26^th September 2013 – around the mediaeval paths and canals.

We are staying in Galway for a few days, while we explore this part of Ireland. Today we had a good look around the city, particularly the older areas. The weather was grey when we started, and there were even a few drops of rain but it soon cleared up.

There is a very cute pub near us called The Hole in the Wall.

We walked around a park in the middle of town, called Eyre Square, then along a busy pedestrian mall full of jewellery shops selling Claddagh rings, which originated in Galway.

There is also a bank in a building called Lynch’s Castle, which dates back to around 1600. It isn’t particularly attractive but it has some excellent gargoyles.

Around the corner from the castle is the Lynch Memorial Window, associated with a member of the Lynch family who was the mayor of Galway in the 15^th Century and who is linked to a rather gruesome legend.

We visited the Collegiate Church of St Nicholas of Smyrna (St Nick, Santa Claus). It is one of the oldest major churches in Ireland – it was built in 1380. The stone carvings inside are amazing.

Most of the angel statues have been defaced – apparently by Oliver Cromwell’s men, who took over the cathedral and used it as a stable.

This one, who is high up on an arch, has survived. Doesn’t he look pleased?

Some of the floor is paved with tombstones.

We walked on, through the Latin Quarter, a bustling part of town full of cobbled streets, old pubs and funny little tourist shops.

At the end of this area, we came to the River Corrib, where it opens out into Galway Bay. There is an extension of the old city walls, built in 1584, containing the Spanish Arch – the walls around the city are long gone but the section containing the arch remains.

The river is dotted with magnificent white swans.

Next to the Spanish Arch is Galway City Museum, which contains various archaeological finds from the city as well as a full-size replica of a type of boat called a hooker, once a common fishing vessel in Galway.

The museum also has some great views of the river, the bay and the Spanish Arch.

From the museum, we crossed the river and headed out along the quay.

We then wandered back to the main part of the city and around a network of canals.

There is an area called Nun’s Island, which is home to a closed order of Poor Clare nuns and a large and very busy Catholic boys’ school, as well as the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed Into Heaven and St Nicholas. This is a modern building, completed in 1965, but in a mix of classical styles.

By this time the sun was out and was shining through the stained glass windows, filling the church with rainbows.

From there, it was a short walk back past more fascinating old streets to our hotel. Tonight is Arthur’s Night, at recently invented festival to celebrate Guinness. So all the pubs are full and there are people everywhere. Tomorrow the Galway Oyster Festival kicks off so everything will be crazy again – in fact, it seems that there is an excuse for a big party every night in Galway!