Galway

Galway

Galway is the perfect city to make your next vacation destination. With its breathtaking scenery and rich history, it’s no wonder that people are calling Galway Ireland’s hidden gem. This article will take you on a tour of some of the most popular attractions in this coastal town.

Galway is a city in the west of Ireland. It has been inhabited since before 2000 BC when it was settled by Celtic tribes, later becoming an important trading post for Phoenicians and Vikings. Galway’s rich history can be seen in many attractions around the town such as Lynch Castle and Museum where you will get to experience what life was like more than 400 years ago. You can also visit King House which tells the story of one family who owned this house over generations and how they survived through famine and civil war while retaining their wealth and status.

Another popular attraction nearby is Kylemore Abbey, originally called Kylemore Castle built by Mitchell Henry, a wealthy landowner from Connemara during 1867-1873 near his estate in Connemara.

Nearer the city centre, there is also The Latin Quarter which has many cafes and restaurants that are popular with students in Galway City at night. If you’re looking for a place to stay in the area, check out our website where we have an updated list of accommodation in Galway including hotels near Kylemore Abbey.

Hiking in Galoway

If you’re looking for a more active day then why not take advantage of the beautiful surroundings and go hiking. Fortunately, Galway is surrounded by dozens of mountains to explore like Mweelrea which stands at over 700 meters tall. This mountain can be explored if you take one of our recommended walking tours in Ireland taking you on an adventure through the mountain and the bog while you learn about local culture and history.

If hiking isn’t your thing, then why not try some other activities in Galway like kayaking or horse riding through Connemara National Park which is another popular tourist attraction where you can see the beautiful scenery on an outdoor adventure.

Attractions in Galway

There are also plenty of attractions to visit in Galway City itself including the famous Spanish Arch which was built during the 1580s and is one of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks. Another popular attraction is The Black Rose, an Irish traditional music pub located just off Shop Street where you can see some great live performances every night.

For those who are interested in shopping, there are plenty of unique boutiques where you can find some fantastic deals on clothes and jewellery. You’ll also be able to pick up souvenirs for your family back at home with the help of our recommended tours in Ireland which will take you around Galway City itself before dropping off at a local craft market to collect some fantastic bargains.

Created: 17  October  2021  Edited: 29  November  2023

Galway

Local History around Galway

There are some historic monuments around including:

Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Bridge GA13404Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Cross - Market cross GA13433Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Tomb - unclassified GA12710Bushypark Enclosure GA13916Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Tomb - unclassified GA12713Ballybaan Beg Graveyard GA10243Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Town hall GA13419Dangan Lower Designed landscape - summer house GA03625Ballybrit Redundant record GA14364Kilcorkey Ritual site - holy well GA04348Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Graveyard GA04353Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Kiln - lime GA10345Dangan Upper Well GA09736Dangan Lower Redundant record GA09735Kentfield House - 18th/19th century GA03631Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Designed landscape feature GA04342Tievegarriff House - 18th/19th century GA10332Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Stone sculpture GA14144Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Fortification GA04363Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Castle - tower house GA13421Terryland Burial ground GA03656Milestone,Rinmore Boundary stone GA04302Newcastle (Rahoon Par.) Dovecote GA04309Tawin West Ringfort - rath GA05220Merlinpark Castle - tower house GA04299Shantallow (Galway By.) Redundant record GA10335Castlegar (Galway By.) Redundant record GA09730Tawin West Enclosure GA10785Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Bastioned fort GA13402Rahoon Enclosure GA13263Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Tomb - unclassified GA12712Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Kiln - lime GA14556Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Water mill - unclassified GA13428Terryland Castle - unclassified GA03653Rahoon Well GA10329Kilroghter Redundant record GA09742Menlough Redundant record GA10959Menlough Burial ground GA03641Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Redundant record GA04343Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Causeway GA13405Dangan Lower Redundant record GA09734Galway Bay Monumental structure GA14184Knocknacarragh Midden GA10307Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Designed landscape - folly GA09752Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Religious house - Dominican friars GA04346Menlough Redundant record GA09743Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Bridge GA13407Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Metalworking site GA14558Merlinpark Sheela-na-gig GA14095Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Bastioned fort GA03657Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Graveyard GA10342Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Tomb - unclassified GA12707Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Memorial stone GA12708Menlough Settlement cluster GA09754Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Redundant record GA04344Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Armorial plaque (present location) GA14145An Rois?Ìn Designed landscape feature GA04276Ballyburke Redundant record GA14365Shantallow (Galway By.) Quarry GA10334Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Water mill - unclassified GA13427Tievegarriff Redundant record GA13456Rinmore Designed landscape - tree-ring GA04322Rahoon House - indeterminate date GA10327Galway Bay Monumental structure GA14183Tawin West Enclosure GA11110Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Ritual site - holy well GA04351Coolagh (Galway By.) Mass-rock GA09762Tievegarriff Redundant record GA13455Shantallow (Galway By.) House - 18th/19th century GA10337Ballindooly Redundant record GA09723Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Wall monument GA12706Rinmore Fulacht fia GA04366Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Water mill - unclassified GA13431Tawin West Enclosure GA11111An Cnoc?Ün Carrach Church GA04269Rahoon Ringfort - unclassified GA10350Dangan Lower Designed landscape feature GA03658Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Weir - regulating GA13436Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Architectural fragment GA14170Rahoon Ritual site - holy well GA04314Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Weir - regulating GA13437Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Historic town GA04356Ballinfoile Quarry GA09724Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Wall monument GA12704Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Mill - unclassified GA04360Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Graveslab GA12716Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Mill - unclassified GA10346Menlough Cairn - clearance cairn GA10970Tawin West Enclosure GA05221Tawin West Field system GA11112Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Bastioned fort GA13401Rahoon Bullaun stone GA03652Rahoon Megalithic structure GA04319Bearna (Gaillimh) Ritual site - holy well GA04268Dangan Lower Designed landscape feature GA03626Tawin West Souterrain GA10784Tawin West Stone circle GA10786An Rois?Ìn Designed landscape feature GA04275Baile An Bhr?Ünaigh Ritual site - holy well GA03590Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Ritual site - holy well GA13435Cappagh (Galway By.) Fulacht fia GA04278Ballybrit House - indeterminate date GA12537Rahoon Ecclesiastical enclosure GA12688Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Chapel GA10341Tawin West House - indeterminate date GA13476Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Wall monument GA12703Ceathr?Ü An Bhr?Ünaigh Inscribed stone GA12536Rinmore Bastioned fort GA04321Lough Corrib Crannog GA09761Kilroghter Cairn - unclassified GA11150Ballindooly Quarry GA09722Merlinpark Midden GA14422Mutton Island Battery GA04304Ballinfoile Quarry GA09726Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Quay GA13439Bearna (Gaillimh) Castle - unclassified GA04267Ardfry Designed landscape - folly GA04280Knocknacarragh Water mill - horizontal-wheeled GA04273Ceathr?Ü An Bhr?Ünaigh Redundant record GA09729Menlough Designed landscape feature GA09744Murroogh Redundant record GA10321Rahoon Church GA04315Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Religious house - Franciscan friars GA04358Ballybaan More Souterrain GA03600Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) House - 16th/17th century GA14177Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Church GA13409Ballybaan Beg House - 18th/19th century GA09755Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Bridge GA13406Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Redundant record GA13447Menlough Castle - unclassified GA03642Rahoon Graveyard GA10244Ballinfoile Quarry GA09725?Üit T?Ì Seonac Enclosure GA03576Rahoon Enclosure GA04316Shantallow (Galway By.) Earthwork GA04338Galway Bay Monumental structure GA14185Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Dovecote GA13432Derryloney Midden GA04271Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Graveslab GA12717Ballinfoile Quarry GA09728Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Graveslab GA12714Newcastle (Rahoon Par.) Redundant record GA13934Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Castle - hall-house GA13420Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Town defences GA13367Menlough Pillar stone (present location) GA03640Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Redundant record GA04345Rinmore Field boundary GA11448Glenanail Quarry GA09738Bushypark Dovecote GA14413Coolagh (Galway By.) Kiln - lime GA09758Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Settlement cluster GA10344Killeen (Ballintemple Ed) Designed landscape feature GA09740Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Castle - tower house GA13422Mweeloon Midden GA04307Castlegar (Galway By.) Redundant record GA09731Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Inscribed slab GA12705Terryland Quarry GA09750Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Architectural feature GA14147Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Fortification GA14559Tawin West House - indeterminate date GA13475An Cnoc?Ün Carrach Graveyard GA10301Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Pier/Jetty GA13440Ballybrit Castle - tower house GA03604Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Castle - tower house GA13423Newcastle (Rahoon Par.) Ringfort - unclassified GA03649Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Leacht GA13442An Poll Caoin Ritual site - holy well GA03651Menlough Designed landscape feature GA09745Ballagh Redundant record GA09721Parkmore (Galway By.) Quarry GA09747Cappanaveagh Ringfort - unclassified GA04294Newcastle (Rahoon Par.) Church GA04308Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle GA14555Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Bridge GA13403Coolagh (Galway By.) Ringfort - cashel GA09760Newcastle (Rahoon Par.) Architectural fragment GA13445Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Architectural fragment GA12964Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Prison GA04359Rinmore Ringfort - rath GA04323Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Graveslab GA12715Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Quay GA13438Rahoon Watchtower GA04318Terryland Redundant record GA09751Dangan Lower Icehouse GA03623Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Ritual site - holy well GA04350Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Hospital GA13413Cloghatisky House - 18th/19th century GA04295Tievegarriff Burial ground GA04341Terryland House - 17th century GA03654Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Mill - unclassified GA13446Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Church GA12700Rahoon Designed landscape feature GA10328Cappagh (Galway By.) Quarry GA10302Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Religious house - Augustinian friars GA04355Knocknacarragh Ringfort - unclassified GA04296Shantallow (Galway By.) Designed landscape - folly GA04340Pollnarooma West Children's burial ground GA04311Shantallow (Galway By.) Earthwork GA04339Castlegar (Galway By.) Church GA09753Ballindooly Crannog GA13917Cappanaveagh House - 18th/19th century GA10315Menlough House - 17th century GA09746Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Ritual site - holy well GA04352Coolagh (Galway By.) Architectural fragment GA09759Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Cross GA13434Ardfry Midden GA04365Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Water mill - unclassified GA13429Lenaboy Burial ground GA04298Ballybaan Beg Church GA04289Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Water mill - unclassified GA13430Knocknacarragh Hilltop enclosure GA04274Knocknacarragh Ritual site - holy well GA04297Pollnarooma East Stone circle GA04310Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Redundant record GA13448Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Religious house - Franciscan nuns (Poor Clares) GA04361Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Tomb - unclassified GA12718Ballinfoile Quarry GA09727Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Tomb - unclassified GA12709Rahoon Designed landscape feature GA04320Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Tomb - unclassified GA12711Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Structure GA12963Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Architectural feature GA14143Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Earthwork GA13400Ballymoneen West Redundant record GA04279Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Bastioned fort GA04354Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Town hall GA13418Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Graveyard GA12701An Pollach (Tc Bearna) Redundant record GA03595Dangan Lower Enclosure GA14694Knocknacarragh Midden GA04272Townparks (Galway By., St. Nicholas Par.) Mill - unclassified GA12719Townparks (Galway By., Rahoon Par.) Quarry GA10338.

Brett Gregory is an award-winning filmmaker based in Bolton whose production company, Serious Feather, is currently making a documentary about autism and poetry.

As a part of this production, Landscape Britain was asked to advise with regards to the location of specific areas of outstanding natural beauty throughout the region.

Visit www.seriousfeather.com for further information.

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