Galway

Heading out on the 5 hour bus  to Galway we occasionally came near the Wild Atlantic Way and when I could I’d snap a photo.

 

My host, Mike, picked me up just outside the bus drop off near a bar called O’Connell’s.  More on that later. Since it is a 1.5 mile walk to His and his wife’s B&B. I was glad for the lift.

The next morning I walked into the city center.  In Erye Square was being all tricked out for Christmas with all the traditional baths selling food and crafts.  I asked a few vendors if they could direct me to the JFK Memorial since the anniversary of his death was 2 days prior.  JFK had visited Galway in June 1963.  None of the vendors knew anything about it with one suggesting Powerscourt on the east coast!  I realized they were probably not locals since this is in the park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As is this statue of Irish language writer Pádraic Ó Conaire which recently replaced the original that was moved during renovation.

The High Street area was in full festive mode wit hBlack Friday sales everywhere.

Wilde statue. Oscar, on the left and Eduard on the right depicting a meeting that never occurred

 

Lynching is a term for hanging.   It is said that in 1493, the mayor and magistrate of Galway James Lynch FitzStephen, hanged his own son from the window of his home. Lynch’s son confessed to have murdered a man and the judge wished to make sure that the peace was kept.

 

St. Nicholas’ was founded in 1320 honoring the patron saint of seafarers and Galway’s status as a port.

At 6 km/3.72 miles River Corrib is Ireland’s shortest river and one of the shortest in Europe but it also the second largest river in Ireland after the Shannon measured by flow rate and is one border of Nun’s Island in heart of the city.  #17

In the Galway City Museum we find the original statue of  Padraic  O Conaire

This chafing dish would have had hot embers in the center and a plate of food on top to keep warm

Galway Sword & Mace

The fishing boats that plied the Galway waters were called Hookers

 

And these 3 gentlemen are important members  of Ireland’s political history

 

 

The Spanish Arch, were part of the walls protecting he city built in 1584.

Holidays in Galway

Now more about O’Connell’s Pub. In addition to the large, old ,classic Irish Pub there is a big outside garden area where the weekend and summer overflowing  crowds gather

A couple pint of local ales and good craic.

And as it is getting dark early, Eyre Square was all lite up

 

5.84 miles