Galway

Visiting Dunguaire Castle and Galway City in County Galway, Ireland

County Galway is the second largest county in Ireland and a key location along the Wild Atlantic Way. There is much, much to see and do here, from the vibrant city of Galway to the farm lands and rolling hills of Connemara.

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My husband and I visited Galway towards the end of an eight-day road trip through southern Ireland. I wouldn’t place Galway in the south – it is really mid-Island. But, most of our driving up to this point was more southerly.

To read an overview of our full eight-day itinerary through Ireland, click here.

Galway is fairly accessible from all over Ireland. You can drive directly from Dublin via the M4/M6 route or from Limerick via the M18. Or, your friendly GPS can help you navigate the scenic route from any other place you may be. We drove up from The Cliffs of Moher on said scenic route, passing by Dunguaire Castle en route.

Dunguaire Castle

Dunguaire Castle is a 16th-century tower house (like Blarney Castle and Ross Castle). Its location is incredibly fairytale-like, situated on the shores of Galway Bay near Kinvara. I’m pretty sure it has popped up as my screensaver before. The castle was original built by the Hynes Clan. It then transferred hands in the 17th century to the Martyn clan of Galway who occupied it until 1924.

Finding the castle is very easy since it is literally on the side of the N67 road. Entry to the castle is possible from April through October for regular tours. Or, you can opt to book one of the medieval banquets for dinner and entertainment.

The castle is a complete gem. If you are in the area, it is worth stopping for. If you are coming up on M18, it will only take you a few minutes out of your way. If you are visiting Galway city, it is about a 30 minute drive south around the bay, which is very pretty too!

Above photos: Dunguaire Castle

Above photo: Galway Bay near Dunguaire Castle

Galway City

Galway City is a full-on dose of fun. From the moment we arrived, I felt like I was at a family fish fry. The streets were lined with colorful buntings and literally everyone seemed to be having a great time. The atmosphere is festive, lively, and busy!

Above photos: Galway City Center

Before we set out to find our lunch, we stopped at our hotel to drop our luggage. We stayed at The Hardiman Hotel (formerly called The Meyrick) on the famous Eyre Square. This was another hotel win. The location was amazing – just a little off of the main busy streets, but still close enough. The hotel dates back to 1852 and has quite the impressive list of former guests. Our room was beautiful!

Above photos: The Hardiman Hotel

If you can only eat one meal in Galway, allow me to recommend the Fish & Chips at McDonagh’s on 22 Quay Street. There isn’t anything fancy about this place, but it is legit the real deal. Pretty sure there is a guy is catching the fish out the back door as you place your order.

Above photos: McDonagh’s

Following our lunch, we wandered over to the Spanish Arch and relaxed a bit by the River Corrib. The Spanish Arch is a historical attraction that dates back to pre-medieval times. The area known as The Docks was even visited by Christopher Columbus is 1477.

Above photos: The Spanish Arch and the River Corrib

Galway lays claim to the origin of The Claddagh or ‘An Cladach’ meaning ‘the shore’. The Claddagh was a fishing village from the 5th century. According to legend, Richard Joyce, who was a member of one of the merchant tribes, was kidnapped by pirates on the way to the West Indies. During his captivity, Richard was taught the jewelry craft. Eventually, he was released and came back to Galway where he established a jewelry business and created the symbolic ring we now all know as the Claddagh Ring. It is a great souvenir for those who visit here.

Above photos: Claddagh Ring Museum and jewelry stores

We spent our afternoon wandering all over the Latin Quarter of Galway where there are a ton of quaint boutiques. We also made our way to Galway Cathedral. The Cathedral is located on the west bank of the River Corrib, north and west of the Latin Quarter. This Catholic church is actually the youngest of Europe’s great stone cathedrals, built about 60 years ago.

Above photos: Shopping in the Latin Quarter

Above photos: Galway Cathedral

Above photos: Walking along the River Corrib

I really enjoyed the dining and menu options throughout Ireland. Being as island, fresh fish and shellfish is a local specialty – I was there for it. We had a very memorable dinner at The Seafood Bar @ Kirwan’s in Galway. This restaurant is tucked away at the end of an old cobblestone street in the medieval centre of town. Delicious food, great wine list, charming views from the outside patio seating.

Above photos: The Seafood Bar @ Kirwan’s

And that’s the re-cap on Galway! The following morning, our plans were to drive to our farthest point north for this trip — the Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey.

Read more about our last day in Ireland at Kylemore Abbey & Gardens here.