An Taibhdhearc

The national Irish language theatre. It has produced some of Ireland's most celebrated actors.

Listing from Wikivoyage: Galway, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Drink
King's Head
Bar with restaurant on three floors, often has live music.
Sun–Thu noon–midnight, Fri Sat noon–2AM
Drink
Taaffes Pub
Great authentic Irish experience. You can find trad music there almost any night and there's a friendly atmosphere. Food only to 5PM.
Daily 10:30–12:30AM
Eat
Murphy's Ice Cream
Murphy's
Possibly the best ice cream you will ever eat in your life. Seriously, it's that good, albeit very expensive.
Daily 11:30AM–10PM€6.50–9.50
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–6PMFree (no, not the rings)