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Things to do in Galway City

This is a list of interesting things to do and see in Galway City, for visitors and locals alike.

It was updated in July 2020 to take account of places that have and haven't opened again after the Covid-19 closedown - and is being regularly updated since.

Some suggestions are have an entry fee, some are free. Some indoor, some not.






Explore the city

Do an organised walking tour:


Bus tour of the city (Lallys).

Catch the Tourist Train in summer time - which becomes the Santa Train during the Christmas Market

Or a self-guided tour:

Watch the buskers on Shop Street



Visit a market

St Nicholas market - open at weekends, and full time just before Christmas

Eyre Square market - a small number of local traders 

Umbrella Eile - artisan craft market, Sundays at the Rowing Club
 

Explore the outdoors

Walk the Salthill Prom - getting there
Or the Ballyloughan “prom” - getting there

Feed the swans at the Claddagh (wholemeal bread only, not mouldy please as this makes the swans sick)

Walk the Long Walk and docks

Nimmos Pier

Mutton Island lighthouse / causewalk walk 

Roscam Woods AKA Aunteen and Uncleen Woods - Getting there

Rinville Park - near Oranmore, no public transport to this park




Socalise

Attend a gig / concert / festival

Galway Summer Garden at the old driving range, next to Salthill Camping Park is a tent-village pub / event venue, in Salthill: book one of their tents to enjoy a socially distanced almost outdoors evening or afternoon with a group of friends, or attend one of their open-air gigs.


Visit a pub

See our list of open pubs in Galway for more info

Galway Whiskey Trail meanders through pubs with a special interest in the mountain dew - it may not have been updated to take account of current closures.


Visit a cafe

See our list of open cafes in Galway for more info.


Gamble

Casino / Bingo / Arcade Games:

Seapoint
The Eglington
Claudes
Caesar's Palace


Visit an interesting place

Outdoors

Eyre Square / JF Kennedy Park: Martin fountain, Browne doorway, Liam Mellows statue, Pádraic O'Conaire replica statue
Spanish Arch (locally known as Buckfast Plaza) / Fishmonger Plaza / Christopher Columbus monument
Fisheries Tower - museum now open, hours vary.
The Claddagh
St Augustines Well
Fisheries Field lime kiln
Bollingbrook Fort (Sean Mulvoy Rd)
Forthill Cemetery
Lynch's Castle (now houses AIB bank, Shop St)
Lynch Window - Market Street, in the original railings behind St Nicholas church
Salmon Race on the Corrib
The Two Oscars statue
The replica Padraic Conaire statue in Eyre Square
Padraic Conaire's birthplace
Busker Browne's pub - a former Dominican convent
Kirwan's Lane - get the real feeling of Galway's medieval streets
Bridgemills - an old mill beside O'Briens Bridge

NUIG (National University of Ireland - Galway) Campus map / Getting there, including the:
Quadrangle,
Zoology and Marine Biology Museum (Martin Ryan Institute, ground floor)
James Mitchell Museum. Geology Department (1st floor in the quad)
Computer and Communications Museum (DERI - IDA business park in Dangan)
River walk-way from the main campus to Dangan sports area Sports
Imbusch Observatory - open nights once a month

City Museum - visits are free, but tickets must be booked on-line in advance

Claregalway Castle (slightly outside the city, but worth a visit)

Micil Distillery - behind the Oslo in Salthill, offering tours and taskings 


Interesting churches

(These may have limited visiting at present.  But they can all be viewed from outside.)

St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church (Church of Ireland)
Galway Cathedral (Catholic)
Poor Clare Monastery - Nuns Island
Augustinian Church




Watch some sport - or take part

Greyhound racing
GAA or hurling match at Pearse Stadium
10-pin bowling in Terryland
Swim at Leisureland off the diving board in Blackrock or the beach
Canoe / kayak tours
Hire a bicycle and ride a loop from Knocknacarra out to Barna and then back into Salthill
Go for a hill-walk or a ramble
Go for a run - Dangan track or around the city streets
Play golf:  Cregmore Park, Bearna Golf and Country Club, Athenry Golf Club, Glenlo Abbey, Oughterard Golf club, Galway Bay Gold Resort, Galway Golf Club.
Watch rugby - at the Sportsground, Crowley Park, Corinthian's Park.
Go-karting:   Galway City Karting
Skateboard:   Millenium Skate Park, Doughiska Playground, Westside Skate Park.
Indoor skills based sports challenges at PureSkill 
Trampoline at JumpLanes, Ballybrit 
Simulation games:  Virtual Reality World in Liosbaun- from 15 August 2p40



Free-play and recreation


Visit a playground

Millenium Children's Park
Doughiska / Merlin Woods playground
Terryland Forest Park

Or take the kids out to play inside

Monkey Business - Knocknacarra
Planet Entertainment - Headford Rd

Prove your skills as a clue-solving escape artist

Great Escape Rooms - Abbeygate St
Asylroom - Dominic St
Open the Door - Prospect Hill
The Clue Academy - outdoor clue adventures


Cultural activities


Watch a movie

Palás Art House cinema 
Omniplex Salthill


Watch a play

Town Hall Theatre - re-opening on 5 September 



Visit an art gallery

Galway Arts Centre - 
Gallery 126
Kenny Gallery
Vanda Gallery
Engage Art Studio in Salthill 



Learn art / craft skills - take a course

Paintclub - no experience needed painting classes in a pub, on-line and more
Just Art It - a range of classes in a combined art store / workshop / creative space / music studio in Dominick Street
Creative Writing / poetry / art-techniques  - Galway Arts Centre offers a range of classes
Pottery / ceramics - at O'Kelly's Galway Pottery Classes

Part-time / evening classes in a range of topics are available at


Learn a language

As well as the general course-providers listed above, languages are also taught by 
Arus na nGael
... more coming soon

Music

Look for events advertised in the city's music shops (there might not be any / many for a while, though):
Powells,
Opus II
Moloney Musical Instruments
IT Music

Galway Slow Session is a beginners / learners Irish Traditional Music group, and is operating online for now.

Music for Galway run a regular programme of classical concerts

Galway Music Residency hold regular performances (city and county)

Galway Cathedral Recitals - an annual summer programme of organ / classical works 

Galway Choral Association - have a list of Galway choirs of all levels of ability and committment


Meditate

Yoga classes with An Seomra, Bikram Hot Yoga, The Yoga Shala,


Learn about food or drink 

Cookalicious - in Oranmore
Anair - in Dominic St
Love2Cook - in Salthill
Claregalway Cookery School
Povigo Cookery School
Sangria restaurant may have wine appreciation sessions





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