This year for St Patrick’s Day some friends and I were looking to go to the Emerald Isles to celebrate this Irish holiday like only the Irish can. First off we were thinking of going to Dublin but after talking with an Irish friend were convinced to go to Galway instead. Galway is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the largest city in the province of Connacht in the sparsely-populated West of Ireland.
St Patrick’s weekend is of course a very busy time in any Irish town or city but we were so glad we chose Galway because while it was positively humming Dublin would have been even more jam-packed and touristy than normal! Galway also seems more quintessentially Irish, its such a charming city – especially in the small streets of the Latin Quarter. The added bonus of Galway is that it’s not too big, so all the bars and attractions are within walking distance.
Flights & Transport to Galway
First things first we booked flights with Ryanair from London Stansted to Ireland West Airport Knock and return bus fares with the national bus service Bus Éireann from the airport to Galway and back again. There’s only a few services a day and the airport is quite small so it pays to line up your flight times and bus times carefully. In terms of airlines that fly into Ireland West another option would have been flying with Aer Lingus, the national carrier of Ireland.
Accommodation in Galway
We booked a dorm room in a centrally located hostel Sleepzone for three nights. The staff were really lovely & helpful and there was a free breakfast provided with coffee/tea and toast/cereal that was super useful. The hostel is aptly named because while it is near the city centre it is actually tucked in behind the main shopping mall which means at night-time it is away from some of the noisier areas of town.
Activities from Galway
Our favourite day out was the day trip we took along the Wild Atlantic way to the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands, we booked this through Viator. The Cliffs of Moher are really stunning and we got to see them from two different vantage points- first from the boat and then from above the cliffs themselves.
Visiting the little white villages on the Aran Islands feels a little bit like stepping back in time. They are quite unique in that they are one of the only places where Irish Gaelic is still spoken by all of the inhabitants. At points the stunning beaches and mild weather made us feel like we were in a whole different country. On the our way back at the port at Doolin we even got to see the infamous local dolphin Dusty.
Eating Out in Galway
A lot of the local pubs in Galway serve perfectly decent pub food but if you’re looking for something more flavoursome than a burger and fries try out Papa Rich Kitchen for tasty Asian food, Fat Freddy’s for moderately priced pizza or nachos (ie. great food for when you get the drunken munchies after all that Guinness) and Maxwell’s restaurant for a decent brunch after a big night out.
Nightlife in Galway
One of the best reasons to spend Saint Patrick’s weekend (or in fact any weekend) in Ireland is of course to enjoy the lively bar scene. Galway has a real range of options from the traditional pub style venues down in the Latin Quarter like Tig Coili which often has traditional music, The Quays which has been there over 400 years and 1520 which is great for sport fans. Then in Eyre Square there is O Connell’s Bar with numerous quirkily decorated rooms and an outdoor area which is great in summer (this is the bar where Ed Sheeran shot his Galway Girl video!)
If, like me, you’re not a massive fan of Guinness but do enjoy craft beer I’d suggest heading to Salt House – they have an amazing selection (the chocolate milk stout is particularly tasty!) Finally if you get sick of beer altogether I highly recommend Buddha Bar for interesting south east Asian inspired cocktails that won’t break the bank.
So there you have it, all you need for a great weekend away with friends in Ireland!
Travelling elsewhere in UK/Ireland or Europe?