Essential Ireland > County Galway > Attractions
Aran Islands
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
The Aran Islands offer visitors the chance to experience the traditional culture of Ireland. Irish continues to be spoken on the islands, while their rugged coastlines, unspoilt beaches, ancient ruined churches and picturesque cottages create an inspiring and memorable day trip. There are three islands in the group known as the Big Island, the Middle Island and the East Island and they are situated off the west coast of the country.
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
The Aran Islands offer visitors the chance to experience the traditional culture of Ireland. Irish continues to be spoken on the islands, while their rugged coastlines, unspoilt beaches, ancient ruined churches and picturesque cottages create an inspiring and memorable day trip. There are three islands in the group known as the Big Island, the Middle Island and the East Island and they are situated off the west coast of the country.
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Athenry Castle
Athenry
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 844 797
Athenry is one of the finest surviving medieval walled towns in Ireland and it is home to Athenry Castle. The famous three-story castle was constructed in 1250 and is surrounded by defensive walls. Inside there is an audiovisual room and exhibition which help visitors learn about the castle and its surroundings. Guided tours are also available and they last for approximately 45 minutes.
Athenry
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 844 797
Athenry is one of the finest surviving medieval walled towns in Ireland and it is home to Athenry Castle. The famous three-story castle was constructed in 1250 and is surrounded by defensive walls. Inside there is an audiovisual room and exhibition which help visitors learn about the castle and its surroundings. Guided tours are also available and they last for approximately 45 minutes.
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Aughnanure Castle
Oughterard
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 552 214
Constructed by the O’Flaherty family around 1500, Aughnanure Castle is an excellently preserved example of an Irish Tower House containing a banqueting hall, watch tower, bastions, double bawn and dry harbour. The Aughnanure Castle takes up a position on a rocky island around three or four kilometres from the town of Oughterard. Tours are possible and they last for the best part of an hour.
Oughterard
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 552 214
Constructed by the O’Flaherty family around 1500, Aughnanure Castle is an excellently preserved example of an Irish Tower House containing a banqueting hall, watch tower, bastions, double bawn and dry harbour. The Aughnanure Castle takes up a position on a rocky island around three or four kilometres from the town of Oughterard. Tours are possible and they last for the best part of an hour.
Boyle Abbey
Boyle
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)71 966 2604
Boyle Abbey is a well preserved 12th century Cistercian Monastery. It was used to accommodate a military garrison in the 17th and 18th centuries at which time parts were destroyed, but nevertheless continues to impress visitors. It also houses an exhibition which is found in the abbey’s 16th and 17th century gatehouse.
Boyle
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)71 966 2604
Boyle Abbey is a well preserved 12th century Cistercian Monastery. It was used to accommodate a military garrison in the 17th and 18th centuries at which time parts were destroyed, but nevertheless continues to impress visitors. It also houses an exhibition which is found in the abbey’s 16th and 17th century gatehouse.
Corrib Princess
Woodquay
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 592 447
Capable of carrying 157 passengers on a 90 minute cruise of the River Corrib, the Corrib Princess takes guests on a commentated water tour of some of Galway’s most famous sites. The Corrib Princess works its way along the traditional trade route from Woodquay in Galway along the River Corrib and back having offered views of the region’s most well known sights.
Woodquay
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 592 447
Capable of carrying 157 passengers on a 90 minute cruise of the River Corrib, the Corrib Princess takes guests on a commentated water tour of some of Galway’s most famous sites. The Corrib Princess works its way along the traditional trade route from Woodquay in Galway along the River Corrib and back having offered views of the region’s most well known sights.
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Dun Aonghasa
Aran
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)99 61008
Dun Aonghasa is the largest of the prehistoric forts found on the Aran Islands. Its massive dry stone walls and protective limestone blocks are spectacularly located overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, offering some of the most dramatic vistas in County Galway. The fort comprises three sections of wall and there is also a visitor centre around a kilometre away.
Aran
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)99 61008
Dun Aonghasa is the largest of the prehistoric forts found on the Aran Islands. Its massive dry stone walls and protective limestone blocks are spectacularly located overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, offering some of the most dramatic vistas in County Galway. The fort comprises three sections of wall and there is also a visitor centre around a kilometre away.
Galway Arts Centre
47 Lower Dominick Street
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 565 886
Housed in an 1840s building that was formerly the home of one of the patrons of the Irish literary revival, the Galway Arts Centre hosts several nationally and internationally acclaimed exhibitions every year. As well as contemporary national and international exhibits the centre also offers art classes, drama and music workshops and writing and photography sessions.
47 Lower Dominick Street
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 565 886
Housed in an 1840s building that was formerly the home of one of the patrons of the Irish literary revival, the Galway Arts Centre hosts several nationally and internationally acclaimed exhibitions every year. As well as contemporary national and international exhibits the centre also offers art classes, drama and music workshops and writing and photography sessions.
Galway Cathedral
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 563 577
Galway Cathedral is one of the grandest buildings in the whole city and is built on the site of the old city jail. At 145 feet high, it towers over the city and is one of Galway’s most famous landmarks. The cathedral takes up a position next to the bank of the River Corrib as it flows through the city of Galway and it was dedicated as a cathedral in the year 1965.
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 563 577
Galway Cathedral is one of the grandest buildings in the whole city and is built on the site of the old city jail. At 145 feet high, it towers over the city and is one of Galway’s most famous landmarks. The cathedral takes up a position next to the bank of the River Corrib as it flows through the city of Galway and it was dedicated as a cathedral in the year 1965.
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Galway City Museum
Spanish Parade
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 532 460
The Galway Museum contains hundreds of artefacts from throughout the history of Galway, including weapons, farm implements, pieces of machinery and 17th century stone carvings. The museum is situated behind the Spanish Arch while the River Corrib flows nearby. Galway Museum, which also overlooks Claddagh was first opened in 1976 but the new and improved version started out life in 2007.
Spanish Parade
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 532 460
The Galway Museum contains hundreds of artefacts from throughout the history of Galway, including weapons, farm implements, pieces of machinery and 17th century stone carvings. The museum is situated behind the Spanish Arch while the River Corrib flows nearby. Galway Museum, which also overlooks Claddagh was first opened in 1976 but the new and improved version started out life in 2007.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Park
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Formerly known as Eyre Square, and still commonly known by that name, the John F Kennedy Memorial Park is an inner-city public park in the centre of Galway. The square was renamed in 1965 in honour of the former American president who visited Galway shortly before his assassination in 1963. The park covers 623 acres and it is home to more than 4,500 different types of tree and shrub from various parts of the world.
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Formerly known as Eyre Square, and still commonly known by that name, the John F Kennedy Memorial Park is an inner-city public park in the centre of Galway. The square was renamed in 1965 in honour of the former American president who visited Galway shortly before his assassination in 1963. The park covers 623 acres and it is home to more than 4,500 different types of tree and shrub from various parts of the world.
Leisureland
Rockbarton Road
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 521 455
Leisure Land is a major entertainment, health and fitness facility located on Ireland's longest seaside promenade. It features a 25 metre swimming pool, children’s pool with pirate ship, 65 metre waterslide, an amusement park, restaurants and shops and a state of the art gym, making it immensely popular with families.
Rockbarton Road
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 521 455
Leisure Land is a major entertainment, health and fitness facility located on Ireland's longest seaside promenade. It features a 25 metre swimming pool, children’s pool with pirate ship, 65 metre waterslide, an amusement park, restaurants and shops and a state of the art gym, making it immensely popular with families.
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Portumna Castle
Portumna
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)90 974 1658
Portumna Castle is a great fortified house constructed in 1618 by the 4th Earl of Clanricarde, the ground floor of which is now open to the public. The castle and Gate House now host exhibitions. To the north of the castle, meanwhile, geometric gardens laid with trees, flowers, herbs and vegetables form perhaps the greatest attraction of the site.
Portumna
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)90 974 1658
Portumna Castle is a great fortified house constructed in 1618 by the 4th Earl of Clanricarde, the ground floor of which is now open to the public. The castle and Gate House now host exhibitions. To the north of the castle, meanwhile, geometric gardens laid with trees, flowers, herbs and vegetables form perhaps the greatest attraction of the site.
The Spanish Arch
Spanish Parade
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
The Spanish Arch, which stands near the City Museum, is all that remains of a 16th century bastion, and was added to the city’s walls to protect merchant ships from looting. The arch lies on the east side of the River Corrib and was constructed in 1584 under the name ‘the head of the wall’.
Spanish Parade
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
The Spanish Arch, which stands near the City Museum, is all that remains of a 16th century bastion, and was added to the city’s walls to protect merchant ships from looting. The arch lies on the east side of the River Corrib and was constructed in 1584 under the name ‘the head of the wall’.
St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)90 974 1658
St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church is the oldest in Galway. Constructed in 1320, Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed here before setting out for the New World. Contained within is a 12th century crusader’s tomb and a 6th or 7th century carved stone font. Guided tours are available.
Galway
County Galway
Republic of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)90 974 1658
St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church is the oldest in Galway. Constructed in 1320, Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed here before setting out for the New World. Contained within is a 12th century crusader’s tomb and a 6th or 7th century carved stone font. Guided tours are available.