 |
|||
| About Galway Getting there Where to Stay |
Galway City is the third city in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin
and Cork. It began as a small fishing village centred around the
estuary of the River Corrib, a river traditionally called Abhainn na
Gaillimhe (The Galway River) after Galvia, a mythological princess said
to have drowned in its waters. Early records tell of a Dun or fort erected by local chieftains (where Flood Street is today) to guard against attack by what the ancient Annals call “Munster Men”. By 1235, the Anglo-Norman de Burgos captured in its place around which a settlement grew into the mediaeval city of Galway. Galway City is unique among Irish cities because of the strength of its Irish language, music, song and dancing traditions - it is often referred to as the 'Bilingual Capital of Ireland'. The city is well known for its ‘Irishness’, mainly due to the fact that it has on its doorstep the Galway Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area). The language is evident on the city streets, with bilingual signage on display on shops and road signs, and can be heard being spoken around the city. Irish language theatre, TV production and traditional music are an integral part of Galway city life. Galway was a medieval walled town founded by Normans from Britain and thus has a shared cultural, architectural and musical tradition with Europe and Britain. A walk around the city centre will reward the visitor with the discovery of 16th century tower houses, marriage stones, two convents that are now a pub and a hotel, parts of the medieval town wall and the Collegiate Church of St Nicholas, started in 1245 and the oldest church in continuous use in Ireland. All these historic elements are the hidden treasures of a vibrant contemporary town that wears its age lightly. |
||
