Galway City and Claddagh Tour
Thursday August 8th 2024
Walk in the footsteps of the original fishermen of the Claddagh, and take a stroll to Ed Sheeran and Saoirse Ronan's pubs featured in Ed's Galway Girl video.
Soak in the buzz of this energetic city alive with music and history, hear the story of the world famous Claddagh ring and hang out with your friends in the 18th-century Eyre Square, with an eclectic collection of shops and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music.
Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city wall.
Galway is a harbour city on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, sits on the River Corrib.
Planned Itinerary
8:00 Load Coaches – departure at 8.15am
9:45
- Arrive in Galway to meet with local tour guide for local walking tour of the city. They will be with us for approximately two hours and will show us the highlights and history of this harbour city on the west of Ireland where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean.
- Sights include the Galway University quad building (1849), the Galway Cathedral, paid admission to St. Nicholas church (1320) with guided tour inside, and Galway Museum (second bathroom stop if required). During the tour we will visit the old city walls and Lynch’s Castle, the streets will be buzzing and vibrant with all types of music buskers and colour.
- The city’s hub is the 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music. Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city walls. You may also visit the Claddagh Ring Museum on Quay Street. The Claddagh Ring depicts Love, Loyalty and Friendship and has become iconic throughout the world. Also visit the Druid Theatre Company founded in 1975 on Flood Street which is a very important piece of culture in the city.
- The tour will conclude at the famous O’Connell’s Bar on Eyre Square where Ed Sheeran busked and filmed the “Galway Girl” video. It also hosted a visit by President John F. Kennedy in June of 1963.
12:00 Options and suggestions for exploring on your own:
- Suggested lunch stops: The Kings Head—Typical fare includes seafood chowder, Galway Bay mussels, oysters, lobster and Guinness Irish Stew. Sonny Molloy’s and Busker Brownes—typical fare includes fish ’n’ chips, shepherd’s pie, burgers, chicken stir fry, salads. Bunch of Grapes—typical fare includes homemade soup and toasted special sandwiches. McDonagh’s—fish and chips—yes, a popular fish and chip stop, with casual fare.
- Hop on hop off bus is a separate ticket, €16 per adult. All-day tour … unlimited. 13 stops in the city and Salthill.
- Salthill is a seaside resort on the northern shore of Galway Bay, Ireland. Its beach consists of a series of small rocky or sandy stretches. Salthill Promenade offers views of the nearby harbour city of Galway & the Aran Islands. The city bus from the city centre to Salthill is €2 per trip and operates every 20 minutes.
16:15 Load Coach—departure at 16:30
18:00 Arrive back to Limerick
What to Bring:
Participants are advised to wear warm clothes – layers work best. We suggest a sweater, rain jacket, jeans or pants and comfortable shoes. Temperatures may vary with rain a possibility.
Disclaimer:
All persons participating in the tour and activities do so at the participant’s own sole risk. UWPIAA organisers of the tour are released from any claims, actions, damages, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses by participants in the tour and all persons accept full responsibility for their own selves during the tour.
