2026 Ireland’s Coasts from North to South - Day #12 - Galway, Ireland

Day 9: Galway City, Free Time

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: A local expert will join us at the hotel for an informative lecture on the Celts and the West of Ireland.

Galway, the fourth largest city in the Republic of Ireland, is known as “City of the Tribes” from the medieval era when it was governed by fourteen chieftains. Remnants of Galway’s historic past can be found around every corner. Today Galway is highly popular with bohemians and students alike. A local historian will lead us on a walking field trip to learn more of the city’s fascinating history and heritage.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Free time. On your own to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Note: Walking about 2 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, some cobbled areas. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Accommodations: Flannery's Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Up at 6:30 am, I had a better night's sleep. I did a ten minute Peloton bodyweight strength workout. Sharon and I had a buffet breakfast at the hotel.

We joined the group at 9:00 am for a lecture by Chris Doyle on the transition from Pagan to Christian in Ireland. Unfortunately, I had some trouble staying awake...

At 10:15 am, we boarded a bus for downtown Galway. Galway is a vibrant, harborside city on Ireland’s west coast. It is famous for its rich history, lively traditional Irish music scene, and bohemian, artistic energy. Located where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay, it serves as both a major cultural center and the primary gateway to the scenic landscapes of Connemara and the Aran Islands.

To my surprise, Galway is listed by some sources as the second most visited city in Ireland, behind Dublin. Over the course of the first two days, I was shocked at the amount of traffic.

We did a long walking tour of the old city With Gary Casey. The tour started at Eyre Square. The square is a central public park featuring historic monuments, surrounding shopping districts, and open green spaces. The tour guide started the tour talking a lot about John F. Kennedy. All eight of his great grandparents came from Ireland. JFK visited Galway in June of 1963 and spoke in the square.

From there, the walk explored the Latin Quarter. It is the colorful, historic heart of the city, packed with local boutiques, artisanal cafes, medieval archways, and traditional pubs. Some of the stops along the way included: a 180 feoot section of the old city walls with two towers--the Penrice's Tower and the Shoemaker's Tower; the Lynch Memorial; and, the Hall of the Red Earl. We finished the tour just past the Spanish Arch at the Galway City Museum.

There is an odd monument to Christopher Columbus near the Spanish Arch. Apparently, he visited the city in 1477.

During the tour, the guide mentioned that Galway is a major hub for medical technology. Companies located in Galway include Boston Scientific and Medtronic.

The group had lunch at Caprice. Sharon had vegan tacos, while I had chicken rigatoni.

The rest of the day was free time. Sharon and I spent the afternoon shopping. We bought Claddagh Rings to celebrate our upcoming 30th wedding anniversary.

Although I guess that I shouldn't have been, I was shocked at the number of people. By the middle of the afternoon, High Street was packed with people.

We finished the day with an early dinner at Rúibín Bar & Restaurant. Originally, Holly and Van were scheduled to join us, but Holly has gotten sick over the last day. The restaurant is a acclaimed casual fine-dining destination located on the historic docklands in Galway City. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century stone building right on the waterfront, it is run by husband-and-wife duo Richard Shannon and Alice Jary. The restaurant overlooks the docks near Spanish Arch and Quay Street, combining a relaxed ground-floor bar with a brighter, scenic upstairs dining space.

We started with Oysters, Shitake & tofu dumplings [miso broth, szechuan] and Seabass collima ceviche [carrot & blood orange, pumpkin seed salsa matcha, tostada]. For mains, I had duck breast, while Sharon had eggplant. Her eggplant was not cooked enough.

We caught a Uber back to the hotel. We crashed early; lights were out before 9:30 pm.

We are moving on Killearney tomorrow.