PHOTOS - County Galway - a slideshow
Galway city may not be the biggest city in Ireland but it definitely has the biggest heart. From narrow streets a buzz with activity and Irish culture to amazing landscapes and seascapes - Galway has it all.
Here’s our list of ten interesting facts about Galway:
1. Galway is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the only city in the province of Connacht. According to the 2011 census the population of Galway is 75,414.
2. The park at the center of Galway City is called John F. Kennedy Park however it is still known by most Irish people as Eyre Square. It was renamed John F. Kennedy Park in the 1970s. The square is home to the old city gates and its defending cannon.
3. Galway is nicknamed “The City of Tribes” (“Cathair na dTreabh”) after the fourteen merchant families who led the city during the Hiberno-Norman period.
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4. The city is known for its vibrant lifestyle and numerous festivals, celebrations and events including the summer’s Galway Arts Festival which is known for its famous Macnas, arts group’s, parade.
5. There are many symbols associated with Galway. These include the Claddagh Ring, Galway's own symbol of love and friendship, worn the world over, the Aran Sweater, an emblem, not only of the Aran Islands, but of Ireland itself and the Galway Hookers, ships that distinguish themselves as Galway’s signature upon the water.
6. In 2007 Galway was named one of the top eight “sexiest cities” in the world and in 2008 it was ranked the 42nd best tourist destination in the world and 14th in Europe.
PHOTOS - County Galway - a slideshow
7. There are 6,870 Irish speakers in Galway city, which is nearly ten percent of the population. Galway is often referred to as the “Cultural Heart of Ireland” as it is most associated with the Irish language, music, song and dance traditions. Galway City is on the doorstep of Galway’s Gaeltacht (an area where Irish is spoken).
8. The Aran Island, probably Ireland’s most famous islands, are located just off the coast of Galway. The three islands, Inishmore , Inishmaan and Inisheer are the perfect place to visit to see Ireland at its best. They are also Gaeltacht areas.
9. The most famous person born in Galway is the great Hollywood actor Peter O’Toole. Peter Seamus Lorcan O’Toole was born in Connemara in 1932.
Most famous for his role in the 1962 “Lawrence of Arabia” poor O’Toole hold the world record for Oscar nominations without actually winning. He’s now up to eight nominations.
10. The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia a townland in the civil parish of Kilcummin, County Galway. In Irish its name is Muiceanach idir Dhá Sháile, meaning "piggery between two briny places".
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.joanxis | Sep 16, 2011, 08:26 AM EDT
Georgie Boy, Every time you open your mouth on this site, your disdain for all things Irish shows through. Why, in the name of heaven are you on this site if you dislike the Irish and Ireland so much. Did something so bad happen to you in Ireland that you have to let everyone know how much you dislike it or are you just a mean spirited malcontent? I'm wondering if you are an elderly person, as they sometimes have a reputation of being a bit crabby.
ballyhip | Sep 08, 2011, 08:51 AM EDT
You forget the Galway Races which are a "destination" for the Irish. I had two half holidays to attend while working at NUI, Galway
JohnJoe4444 | Sep 08, 2011, 05:15 AM EDT
George, a mhac, táim im' chónaí sa Ghaillimh. Tá an gaeilge go flúrseach sa chathair. Cloisim daoine ag caint faoí gach lá. George, I live in Galway. The Irish language is still strong here. I have a shop in the city and hear conversations in Irish every day. I had a lovely chat tré gaeilge with a young man from Ros a' Mhíl yesterday. Yes, we hear all the other languages as well, polish, russian, french, spanish, italian. It's part of what makes Galway such a wonderful place to visit.
GeorgeDillon | Sep 07, 2011, 08:01 AM EDT
I don't have sufficient interest to correct everything here, but two of the claims are definitely wrong. Galway is not the third largest city in the 26 Counties, that would be Limerick. And the claim that there are "6,870 Irish speakers in Galway city"! That's utter garbage. Check it for yourself--take a stroll around Eyre Square and listen to the languages all around you. Chinese? Yes. Russian? Yes. Hindhi? Yes. Irish? NO.
gerryto | Sep 05, 2011, 12:11 AM EDT
Sir, – Congratulations to Declan McCormac on winning The Irish Timespostcard for modern Ireland competition 2011 (Free with The Irish Times, August 29th). I have sent his card to my son and his family in Australia. After a successful career in retail management in Dublin he was made redundant, and in February this year, emigrated to join his brother in New South Wales, the last of my three sons to continue their careers abroad. I feel he and his wife will appreciate the ironic image of modern Dublin depicted in your winning postcard. – Yours, etc, ANN KING, Carysfort Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin. http://www.irishtimes.com/letters/index.html#1224303499486
JerryLynch | Sep 03, 2011, 03:49 PM EDT
Being a "Lynch," our tribe is from the County Galway area. The Lord Mayor of Galway, James Lynch, convicted and hanged his own son in the late 15th century, when crowds wouldn't allow it and the executioner wouldn't do it. The event is immortalized in stone on a part of a ruin still in Galway. Some sources even credit the even to the term "lynching." Another part of our family's proud history...
hooligan6a | Sep 03, 2011, 01:25 PM EDT
I visited Ireland last April. Went to Dublin, Cork and Galway. The weather was just great. Dublin is just a big city. Cork was nice but Galway was great. When I return, I will go straight to Galway. I loved it. .
PatriciaMarya | Sep 03, 2011, 12:08 PM EDT
I can't believe my luck: in February of 2009, I got to visit Ireland, land at Shannon, drive up to Galway and stay at the Eyre Square Hotel right off the bat. My dinner that night included mussels. We were there for a fortnight and we never had to fight any of the tour buses - it was definitely off-season and the time to be with the locals. And then to stay with a local? Died and gone to heaven. Cast my Mother's ashes, she is a Kelly, on Shrove or Pancake Tuesday in Holly Mount. As I began to cast, a hail storm began which ended when the last of Mom's ashes were freed. I love Galway and I love Ireland.