Where Dublin and Cork pinch and kick each other like stroppy siblings arguing over who’s superior, Galway is like the quiet, reliable middle child. The capital of Connaught cuts an individual figure, a bit alternative or bohemian, a devout foodie, purveyor of natural wine bars and third-wave coffee spots as well as traditional pubs and wood-fired pizza joints. Its calendar is dictated by arts festivals, its vibe is bilingual and it never misses its weekly farmers’ market for community catch-ups, either. Galway is a hipster, nach bhfuil?
They say “west is best”, so if you’d rather not follow the crowd to Ireland’s larger cities, and instead explore the cool, eclectic offering of Galway, here’s how to spend 36 hours in the City of the
