Sights and landmarks in Galway

Sights and landmarks in Galway

1. See

   Galway Atlantaquaria

   Galway Aquarium

   Large aquarium majoring on local marine life, so you will see sharks, but they're Irish sharks and proud of it. Staff display the various beasties: care to cuddle a huge crab?

   Wed–Fri 10AM–5PM, Sat Sun 10AM–6PM·Adult €15, child €10

2. See

   Galway Cathedral

   Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and Saint Nicholas

   Roman Catholic cathedral built 1958-1965 on the site of an old prison; it's an imposing limestone building in a mixture of retro-classical styles, which some detest. The dome, pillars and round arches are Renaissance, while a Romanesque portico dominates the main façade. The organ was re-conditioned in 2007, and recitals show off the acoustics. Regular mass, with one Sunday mass in Irish.

   Daily 8AM–8PM·Suggested donation €3

3. See

   Galway City Museum

   Three floors of galleries have seven long-term exhibitions on Galway's archaeology, history and links to the sea. Two halls have rotating exhibitions.

   Tue–Sat 10AM–5PM, Sun (Apr–Sep) noon–5PM·Free (suggested donation €5)

4. See

   Hall of the Red Earl

   The Hall is the earliest medieval structure to be seen within the walls of the city. It was built by the de Burgo family in the 13th century and was the main municipal building, acting as town hall, court house and tax collection office. Only a fragment remains, protected behind glass, and it won't take a minute to see. The modern building adjoining is the base of Galway Civic Trust, and their guided walks through the city start here, see below.

   Free

5. See

   Legend of the Claddagh Ring

   Called a museum but mostly a marketing exercise. The Claddagh Ring is a style of mani in fede finger ring: two hands join to clasp a heart. It's been a design for wedding or engagement rings since medieval times but became a Galway tradition from 1700, when the jewellers worked near an Claddagh, the city shore. It became popular from the late 20th century, and legends were embellished around it as ingeniously as its designs. This museum hews to the "Joyce" legend, after the man captured by Algerian corsairs and learning the design in captivity; he returned to Galway where of course his sweetheart had remained true... aah, bless. The heart is often surmounted by a crown, or isn't, depending on your allegiances in that matter.

   Mon–Sat 9AM–6PM, Sun 11AM–6PM·Free (no, not the rings)

6. See

   Saint Nicholas Collegiate Church

   A collegiate church doesn't have a resident priest, but members of a seminary (here, a College of Vicars) take turns. St Nicholas is the largest medieval church still in everyday use in Ireland. It was founded in 1320 and enlarged over the following two centuries. It's dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra (circa 300 AD), the patron saint of seafarers who later became Santa Claus. There are large tombs of the Lynch family, and a plaque at the Lynch memorial window claims to be the spot where 15th-century mayor James hanged his own son Walter: for killing a Spanish visitor, so goes the tale, but what was that really all about? In 2002 St Nick's conducted the first blessing of a same-sex partnership in an Irish church, but the Bishop prohibited any such unbiblical goings-on in future. The church is Anglican Protestant (which it obviously wasn't when Christopher Columbus attended mass here), but has occasionally been used by RC, Romanian, Russian Orthodox and Mar Thoma Syrian congregations. When in Rome, as they say....

   Mon Tue Thu–Sat 10AM–6PM, Wed noon–6PM, Sun 1–5:30PM·Adult €5, children free, guided tours €10

7. See

   University Quad

   This was the original quadrangle of the college that opened in 1849 and became one of the three colleges of Queens University of Ireland, the others being Belfast and Cork. Since 1997 it changed its name to National University of Ireland Galway, and again in 2022 to University of Galway. The Quad buildings are in mock Tudor Gothic modelled on Oxford's Christ Church, so their aspirations are clear. They're nowadays the admin offices of a huge modern campus stretching from the river and canal to Newcastle Road, then continuing west as University Hospital.

   Daily 8AM-9PM·Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Galway (CC BY-SA 4.0).