Galway Info Please.?

Question

Hi,

Myslef and 13 friends are going on a birthday trip to Galway at the beginning of March. As I've never been, I wondered if anyone can recommend certain, food, pubs, things to do etc? Of course we will be partaking in the odd guiness (or maybe babycham if we're lucky) but I'm personally a 'foody' and want to taste the real Ireland. I know traditional food such as Irish stew, soda bread and guiness are the most well know things, but is there anything else I should be on the look out for while I'm over there? I don't want the trip to be just a bevvy session. What can us girls get up to through the day that will get the Irish wind in our hair and make us feel alive, probably when we all want to die of hangovers????

Much Appreciated!

Answer 1

Salt hill or Spideal.

Answer 2

salthill promenade starts down by the claddagh{ring} with there famous swans that walk will cure u in the morning with fab views of galway bay most locals avoid quay street at nite to touristy so cross over the bridge to the west where monroes/roisin dubh(black rose}massimos, blue note etc are the most popular pubs,get the local free papers theres 3 which will give u all the info on nite clubs,take a day trip to the aran islands i could go on .

Answer 3

Definitely don't miss a trip to the Cliffs of Mohr, it's absolutely stunning.  Try to get a coach trip (there's tons of them, and they're pretty cheap) that includes a stop at The Burren.... it's a landscape that's so odd, you'll think you're walking on the moon.

The others already mentioned the great pubs and clubs to stop at.  As far as eating goes, I know what you mean, I'm kind of a foody too.  When I travel I'm just totally honest when I go out to eat, i.e. "Hey, I'd like to try something that's kind of traditional and that you'd recommend."  Usually people are happy to tell you, only once in a while do I get the old eye roll that says, "Aw geez, another d**n American."  :)

Have fun!!

Answer 4

Well galway city is where its at in terms of nightlife and you guys should definitely spend a few nights there and a few nights somewhere in Connemara (the small town of Clifden would be my choice)

in terms of good bars you really can take a pick of any of these as they will all be packed thursday through sunday

the Kings Head (great FREE live rock band here every night)

Front Door

Bazaar

Tí na nÓg

Busker Brownes (classy bar and good place for a chat)

Cellar (live rock band playing for free in the basement most nights)

Fibber Magees

Freeney's Bar

Living Room (which is really a nightclub come bar)

McSwiggans

The Quays (great live music here, music is free downstairs before 12am )

Monroes

Taaffes (both monroes and Taaffes offer excellent live FREE irish traditional music, Taaffes gets very very busy though)



As far as nightclubs go

Central Park (known locally as CP's)

Cuba

GPO

Halo

Karma

this gives you a list of places to eat in galway http://www.galway.net/todo/restaurants/ i would recommend mcswiggans pub, GBC Restaurant & Coffeeshop, skeffington hotel and the Imperial hotel (both of which are not listed on that for some reason???)

a day trip to the aran islands from galway city is a must and you have the choice of plane or boat http://www.visitaranislands.com/

a day trip to the burren and cliffs of moher is also a must while staying in galway, numerous coach companies leave every morning next to the railway station http://www.lallytours.com/tourbur.html

http://www.healytours.ie/burren.htm

The seaside resort of salthill is only 3-4 miles from the city center of galway and buses only take 15 minutes and a walk along the the beach with the cool atlantic wind in your face is a great way to beat a hangover (the beach is mostly rocky sorry). There is a large entertainment complex in Salthill called leisureland http://www.leisureland.ie/ as well as numerous small casinos in the area

PS don't expect to see much Irish stew and soda bread in Galway city, you might see it on the menu but chances are you won't

Answer 5

I'm trying to think of traditional food restaurant in Galway maybe Mc Swiggans http://www.mcswiggans.com/ sorry i'm not much help but if i want a stew or something i'd eat it at home..if i go out for food then i want something different.. I can only think of one that definitely does stew and thats Finnegans on Market St http://www.finnegansirishfood.com/ However there are also a few places on quay st (which is touristy but hopefully not too bad in March) that might have traditional Irish food including maybe the Quays. Theres a lovely pub on quay st called Tigh Neachtains too..I personally love a restaurant called cookes on upper abbeygate st http://www.cookesrestaurantandwinebar.ie

And if u want to get the wind in your hair a brisk walk along the salthill prom should do the trick.. starting from the town side and don't forget to kick the wall (tradition!!). Sorry i can't be more helpful but if you want advice on good places to eat that aren't "typically" Irish! just ask!!