Galway Holiday
World-famous Irish hub of entertainment, Galway is known as the 'cultural heart of Ireland'...
Traditions and culture in Galway
Galway has often been described as the 'Cultural Heart' of Ireland and it is not hard to see why.
An increasing number of young travellers come to Galway on holiday to join in its famously vibrant and hedonistic array of festivals, and they are rarely left disappointed.
Indeed, according to figures published in 2004, the city plays host to three dance organisations, ten festival companies, 12 theatre companies, four writers' groups and 23 musical groups - with 51 venues available for their crafts.
Galway managed to achieve 14th place in the 2008 Travellers' Choice Destination Awards, finishing higher than every European capital apart from Edinburgh and ahead of traditional holiday hubs such as Venice.
Things to do in Galway
Although there are not a huge number of tourist attractions in their own right in Galway, there is never a dull moment in the city, particularly for the outgoing visitor.
A walk along the lengthy promenade to the coastal suburb of Salthill is particularly enjoyable, especially on a clear evening when Galway Bay is illuminated by the moon.
The hustle and bustle of the city centre guarantees some fascinating experiences, with a range of eateries and pubs offering a mix between traditional Irish tipples and ambitious new cuisines.
The Galway Races are always worth a visit for anyone on holiday between July and August, while travellers interested in some of the city's historical attractions could do worse than get in touch with Galway Tours.
Finally, there are a number of reasonably-priced hotels in the city centre so finding somewhere to nurse the hangover should not be too much of a problem.
Weather in Galway
It must be said that Galway shares the same problem with many regions in the west of Ireland - oppressive levels of rainfall.
Nevertheless, this problem cannot dampen the jovial atmosphere in the centre of town and when the sun does decide to emerge, it is positively buzzing.
The climate is generally mild so the lows and highs tend to be more bearable, with the mercury capable of being pushed to around 25C on a glorious summer day.
Destination checklist for Galway
Galway has a population of 72,729.
The city is on UTC time.
The currency in Galway is the euro.
The official language spoken is English.
The city's international dialling code is +35.
