Day Trip: Galway City & Claddagh Tour

Day Trip: Galway City & Claddagh Tour

Galway City & Claddagh Tour

Date offered: Wednesday, July 22
Cost: €85
Minimum to proceed:
30

Galway is a harbour city on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, located on the River Corrib. 

Walk in the footsteps of the original fishermen of the Claddagh, and take a stroll to Ed Sheeran and Saoirse Ronan’s pubs featured in Ed’s Galway Girl video.

Soak in the buzz of this energetic city alive with music and history, hear the story of the world-famous Claddagh ring, and hang out with your friends in the 18th-century Eyre Square, with an eclectic collection of shops and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music.

Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city wall.

Planned Itinerary:

This is to give an overview of the possible day’s itinerary. It is subject to change based on the weather or other unforeseen circumstances. An updated itinerary will be provided closer to the date.

8:00: Load coaches—departure at 8:15.

9:45: Arrive in Galway city to meet with an amazing local tour guide for a walking tour of the city. They will be with us for approximately two hours and will show us the highlights and history of this harbour city on the west of Ireland where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Sights include the Galway University quad building (1849), the Galway Cathedral, paid admission to St. Nicholas church (1320) with guided tour inside, and Galway Museum (second bathroom stop if required). During the tour we will visit the old city walls and Lynch’s Castle, and the streets will be buzzing and vibrant with all types of music buskers and colour.

You may also visit the Claddagh Ring Museum on Quay Street. The Claddagh Ring depicts Love, Loyalty and Friendship and has become iconic throughout the world. Also visit the Druid Theatre Company founded in 1975 on Flood Street, which is a very important piece of culture in the city. 

The tour will conclude at the famous O’Connell’s Bar on Eyre Square, where Ed Sheeran busked and filmed the “Galway Girl” video. It also hosted a visit by President John F. Kennedy in June of 1963.

12:30: Time to explore on your own.

Suggested lunch stops:

  • The Kings Head: Seafood chowder, Galway Bay mussels, oysters, lobster and Guinness Irish Stew. 
  • Sonny Molloy’s and Busker Brownes: Fish ‘n’ chips, shepherd’s pie, burgers, chicken stir fry, salads. 
  • Bunch of Grapes: Homemade soup and toasted special sandwiches. 
  • McDonagh’s: Fish and chips—yes, a popular fish and chip stop, with casual fare.  

Other options:

  • Hop-on, hop-off bus is a separate ticket, €16 per adult with unlimited on and off. It makes 13 stops in the city and Salthill. 
  • Salthill is a seaside resort on the northern shore of Galway Bay, Ireland. Its beach consists of a series of small rocky or sandy stretches. Salthill Promenade offers views of the nearby harbour city of Galway and the Aran Islands. The city bus from the city centre to Salthill is €2 per trip and operates every 20 minutes.

16:20: Load coach for a 16:30 departure.

18:30: Arrive at University of Limerick

What to Bring:

Participants are advised to have comfortable walking shoes and to wear light layers! We suggest a sweater, rain jacket, jeans or pants and small backpack. Temperatures may vary with rain a possibility.

Disclaimer:

All parties participating in the tour and activities do so at the participant’s own sole risk. UWPIAA organisers of the tour are released from any claims, actions, damages, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses by participants in the tour, and all persons accept full responsibility for themselves during the tour.

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