival.ie | Phone 091 509700
Galway Oyster Festival
The Galway Oyster festival is one of the most celebrated and longest running festivals in the world. It evolved from very modest beginnings in 1954 and recently celebrated its 50the year anniversary. This festival is on from the 23rd to 26th September 2010.
www.galwayoysterfest.com | Phone 091 587922
Galway Races
The races are an ideal outing for the seasoned punter, holiday makers or indeed a family day out. Heart stopping finishes and breathtaking fashion are all to be found at the races. The Festival runs for seven consecutive days starting from the last Monday in July each year.
www.galwayraces.com | Phone 091 753870
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Galway Musuem
Galway City Musuem is situated behind the famous Spanish Arch overlooking the Corrib and the ancient Claddagh village.The museum tells the story of Galway City and it surroundings with artwork and objects from the medieval times to the present day.
www.galwaycitymusuem.ie | Phone 091 532460#
The Spanish Arch
The Spanish Arch which is located on the banks of the river Corrib was built in 1854. It was originally and extension of the famous city walls designed to protect the quays. The Spanish Arch is in fact a misnomer as there is proven association between the Spanish and Galway and the building of the Arch.
National University of Ireland
NUIG was opened in 1845 as the Queens College Galway, It is one of Irelands foremost centres of academic excellence and caters for over 15,000 students. The University which is a ten minuter walk from Galway plays an important role ine the cultural life of Galway. It is the venue for many musical, literary and sporting events.
Nora Barnacles House
Nora Barnacle, wife of James Joyce,is said to have ptovided the inspiration for the character Molly Bloom in Ulysses. Jameson Joyce was a regular visitor to Galway. The house in ehich his wife Nora lived is now a small museum. It is open to the public during the Summer. (email information@norabarnacle.com)
Saturday and Sunday Market
This market takes place every weekend beside St Nicholas’s Church. The market provided a variety of locl produce including fruit, vegetables, cheeses jewellery and hand made items to name but a few.
Kylemore Abbey and Walled Gardens
Set in the heart of Connemara, Kylemore Abbey has been the home of the Benedictine nuns since 1920. Originally built by Mitchell Henry as a gift for his wife it is one of the great neo gothic castles of the period. The restored Gothic Chuch and miniature cathedral is a building of international importance.
www.kylemoretourism.ie | Phone 095 41146
Cliffs Of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Irelands Top visitor attractions and stretch for 8km and rise up 214meters above the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. From the cliffs, one can see the Aran islands, Galway Bay as well as the Twelve Pins, Maam Turk Mountains,in Connemara and Loophead of the south. The Cliffs of Moher take their name from a ruined promontory fort “Mothar” which was demolished during the Napolenic Wars to make room for a signal tower.
www.cliffsofmoher.ie | Phone 065 7086141
Aran Islands
The three Aran islands, Inis Mor , (big Island) Inis Meain (Middle island) and Inis Oirr (East island)are situated in a North westerly, south westerly south easterly direction at the mouth of Galway Bay Ireland. They ae famous for their geological formation , historic monuments and their linguistic and cultural heritage. The Irish language is still spoken here and in the twenty first century all native born islanders are bilingual in both Irish and English.
www.aranislands.ie
THEATRE
There are two threatres in galway to choose from, the famous Druid Theatre and the Town hall theatre both offereing a varied programme of entertainment.
www.tht.ie | Phone 091 569777
www.druidtheatre.com | Phone 091 568660
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Delphi Adventure Centre
Delphi is a perfect place to experience the great outdoors. Whether it is climbing to the top of Mweelrea, the highest mountain in the West of Ireland, catching your first surf break on the breathtaking Cross beach or sea kayaking through the majestic Killary Fjord, there is a team of professional instructors on hand to guide you.
www.delphimountainresort.com | Phone 095 42208
Greyhound Racing
A night at the dogs is a great way to spend and unforgettable time with family or friends. The atmosphere, the food , the flutter, the craic and of course the top class racing all combine to ensure you have a night to remember.
www.igb.ie | Phone 091 562273
Monkey Business
Monkey Business is an ideal play centre for kids. Activities include ballpools, bouncy castles,climbing frames.
Phone 091 580956
Galway Atlantiquaria
Ireland national Aquarium is one of the finest visitor attractions in Irelabnd and is home to over 170 species of fresh water and marine life.
www. nationalaquarium.ie | Phone 091 585100
Turoe Pet Farm
Turoe pet farmis a family run enterprise and boasts many wonderful facilities including nature trail around the farm(feed and cussdle the animals on trail), outdoor playgrounds, bouncy castles, pets corner.
www.turoepetfarm.com | Phone 091 841580
Golf Courses
The West of Ireland offers a wide selection of golf courses including:-
Baboro International Arts Festival for Children
Internationally acclaimed childrens festival running in galway for the last 13 years, renowned for high quality national and international arts performances and workshops for children and families. This festival takes place in October and is a seven day event
www.baboro.ie | Phone 091 562667
Galway Arts Festival
Regarded as one of Europe’s key cultural events Galway Arts Festivals is an international celebration of the performing and visual arts. Over its history the Festival has become a vital showcase for irish arts and international events and is now firmly established as Irelands leading arts festival. The festival takes place from the 12th to 25th July 2010.
www.galwayartsfestival.ie | Phone 091 509700
Galway Oyster Festival
The Galway Oyster festival is one of the most celebrated and longest running festivals in the world. It evolved from very modest beginnings in 1954 and recently celebrated its 50the year anniversary. This festival is on from the 23rd to 26th September 2010.
www.galwayoysterfest.com | Phone 091 587922
Galway Races
The races are an ideal outing for the seasoned punter, holiday makers or indeed a family day out. Heart stopping finishes and breathtaking fashion are all to be found at the races. The Festival runs for seven consecutive days starting from the last Monday in July each year.
www.galwayraces.com | Phone 091 753870
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Galway Musuem
Galway City Musuem is situated behind the famous Spanish Arch overlooking the Corrib and the ancient Claddagh village.The museum tells the story of Galway City and it surroundings with artwork and objects from the medieval times to the present day.
www.galwaycitymusuem.ie | Phone 091 532460#
The Spanish Arch
The Spanish Arch which is located on the banks of the river Corrib was built in 1854. It was originally and extension of the famous city walls designed to protect the quays. The Spanish Arch is in fact a misnomer as there is proven association between the Spanish and Galway and the building of the Arch.
National University of Ireland
NUIG was opened in 1845 as the Queens College Galway, It is one of Irelands foremost centres of academic excellence and caters for over 15,000 students. The University which is a ten minuter walk from Galway plays an important role ine the cultural life of Galway. It is the venue for many musical, literary and sporting events.
Nora Barnacles House
Nora Barnacle, wife of James Joyce,is said to have ptovided the inspiration for the character Molly Bloom in Ulysses. Jameson Joyce was a regular visitor to Galway. The house in ehich his wife Nora lived is now a small museum. It is open to the public during the Summer. (email information@norabarnacle.com)
Saturday and Sunday Market
This market takes place every weekend beside St Nicholas’s Church. The market provided a variety of locl produce including fruit, vegetables, cheeses jewellery and hand made items to name but a few.
Kylemore Abbey and Walled Gardens
Set in the heart of Connemara, Kylemore Abbey has been the home of the Benedictine nuns since 1920. Originally built by Mitchell Henry as a gift for his wife it is one of the great neo gothic castles of the period. The restored Gothic Chuch and miniature cathedral is a building of international importance.
www.kylemoretourism.ie | Phone 095 41146
Cliffs Of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Irelands Top visitor attractions and stretch for 8km and rise up 214meters above the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. From the cliffs, one can see the Aran islands, Galway Bay as well as the Twelve Pins, Maam Turk Mountains,in Connemara and Loophead of the south. The Cliffs of Moher take their name from a ruined promontory fort “Mothar” which was demolished during the Napolenic Wars to make room for a signal tower.
www.cliffsofmoher.ie | Phone 065 7086141
Aran Islands
The three Aran islands, Inis Mor , (big Island) Inis Meain (Middle island) and Inis Oirr (East island)are situated in a North westerly, south westerly south easterly direction at the mouth of Galway Bay Ireland. They ae famous for their geological formation , historic monuments and their linguistic and cultural heritage. The Irish language is still spoken here and in the twenty first century all native born islanders are bilingual in both Irish and English.
www.aranislands.ie
THEATRE
There are two threatres in galway to choose from, the famous Druid Theatre and the Town hall theatre both offereing a varied programme of entertainment.
www.tht.ie | Phone 091 569777
www.druidtheatre.com | Phone 091 568660
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Delphi Adventure Centre
Delphi is a perfect place to experience the great outdoors. Whether it is climbing to the top of Mweelrea, the highest mountain in the West of Ireland, catching your first surf break on the breathtaking Cross beach or sea kayaking through the majestic Killary Fjord, there is a team of professional instructors on hand to guide you.
www.delphimountainresort.com | Phone 095 42208
Greyhound Racing
A night at the dogs is a great way to spend and unforgettable time with family or friends. The atmosphere, the food , the flutter, the craic and of course the top class racing all combine to ensure you have a night to remember.
www.igb.ie | Phone 091 562273
Monkey Business
Monkey Business is an ideal play centre for kids. Activities include ballpools, bouncy castles,climbing frames.
Phone 091 580956
Galway Atlantiquaria
Ireland national Aquarium is one of the finest visitor attractions in Irelabnd and is home to over 170 species of fresh water and marine life.
www. nationalaquarium.ie | Phone 091 585100
Turoe Pet Farm
Turoe pet farmis a family run enterprise and boasts many wonderful facilities including nature trail around the farm(feed and cussdle the animals on trail), outdoor playgrounds, bouncy castles, pets corner.
www.turoepetfarm.com | Phone 091 841580
Golf Courses
The West of Ireland offers a wide selection of golf courses including:-
- Galway Golf Club, Salthill (091 522033)
- Bearna Golf Club (091 592677)
- Oughterard Golf Club (091 522131)
- Gort Golf Club (091 632244)
- Connemara Championship Golf Club (095 23502)
- Bearna Golf Club (091 592677)
- Oughterard Golf Club (091 522131)
- Gort Golf Club (091 632244)
- Connemara Championship Golf Club (095 23502)