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Local Activities

Nightlife

Galway is widely acknowledged as being a great place to go out with its thriving pub culture and great nightclubs. There are pubs to suit everyone from traditional style pubs to large modern pubs. Visitors can find pubs with live music from traditional Irish to Jazz to Rock.

Festivals

The Galway Oyster Festival is voted one of the 12 greatest shows on earth! It is a weekend of non-stop entertainment, which features national top-class artists, cabaret, and dancing. The Oyster Festival is held in September.

The Galway Races have become the greatest of all racing festivals and probably the most lavish, colourful and sociable fixtures in the Irish racing world. Galway racecourse is situated 3 miles from Galway and the races are held in July.

The Galway Arts Festival was founded in 1978 and is Irelands leading multi-disciplinary arts festival, incorporating theatre, spectacle, dance, visual arts, music, literature and comedy. It is also held in July.

Siamsa is a spectacular show of Irish music and Irish dancing that is performed at the Claddagh hall from Mon to Fridays in June, July and August.

Sports & Activities

Golf - Boasting championship standard links and parkland courses designed by international stars, Galway offers our golfing visitors superb choice and value.

Watersports - Sail the Atlantic ocean, surf on one of the many fine beaches. Cruise on the River Corrib, try your hand at windsurfing, scuba diving in Galway Bay, or swim at one of the clean, safe and abundant EU Flag beaches

Sailing - Anyone coming to Galway to sail can bring their own boat.

  • Locations for Dinghy sailing: Salthill, the Claddagh, and Lough Atalia

  • Locations for wind-surfing: Silverstrand or Parkmore Pier, Kinvara.

Cycling - Hire a bicycle and go where you please. Mountain Trail bike shop, Middle street: 00 353 (0)91569888

Fishing - An anglers paradise, with clear unpolluted lakes and rivers.

No license is required for brown trout fishing, course fishing, or sea angling in Ireland.

Horse Riding - Saddle up on one of the most enjoyable ways to see the countryside, getting lots of fresh air in the process. Clonboo Riding School: 00 353(0)91791362

Shopping

From craft shops to department stores, Galway has a huge variety of quality shops.

Most shops close at 6 pm with late opening until 9 pm on Thursdays and Fridays.

  • Shopping Centres: Eyre Square Shopping Centre

  • Galway Shopping Centre - Headford road.

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