McGurks Golf Superstore

This Dublin-based, Irish owned multi-national operator golf gear retailer opened their first Galway city sporting goods shop in mid July 2025.

They're located in Briarhill Business Park:  near the far end of the estate, near Connolly's Audi  - in between FlexManager and Lyons of Galway Cars / SNAP print, and on the opposite side of the park from 1Stop Motorshop who opened in September 2024.

This is a warehouse-sized unit, which has been carefully transformed into a big-box style double-height retail space since the last tenants   (Galway Express Couriers) moved down to  Monivea Rd.  There's some dedicated customer parking at the door, and many other available carparks in the estate.

Aiming to provide  best brands and the best selection in golf equipment at the best prices to the golfers of Ireland and beyond, McGurks sell from their bricks-and-mortar stores  (19 of them, now Galway is open) as well as online, and regularly ship to Ireland, the UK, Europe and the USA. 

Products include golf-clubs, footwear, clothing and rainwear, golf balls, bags, carts - all all manner of sporting accessories, includign GPS devices.   They offer a customer fitting service, including specialist putter fitting and TrackMan fitting, which allows your clubs to be custom-fitted to your swing using radar technology. 

Initial opening hours

9:30am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday

11am to 6pm on Sunday / bank-holidays

Contact details

Address:   Unit 1B, Brierhill Business Park, Briarhill, Galway, H91 020N

Phone: 0868297158

Email: galway@mcguirksgolf.com   or     online.sales@mcguirksgolf.com

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Scran @ Crowes

This cafe in Crowes pub on Bohermore opened in mid June 2025, after relocating from the stand-alone Scran Bohermore a few doors up the street.

In the new location, they're offering eat-in or take-out breakfast (burrito and bla menu options) from 8am (9am on weekends)-noon, and lunch from noon until 3pm

The menu is essentially the same as it was - and so are the great barista coffee and fair prices.   They also have new faculties which are helpful in any cafe, like plenty of tables in a pleasant environment, and toilets.   

And they have an opening special of any coffee and pastry for only €5.

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A new colour-scheme, late July  2025

Miramira

This Spanish-based jewellery chain opened their first Galway store on 10  June, 2025

It's located upstairs in the Eyre Square Shopping Centre, in between the eCig store and Lana & Belle gifts - opposite Paco Fashions.   This unit was previously home to Borns Menswear.

Mirimira specialise in stainless steel jewellery, often featuring zirconia.   It looks like they aren't related to the 20+ year old giftshop in Dublin, which has the same name, and that this store is the Spanish chain's first in Ireland

Days and hours to be advised - probably open seven days a week.

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Abbeygate Cafe and Bistro

This very pleasant Galway city cafe and bistro morphed from Cozy House into Abbey Gate Cafe and Bistro. 

It didn't initially close or change the daytime offering - but a breakfast menu and Under New Management signs appeared first, followed by a change of signage in late April 2025.

Then in mid May, it closed for a few days due to "unforseen circumstances".  But it really did re-open, with a simplified lunch menu in a week or so.

The breakfast menu has the expected classics, and kippers for a touch of something different. 

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Updated, simpler menu, May 2025

Inital menu, in April 

Screene's on the Square

This eagerly-awaited Galway-city pub opened the doors to the public on Friday 9 May, after soft-opening the day before, and taking their first delivery a week earlier.

The pub is located at the bottom of Prospect Hill, just around the corner from Eyre Square.  The building was most recently McGettigan’s and Club Cuba - in between the ProCabs office and Snap Fitness - just down from TK Maxx.  They've given the front a tasteful new medium-green colour scheme, and done extensive work to make the bar area better.

It is run by experienced publicans Jimmy Screene and Becky Gavin, who have been operating Screene’s Bar near Menlough in north-east county Galway, for over ten years.

Aiming to offer "Cold pints, a warm welcome, craic agus ceol", initially, Screenes on the Square is operating as a bar, and the kitchen opened for lunch just a few weeks later.   Regular music has started, with live acts are already booked for June.   Screene's also hope to open a live music venue in the upstairs later this year.

Address:   9-11 Prospect Hill

Email:  Screenes.ots@gmail.com

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Reuben sandwich- on the lunch menu at Screenes

Castle Davitt furniture

This Mayo-based Irish family owned furniture store opened the first Galway store on 8 April 2025.

They've added a bold bright-red glow to unit 23 of Briarhill Busness Park (H91 C6HX) - across the dual-carriageway from the Clayton Hotel, and next to the also-recently-opened BathShack showroom.

This was previously home to Meubles Furniture.  Since they closed, the showroom has been painted in a range of tasteful colours, and this time all three floors are used as a furniture showroom - no cafe in sight.

As stockiests of high-quality furniture, CastleDavitt aim to supply all home interior needs, at competitive prices.  Their range includes bedroom furniture, dining room furniture and living room furniture, with suites and sofas, mattresses, rugs, mirrors and accessories, for all tastes and budgets. 

Hours

Mon–Sat: 9:30am – 6:00pm

Sun / Bank Holiday: 12:00 noon – 6:00pm

Phone:  091 354-043

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Lil Bros Pizza

Dough Bros pizzas opened their newest pizza shop on Friday 21 March 2025.

Cutely-named Lil' Bros is located at the north West corner of Eyre Square, near the Lally Tours information kiosk , where Rooster's Cafes used to be.

Unlike their earlier restaurants )in the former pro-cathedral in Middle Street, and in the outdoor dining area of O'Connell's bar) which blend nicely into their surrounds, Li'l Bros is a bolds statement in green, white and gold-ish-orange, with in-your-face signs to let everyone known that this is THE PLACE to come for pizza.

This is mainly a takeaway pizza place, but there is some some outdoor dining space.   The did have some seating upstairs too - to be seen if this is still open or not.

The opening menu is small and simple:  pizza by the "NY slice", a few dips and add-ons, cold drinks,  - and merchandise:  Dough Bros teeshirt, hoodies and more.   Pizza squares and sambos are promised to be coming "soon". but for now it's simply great pizza for the slice.

Opening days/ h ours - to be advised.

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City Pantry Cafe

The new City Pantry Cafe opened in very early February 2025. 

They're in Dominick Street, beside Daróg wine bar, in the premises that was previously Bare Pantry Cafe in Dominick Street.   This has had a little redecorating and a few changes to the lighting, but the overall customer ambience is unchanged.

The menu now is extensive, featuring all-day breakfast, burgers, wraps, sandwiches,  a children's menu, pizza, pasta, pastries and sweet treats, hot drinks and smoothies.

Initially open seven days a week:

8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday

9am - 5pm Saturday

10am - 5pm Sunday

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March 2025

Zambrero, Galway Shopping Centre

This Australian-originated "feel good Mexican" fast-food restaurant opened their second Galway city store in the third week of January 2025.

They're now part of Planet Entertainment in the Galway Shopping Centre complex, in the unit where Subway used to be.   This is between the PTSB bank, and Planet Fittness gym. The outdoor signs are a little underwhelming so far, but will surely get better and brighter.

The restaurant has had a thorough refit, and now features a range of seating, and some interesting design, including a mega-sized Plate 4 Plate meal donation counter.

The menu is an interesting mix of great coffee (spot the gleaming machine and coffee areas), and  build-your-own Mexican food options.   The latter let you choose from a base (burrito, nacho, taco, quesadilla, dos capas), a protein (chipolte chicken, barbacoa beef, pulled pork, vegetarian "zin carne"), a sauce (garlic, basilo, bbq, chipolte, verde, red-chilli) with extras including cheese, sour cream and guacamole. 

Open seven days a week.

Initial hours, 11:30am - 9:30pm.

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Cozy House Restaurant

The Cozy House restaurant opened in late January 2025.

They're located on the corner of Newtonsmith and Mary Street, diagonally opposite Sally Longs pub, in the recently-refurbished restaurant  that was most recently home to Hungry Eyes - and is right beside the Abbeygate Townhouse.  It's had a bit of a freshen up, but the layout is much the same.

They've got a tiny amount of outdoor seating - but the restaurant is bright with floor to ceiling windows to let lots of light in.

The menu is pretty safe and middle-of-the-road:  some classic starters and sandwiches, with a touch of flavour in the Bombay Chicken Ciabatta.  Pasta and noodle dishes offer few surprises with spaghetti bolognaise, lasagna, fried noodles, creamy chicken & mushroom spaghetti, and a vegetarian penne dish.   Lunchtime mains range from fish and chips / steak sandwich / beef burger / chicken goujons / omelette, through to fried rice, baked salmon, spicy stir-fry, and the intriguing chicken-chop:  TBA if this is a whole new cut, just another name for a chicken thigh, or a famous dish from Malaysia!

Open seven days a week.  

No social media yet - watch this space.

Phone (091) 331-348

Opening day menu at The Cozy House, Galway

Opening week

One week later, and the final signs are up

Triple sandwich, served with chips

Cafe Olê

This new cafe opened their doors to share a touch of Spanish sunshine in the top corner of Eyre Square on Friday 8 November 2024, just in time for the Christmas market.

They're in the small shop which was previously Mizzoni's Pizzas.  This has been extensively renovated to provide a nice amount of comfortable cafe seating, including one front-window spot which gives a great view of the square.   A customer toilet is available - and the door is beside a nicely displayed set of local paintings.   Technically this is at 40 Rosemary Avenue, but it's an Eyre Square address for all practical purposes.

It's an independent cafe, serving Blue Moon coffee in all the expected ways, and a lovely range of cakes which are made in-house, as well as a few others which are gluten free.

Days / hours - to be advised.   Likely to be seven-days, daytime.

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Phone: 083 484 4747

Kingdom of Sweets

This pick-and-mix sweets franchise opened in a pop up stall in the upper level of the Eyre Square Shopping Centre on 31 July 2024 - near BPerfect cosmetics.

They offer a very wide range of non-branded sweets, with the ability to buy any quantity of each item.

Pick'N'Pay

This new vape shop and 21st century convenience store opened on Friday 26 July 2024.

They're in the east side of Eyre Square,  in between Fibber McGees and Re-max real estate - in a unit that's been empty for good few years, but was previously a Sherry Fitzgerald real-estate office.

Products include vapes, soft-drinks / minerals, American candies, packaged crisps/chips - no sign of a deli, or 20th century goods like cigarettes or newspapers!

Days and hours are to be announced, but it's likely to be open 7 days a week, and open well into the evening /night.

No social media (yet) - but the fridges only arrived on opening day, so they're still busy setting up the store.  

Address:   4 Eyre Square

A more subdued sign, installed in July 2025, when the lurid yellow one was moved to their new branch

January 2025

Munch Haven

This casual-dining restaurant and take-away opened on Friday 5 July, 2024.

Munch Haven is located in Abbeygate Street Upper, in between Great Escape Room and My Shop .. in the premises that used to be Speedos - just up the road from Electric nightclub.

The decor is interesting, with the restaurant seating area featuring hand-lettered signs, and a mural of Salthill diving board on the toilet door.

Their menu includes a wide range of spice bags (chicken, lamb  beef, bacon, veggie), as well as pizza, burgers  kebabs, side dishes and desserts.

According to their website, Munch Haven aims to be a place where "delightful dining meets exceptional flavour. ... dedicated to providing a memorable dining experience with a diverse menu that caters to all taste preferences. Our passionate chefs use only the freshest ingredients to create a variety of delicious dishes that will leave you craving more. ... the perfect place to indulge your culinary desires".   Which is quite ambitious for a fast-food diner!

Initially they're open from 3:30pm until midnight, seven days a week.  Delivery is available - order through their website.

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Phone:  091 448 531 / 087 090 4000

Address:   30 Abbeygate Street Upper, Galway, H91HC04

Email:   contact@munchHavenGalway.ie

October 2024 - a new mural of Spanish Arch