Galway shops putting the 'experience' back into retail....

Here in Galway we really have the nicest shops and you won’t beat it for atmosphere, especially at Christmas. Who wants to spend their money in bland, faceless shopping centres, that couldn’t care less about you or your euros when you have got Shop Street....
At the top end, literally and figuratively we have Brown Thomas, a luxury department store, its corner location a hub of stylish yet affordable shopping, and all very elegant in classic black & white with a service to match. They always have the most gorgeous shop windows packed full of highly desirable goodies, so if you hear of a smash and grab raid in Galway it could well be me!

Just opposite is another shop window, I have been known to lick, Hartmanns the jewellers, where you can lust after all kinds of lovely trinkets from Rolex's to Mont Blanc and even Fabergé. Or be-dazzled by the sparkliest diamonds in Lazlo's as you sidestep into Premoli’s gorgeous shoes & boots shop. The wedgewood blue and white front of the Treasure Chest hints at what’s inside, a timeless emporium of traditional Irish gifts.

Further along on the right is McCambridges, a purveyor of fine foods since, well forever and a foodie haunt long before the term came into being. Down a bit further is Easons, the last of our Irish bookstores, online is taking over but people still like to feel books or pick up an international newspaper or magazine. Then there's Anthony Ryans, a family drapers that’s catered for generations of Galwegians, from first Holy Communions to Weddings and everything else in between....And from the traditional to the ultra modern, the award winning Born Centre on Galway's inland waterway system. I have a real soft spot for this place, stunning architecture, great location with possibly the best views of Galway in Galway.

The list goes on and on....put it this way you wont leave Galway empty handed or disappointed if you are fond of your retail therapy! Irelands Hidden Gems - Galway City Guide is now available as an iPhone app It features the 10 Best of Everything there is To See and Do in Galway, plus an extra What's On in Galway? page which is updated monthly and a handy map showing all the major landmarks etc.The 10 Best Shops in Galway are.....1 Brown Thomas Shop St, Ireland's leading department store, if you only have time to do one, this is it....2 Blacoes Jewellers Mainguard St, beautiful contemporary pieces, handmade in Galway.3 Born Centre Newtownsmith, incomparable riverside setting, overlooking the Corrib and the Cathedral.4 Louis Copeland Merchants Rd, posh menswear shop originally from Dublin, moved West with the rest of us.5 Charlie Byrnes Middle St, like the books themselves a much loved place to lose yourself in....6 Cloon Keen Kirwans Lane, an 'atelier' no less in heart of Galway with perfumed candles & cosmetics made in Spiddal.7 Cobwebs Spanish Arch, full of rare and beautiful things collected by Phyllis McNamara.8 Hartmanns Jewellers Shop St, for all of the reasons above and more, sybarite heaven.9 Kennys Bookshop & Gallery has moved up to Liosbaun, but the worth the trip if you want to see some of the finest contemporary art in Ireland.10 Anthony Ryans traditional drapery shop with well stocked contemporary homestore on Lombard street.PS We even had a Christmas Market in Eyre Square last year which was a great success so will most likely be repeated again this year, will keep you posted....


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Galway Pubs as plentiful as they are colourful...

Now, I am no expert on Galway Pubs, but my grown up kids to their eternal credit (or my shame) are. In fact, they are on first name terms with most of the bartenders in well, practically all of them. And like any other city, your choice of watering hole will depend pretty much on your taste in everything from the decor to the music, age profile, depth of your pocket to the company you keep? Which is probably your reason for going there in the first place? Other than that, where to get the very best pint of Guinness would be high on the list of most people I know, which my ‘experts’ assure me is in The Crane Sea Rd, although McSwiggans ,Eyre St, would be a close contender with nice creamy pints of Guinness on permanent offer at €3 a pint....

Galway pubs can be broadly categorised by the types that frequent them ie Trendy Young Things strictly 20-30 year olds prefer the BierHaus, Massimos and the Blue Note which apparently has ‘cool tunes’ whatever they are? (joking) with The Crane, Roisin Dubh and Munroes bringing up the rear for traditional music and contemporary gigs. The After Work Hangouts include the likes of Bar 8 on the docks, The Dail (not the real one) the Front Door and Busker Browns where after work can easily run into breakfast the following morning.

The Rugby Pubs ie the best places to watch 'the match' could be GAA either or indeed any sporting event where there’s a green jersey involved? are the Spanish Arch Hotel which also has very good and reasonably priced barfood, always handy if it's going to a long day? Fagans, downstairs in the Meyrick or The Cottage out in Salthill. We absolutely love this, having found the perfect excuse to spend whole weekends in the pub if need be? If you want join in you might need to check out a few of our National AnthemsDid you know we have two at the start of each rugby match? You see I told you it was important stuff....

And lastly the Touristy Pubs as in the Kings Head, The Quays, Munroes and An Pucan if you fancy a bit of Irish dancing? or indeed an excellent breakfast? in which ever order you would prefer? In fairness, these venues are hugely popular because the people involved make a great effort to put on a really good show for the tourists and the locals. Most of the gigs are free and each venue has a unique and real Irish personality, all of them are hopping till very late 7 nights a week, especially during the summer.But if a fella (God forbid) had to pick one pub, just one? it would have to be Tigh Neachtain or Naughtons as it is known locally yet is dearly loved and cherished the world over. Having offered comfort and succour to manys a weary soul for just about forever, Slainte.
Irelands Hidden Gems - Galway City Guide is now available as an iPhone app It features the 10 Best of Everything there is To See and Do in Galway, plus an extra What's On in Galway? page which is updated monthly and a handy map showing all the major landmarks etc.The 10 Best Pubs in Galway are....(please God I wont be shot?)1 Naughtons corner of Quay St & Cross St, well put it this way you wont miss it? A colourful pub in every sense of the word.2 The Crane, Sea Rd traditional music sessions every night and the best pint of Guinness in Galway.3 McSwiggans, Eyre St have a permanent offer of €3 a pint of Guinness or glass of wine, great food, smashing snug and free music gigs.4 The Kings Head, High St this pub dates back to medieval times and has a serious history, great fireplaces, good food and drink.5 Taffes next door, good no-nonsense local Irish GAA Pub.6 Tig Coilli opposite, free traditional music daily with Sundays being the serious sessions.7 The Quays where else Quay St, very popular on every level, there’s lots of them, good music and craic, great bar food and a wicked big cast iron stove to toast yourself in front of during the winter.8 Munroes, Dominick St in the heart of Galways West End, another deservedly popular pub with tourists and locals alike.9 Roisin Dubh, Dominick St probably the best music venue in Galway.10 The BierHaus, Henry St every bottled beer known to man including the local 'galway hooker'. Live djs by night, jukebox jives by day.And finally if you just want to meet and greet a friend or business associate, sit by a nice fire with an Irish Coffeehot whiskey or sip cocktails on a high stool? then any of the bars in the Galway Hotels that I have recommended here are ideal, they are just not proper Irish pubs by any stretch of an interior designers imagination, you understand ....And news just in? Authentic Ireland have a special offer on their excellent Music and Pub Guided Tours of Ireland with $200 discount per couple with bookings this month. For more details and a nice little video check out the following....Authentic Ireland - Unique Pub & Music Tours

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Galway - home from home...

Galway is very different to any other town in Ireland, while officially a city it has a cosy village feel about it, especially in the wintertime when practically all of the tourists have gone and it is not so busy, although that is what give Galway its famous buzz. It is a second home to lots of people like myself, who have a special grá (love) for the place.
And, personally, I cannot think of a better way to spend a Saturday, then traipsing around the city which, typically, starts with a wander through the early morning market. Meeting and greeting the familiar faces of local traders, as they go about their business, as they have for years now in the shadow of the medieval church of St Nicholas.

Christopher Columbus actually visited and prayed here in this church, before setting off for the New World with a Galway man (and his dog) in tow. In fact it is the oldest Church of Ireland still in daily use. Perhaps Christopher Columbus even picked up some supplies in Shop Street, the main shopping street (we won’t say drag) because there’s nothing dreary or generic about it. Shop St is always a hive of activity with live music and various street acts daily. And thankfully we still have some good old shopping institutions left there, like McCambridges (food emporium) with excellent new restaurant upstairs, Anthony Ryans (drapers) and Powells (music shop) but first coffee....

It seems to me, we now have more coffee shops then pubs in Galway which is kind of worrying, though maybe not first thing of a morning? Griffins is delightful with cosy real turf fires, Mocha Beans was one of the first trendy coffee shops (just around the corner in Cross St and Butlers do great take out coffee, with a free handmade chocolate! So you can sip away and watch the world go by .... and decide what you are going to do for the afternoon, if anything?...

Galway Hotels - Where to Stay?

When it comes to choosing Galway hotels it's like any other city break? the best place to stay is in town, provided there’s free parking, but not so close that you won’t get a wink of sleep on a Saturday night because you can certainly party till dawn in Galway, if that’s what you are after...But its great to be able step outside your hotel and right into the heart of the action, or wander back with your shopping for a little snooze in the afternoon, you don’t want to have to waste time or money on taxis.

However there are exceptions like the glorious G Hotel, designed by Galway Hotels own Phillip Treacy or The Twelve in Barna, another great boutique Galway. An excellent location if you want to spend some time exploring the West as you already on the road to Spiddal and Connemara which shouldn’t be missed.

Or Glenlo Abbey which is a lovely country house hotel, with its own golf course and famous Pullman restaurant in a railway carriage. City centre Galway hotels, which are extremely handy if you are arriving by train or bus, you have the Park Hotel, which has a great reputation for fine dining and the Meyrick Hotel. It used to be the famous Great Southern Railway Hotel on Eyre Square and has recently revamped, there's a patisserie in the lobby and a nice fire always. Another quaint hotel, as in reputable service and tradition, is the Ardilaun on posh Taylors Hill, which is just a short walk from the city centre.

The House is another comfortable boutique hotel near the Spanish Arch, great location for shopping. And the Harbour Hotel on the docks, is where all the action will be for the return of the Volvo Ocean Challenge in 2011, so book early as they say to avoid disappointment, as this will be one hell of a party judging by the last event in 2009. However you wont go wrong with choosing any of the following Galway hotels listed below and if you do have any complaints please let me know and I will get them rectified asap. Irelands Hidden Gems - Galway City Guide is now available as an iPhone app It features the 10 Best of Everything there is To See and Do in Galway, plus an extra What's On in Galway? page which is updated monthly and a handy map showing all the major landmarks etc.The 10 Best Galway Hotels are....1 Ardilaun Hotel Taylors Hill, Galway a very nice hotel just a short walk out of town in a posh suburb.2 G Hotel, Well Park Galway, lovely designer sparkly pink confection by milliner Philip Treacy, great girly retreat.3 Galway Bay Salthill, Galway, very popular weekend and summer holiday retreat, all amenitites including the beach on the doorstep.4 Glenlo Abbey Menlo, Galway, old fashioned country house hotel with its own golf course on the banks of Lough Corrib.5 Harbour Hotel The Docks, Galway, perfect location, great value lunch & early bird menus and so easy to find!6 House Hotel Spanish Arch, Galway, nice quirkly decor and very friendly service, parking concessions nearby.7 Meyrick Hotel Eyre Square, Galway, recently revamped, patisserie in the lobby, good bar food all day.8 Park House just off Eyre Square, long standing reputation for fine food and hospitality that goes with it of course.9 The Twelve Barna, Galway, another lovely boutique hotel just outside of Galway in Barna, on the road to Connemara. Great seafood restaurants and craft centres in the area.10 Westwood Hotel Newcastle, Galway, good budget hotel with a bit of atmosphere and a good attitude, decent walk or taxi ride into town.

Things to do in Galway : Galway restaurants which to choose?

Things to do in Galway : Galway restaurants which to choose?: Galway restaurants which to choose?  Where to eat in Galway? Well, like most cities, there is a huge choice and being honest a huge variat...

Galway restaurants which to choose?

 Where to eat in Galway? Well, like most cities, there is a huge choice and being honest a huge variation in prices and standards. However, you will certainly eat well in any of the Galway Hotels listed seperately. But whether you are staying there or not,you will no doubt want to get out and about and sample something different.
For a snack or light lunch you won’t go wrong with any of the Galway cafes mentioned, they are all very well priced and do fantastic home baking. I particularly like Goyas for paté and toast, Sam Baileys for soup and brown bread and Antons for a panini or wrap.

If you are on a budget the best tip is to have lunch in the middle of the day in one of the Galway Pubs. Most do a choice of main courses from 12-3pm for about €10, but if you would prefer to eat in the evenings, expect to pay a bit more. When your best bet is to wander down Quay Street where you will find Gemelles, Artisan and Ard Bia at the Spanish Arch, all are good value with innovative reasonably priced early-bird menus. If you continue over Wolfe Tone Bridge and turn right you and right again you will find yourself in Dominick Street which has an excellent selection of (better priced) restaurants including Oscars (magnificent ribs) and Cava, a very popular Spanish tapas style restaurant.Galway does ethnic pretty well with Kumars, also down by the Spanish Arch, an authentic Indian and Da Roberta's an excellent Italian out in Salthill. Da Tangs Noodle House, Middle St is a very good Chinese that only uses locally sourced organic ingredients. As for vegatarian options I am told that a new Japanese restaurant on New Dock St run by an Irishman and a Korean lady is the place to go for excellent sushi and homemade sauces. My personal favourite at the moment is the Asian Teahouse on Mary's Street which serves great big steaming bowls full of spicy Thai food and a glass of wine for €15.

If you fancy a nice big juicy steak? The Dail does a special with a pint of Guinness and spicy chicken wings for just €15.95 or a lighter option perhaps for the ladies? a monkfish special, with a prawn cocktail and a glass of Prosecco for the same money! very clever indeed. Or head for upstairs in McSwiggans Pub, they also do great duck, so I am told? Although the best duck that I have ever eaten anywhere is to be had in the White Gables in Moycullen, a bit far out, but well worth the trip. Closer to town is O’Gradys on the Pier in Barna, which is absolutely the business on a winters afternoon in front of the turf fire, or indeed on a summers evening watching the sunset over Galway bay....As I said earlier, standards vary, always ask locally for advice as the restaurant scene is constantly changing. However, you shouldnt be disappointed with any of the following, if you are please let me know.....Irelands Hidden Gems - Galway City Guide is now available as an iPhone app It features the 10 Best of Everything there is To See and Do in Galway, plus an extra What's On in Galway? page which is updated monthly and a handy map showing all the major landmarks etc.10 Great Places to Eat in Galway are....1 Artisan Quay St, nicely varied seasonal menus that utilises and supports our local food producers. 2 Asian Tea House 15 Mary St, love this place and they bend over backwards to be nice to you! 3 Cava Tapas Bar 51 Lower Dominic St, queues out the door of a saturday night so get there early.  4 Da Robertas 161 Upper Salthill, great Italian and with all of the Italian atmosphere and ambiance you'd expect. 5 Da Tangs Middle St, service is slow, as you would expect when everything is cooked freshly for you. 6 Gemelles 2 Quay St, nice intimate little restaurant, good food and atmosphere, perfect for couples. 7 Kumars Indian Spanish Arch, duck in through the stone arched door of this medieval building to sample some Eastern delights, try and nab the window seat. 8 Oscars Dominick St, the owner/chef is a photographer, the same artistic detail is obvious on the plate. 9 O’Gradys on the Pier Barna Pier, fantastic fish (and meat)restaurant, really special location and people.
10 White Gables Moycullen, wonderful sunday lunches although you have to book ages in advance its so popular! open tues- sundays at night, also.

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Top 10 Things to do in Galway

 

Galway City is one of the most popular cities in Ireland and County Galway is well known for it’s natural beauty. Make sure to visit County Galway soon – we’ve picked out our favourite 10 Things to do in Galway City and County:

Kylemore Abbey – http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/
Known as Ireland’s most romantic Castle, Kylemore Abbey, located in Connemara, Co. Galway is the No.1 tourist attraction in the West of Ireland. Perfect for a family day out and easily accessible from Galway or Mayo, Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden offers visitors scenic photographic opportunities as well as woodland walks, garden tours, fascinating history, beautiful architecture, ample shopping in the craft shop and tempting homemade delights in the restaurant and tea rooms.
Salthill Promenade
Salthill Promenade is approximately two miles long from one end to the other, amd overlooks Galway Bay. A nifty 50’s diving platform is open year-round; however, swimming is not the best idea and not recommended in this part of the bay.Salthill is a great place for jogging, rollerblading or strolling. On clear days the hills of County Clare are visible across the bay, and benches are provided along the seafront.

Aran Islands – http://www.aranislands.ie/
The three Aran Islands, Inis Mór Island (Big Island), Inis Meáin Island (Middle island) and Inis Oírr Island (East island) are situated in a north westerly, south easterly direction at the mouth of Galway Bay, Ireland. They are famous for their geological formation, historical monuments and their linguistic and cultural heritage. The Irish(Gaelic) language is still spoken here and in the twenty first century all native born islanders are bilingual in both Irish and English. You can get to the Aran Islands by ferry from Galway and Clare.

Galway City Nightlife
The Nightlife in Galway City is one of the City’s greatest attractions. There is somewhere to cater for everyone. Galway is a 7 night a week City, famous for its live music scene and relaxed atmosphere. The combination of a vibrant student population,great festivals and lots of visitors combine to give Galway one of the most lively entertainment scenes in the world. However the pubs, clubs and lounges are not only about the nightlife as some of them serve terrific food and are warm friendly places to grab a coffee as you wander the historic streets of Galway.

Connemara National Park – http://www.connemaranationalpark.ie/
Connemara National Park is situated in the west of Ireland in County Galway and covers some 2,957 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands. There are 3 main walking routes throughout the park each one offering spectacular scenery and wildlife with every step. During the summer months, the visitor centre offers an audio visual exhibition on the Connemara Landscape and with some lovely picnic areas, nature trails, children’s playground and tearooms, Connemara National Park is a must see for its nature and beauty
Galway International Oyster Festival – http://www.galwayoysterfest.com/
Galway City will come alive during the annual International Oyster Festival as thousands of people travel from the four corners of the world to enjoy a remarkable celebration of Irish seafood and hospitality. The Festival will take place in the centre of Galway City in September. Since its modest beginnings, the event has developed dramatically and has been acclaimed as “one of the 12 greatest shows on earth” by The Sunday Times, with over 10,000 international and local attendees. It has evolved to become one of the internationally recognised food festivals in Ireland with a weekend of non-stop entertainment featuring top-class national and international artists, cabaret and dancing.

Corrib Princess – http://www.corribprincess.ie/
The Corrib Princess is a boat which offers cruises along the majestic River Corrib and onto the lake, providing visitors with unsurpassed views of the historic monuments and natural amenities that make this the most spectacular waterway in Ireland. The Corrib Princess takes you past castles and various sites of both historical interest and natural beauty. There is an abundance of wild life and the Corrib has a peace and tranquillity all of its own. Cruises start from Woodquay in the heart of Galway city, along the famous Steamers Line, which is the lakes traditional trade route.

Claddagh
Claddagh (Irish: an Cladach, meaning “the stony beach”) is an area close to the centre of Galway city, where the Corrib River meets Galway Bay. It was formerly a fishing village, just outside the old city walls. It is just across the river from the Spanish Arch, which was the location of regular fish markets where the locals supplied the city with seafood as recently as the end of the 19th century. Nowadays the Claddagh is popular with tourists from around the world who come to see the bay and the lovely view which surrounds the Claddagh. There are still many fishermen living in the area keeping the old traditions alive today. Claddagh is also famous worldwide for the Claddagh Ring which is designed here and is worn by people all over the world.

Galway City Museum – http://www.galwaycitymuseum.ie/
The Galway City museum houses three floors of exhibits and information panels, relating the story of Galway from medieval times to the modern day. The ground floor tells the story of contemporary Galway, with special emphasis on the role that the arts play in the city. The first floor brings medieval Galway life in a very contemporary way, while the second floor houses an exhibition on the Claddagh village, from post famine times to the early part of the last century. If you have children, try out the Kids Museum Detective sheet, created by two local children! Entry is free.

Leisureland Water Park – http://www.leisureland.ie/
Leisureland Waterpark is situated in Salthill, Galway directly on the seaside promenade. The leisure centre is an award winning entertainment & health and fitness facility and offers great value for money in a fun, family friendly environment. Facilities include: 25 metre deck level swimming pool, kiddies pool with pirate ship, thrilling 65m waterslide, outdoor amusement park, restaurant & shop and a state of the art gym

Do you have any more Insider Tips for County Galway? Make sure to share them with us! Just leave a comment below!
Do you need accommodation in Galway? Go to Galway.Hotelsireland.com. Our favourite hotel in Galway: Carlton www.taylormadeireland.comwww.taylormadeireland.com