Galway

Food and Drink
In late September, Galway is the setting for the International Oyster Festival. A remarkable celebration of this most famous delicacy, visitors enjoy gourmet seafood and live music during the four-day party. The rest of the year the Saturday market in Galway is the place to go for a gourmet treat. Hugely popular with locals and tourists, there are quality food stands selling fresh pasta, cheeses, home made relishes and sauces and, of course, portions of mussels in garlic sauce.
Shopping
Westport, Co Mayo, is a lovely shopping destination with a town centre full of charming and brightly painted old-world shop fronts. The emphasis is on locally produced knitwear and pottery but more contemporary tastes are well catered for too.
Where To Stay

• Despite being a city, Galway feels like a big town with its easy attitude and cool bohemian vibe. This thriving city is the most westerly in Europe and enjoys a strong artistic heritage and a great art, music, theatre and film scene. Summer in Galway is a never-ending stream of excellent festivals with eating, drinking and entertainment all taking place outdoors. Try to catch the Galway Arts Festival in July or the International Oyster Festival held in September. To the west of Galway, the area known as Connemara is wild and beautiful, with a rugged coast and native Irish speakers. Base yourself in Clifden, dramatically set between the mountains and the sea.

Things To Do

• CLIFFS OF MOHER AND THE BURREN - This day coach tour from Galway travels along Galway Bay to the fishing village of Kinvara to see Dunguaire Castle, and onto The Burren - home to 75% of Ireland’s native flora and location of numerous ancient monuments. See the famous Celtic Crosses at Kilfenora before arriving at the Cliffs of Moher to enjoy stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean and Aran Islands.Travel back via the coast road with views of Connemara and Galway in the distance.
• CONNEMARA AND CONG TOUR - Also from Galway, this day coach tour finds the hidden Ireland off the main tourist track. Beginning at Ross Errily Friary - an atmospheric 14th century monastery, the tour continues to Cong Village for a guided walk through Cong Woods to see Ashford Castle. Entering via Lough Nafooey allows you to see the stark beauty of the hidden valley of Connemara before arriving at the Atlantic Ocean. Continue to Kylemore Abbey and return via the Inagh Valley.
• KILLARY CRUISES - Killary Fjord was recently named by a BBC TV series as one of the places to see before you die and it’s not hard to see why. Ireland’s only fjord, it is a nine mile long inlet with some of the finest scenery in the west of Ireland, yet its sheltered waters are always calm. Cruise on a luxury catamaran, the Connemara Lady, with deck top seating for those who wish to experience the trip in the great outdoors, or from inside, still with the same fabulous views.

Insider Tip
Walk to the cliffs of Moher from Hag’s Head, about an hour south for a view uninterrupted by tourists. You can hire a walking guide from the visitor centre.