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Collegiate Church of St Nicholas of Myra
Crowned by a pyramidal spire, the Collegiate Church of St Nicholas of Myra is Ireland's largest medieval parish church still in use. Dating from 1320, the church has been rebuilt and enlarged over the centuries, though much of the original form has been retained.
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Eyre Square
For years the restoration of Galway's central public square turned the city's showpiece into a construction site and created traffic chaos. But the end result - an open green space with sculptures and pathways - is worth it. Its lawns are formally named Kennedy Park in commemoration of President John F Kennedy's 1963 visit to Galway, though you'll rarely, if ever, hear locals refer to it as anything but Eyre Sq.
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Galway Cathedral
Lording over the River Corrib, the imposing Galway Cathedral was dedicated by the late Cardinal Richard Cushing of Boston in 1965. The cathedral's full name is the unwieldy Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, but its high, curved arches and central dome have a simple, solid elegance, as well as superb acoustics that are best appreciated during an organ recital. Program dates are posted on the cathedral's website.
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Galway City Museum
Adjacent to the Spanish Arch, the Galway City Museum permanently opened in its new location in mid-2007. It houses an array of artefacts interpreting the city's history, including some military items from the War of Independence, as well as research facilities, a coffee shop and superb vantage points looking out over the city and bay.
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Kenny Gallery
Established in 1968, West Ireland's first gallery displays an exceptional collection of Irish art in a higgledy-piggledy terrace house. Look out for work by up-and-coming Galway artists, including Charlotte Kelly's abstract landscapes, Kieran Tuohy's bog-oak sculptures (crafted from bog-oak roots preserved in the oxygen-resistant turf for thousands of years), Jennifer Cunningham's prints and Liam Butler's welded copper.
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Lynch's Castle
Considered the finest town castle in Ireland, the old stone town house Lynch's Castle was built in the 14th century, though much of what you see today dates from around 1600. The Lynch family was the most powerful of the 14 ruling Galway 'tribes', and members of the family held the position of mayor no fewer than 80 times between 1480 and 1650.
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Nora Barnacle House
James Joyce courted his future wife Nora Barnacle (1884-1951) at this little house, beginning in 1909. It's now a privately owned museum displaying the couple's letters and photographs among evocatively arranged furniture. Hours are erratic; call ahead or check with the tourist office.
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Salmon Weir
Upstream from the Salmon Weir Bridge, which crosses the River Corrib just east of the cathedral, the waters of the Corrib cascade down the great weir, one of their final descents before reaching Galway Bay. The weir controls the water levels above it, and when the salmon are running you can often see shoals of them waiting in the clear waters before rushing upriver to spawn.
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Salthill Prom
A favourite pastime for Galweigans and visitors alike is walking along the Salthill Prom, the seaside promenade running from the edge of the city along Salthill. Local tradition dictates 'kicking the wall' across from the diving boards (a 30- to 45-minute stroll from town) before turning around. At the time of writing, plans were underway to extend the Prom all the way from Salthill to Silver Strand - about 7.5km all up.
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Spanish Arch
Framing the river east of Wolfe Tone Bridge, the 1584 Spanish Arch is thought to be an extension of Galway's medieval walls. The arch appears to have been designed as a passageway through which ships entered the city to unload goods such as wine and brandy from Spain.
Showing 1-10 of 10 results
