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Galway Market

Authentic traditional market selling food and various handmade goods. The boerie rolls are incredible!

market

Getting there: right next to St Nicholas Church
Hours: Sat 8AM–6PM, Sun 2–6PM
Website: galwaymarket.com (opens in a new tab)

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

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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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 1–5:30PMAdult €5, children free, guided tours €10
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)
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
Drink
King's Head
Bar with restaurant on three floors, often has live music.
Sun–Thu noon–midnight, Fri Sat noon–2AM