Why Galway?
When hearing about Ireland, I always had heard about either Dublin or Galway. That Galway was a magical place full of color, beauty, creativity, vibrance, and so much more! Hearing all that made me put Galway on my list of places to go when in Ireland. But then I was researching Galway in early October, and I saw there would be an amazing Halloween parade in October – I just knew that I had to go. The Macnas parade is a yearly themed parade. This year’s theme was An Treun – The Summoning of the Lost that was “inspired by a long-lost tale by Dracula author Bram Stoker and the haunting call of the vanished Corncrake,” as the Macnas theatre company describes it.
About Galway
Galway is a dazzling harbor city on the west coast of Ireland. Architecture in Galway is a sight to behold, as it is where modern and medieval styles meet eye to eye. In the past, it was an old merchant hub and previously ruled by fourteen merchant families. It is a port city that gives people a glimpse of the modern Irish life.
Journey from University of Limerick to Galway
My roommates and I all went to Galway together to see this spectacular city. We booked our bus ticket on Expressway a few nights before our weekend trip, which you can get discounted using your young adult leap card. Then the morning of, we were out the door by 6:30 a.m. and on the 310 by 6:43 a.m. Then we got off at our stop, and we walked to Colbert train station to get on the bus that goes to Galway City Centre. Make sure you are there early to get a good spot on the bus! We got on about 10ish minutes before departure.
Things I Saw/Did in Galway
The Spanish Arch
A historic arch that was part of the medieval defensive walls to protect the city’s quay, while providing access to the docks. It was built in 1584 by the mayor back then named Wylliam Martin but then was partially destroyed by a tsunami from the Lisbon earthquake in 1755. Then, the Eyre family restored it and also built the Long Walk, which is mentioned later on in this blog. The Spanish Arch is a beautiful arch today that is a great place for relaxing, and you can often find local performers or buskers in the archway now. When we went there, it was very lively and there was a performer playing a beautiful song on the side of the archway.
I would definitely recommend visiting there. It is an integral part of the history of the city, and the arch is just a beautiful sight. There is just something about the mossy stones and the archway itself that is just so beautiful and exciting. You cannot find stuff like that back in U.S., so I just love it. There is the Galway City Museum, and a café (Ard Bia at Nimmos) right next to the arch too. It is also connected to the Long Walk, which is also a gorgeous sight. So, it is close to other things that you may want to visit as well.
The Long Walk
This beautiful, historic landmark is well known as a lovely and peaceful walk. It starts right past the Spanish Arch and is a 5-minute walk from the Latin Quarter. A row of colorful houses lines the dockside giving you a gorgeous view of the water on one side and the lively colors of the houses on the other. The docks were originally built for the city’s merchants and fisherman as the city was a trading port.
It was a very peaceful walk and an amazing view. I loved to look out onto the water and see the light glimmering off the water. Though it is only 314 meters long, it is a walk worth walking while spending your time in Galway.
The Latin Quarter
The vibrant Latin Quarter is situated in the heart of Galway and is home to many shops, pubs, and restaurants. The Latin Quarter starts at the Spanish Arch and stretches to St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church. It has a medieval feel to it and the architecture is simply so exciting! The buildings are so colorful and unique. Each shop/area brings something unique to the area. There are many performers and buskers in the area, which brings a lively element to the city. I loved being in the Latin Quarter and spent most of my time shopping here in Galway. You can get many gifts here and find many unique items in this area. I found a beanie for my dad in this area. I absolutely adored the feel of this area, with the cobbled street, bustling area, and unique shops! It is a must for you if you are going to visit Galway and I am so grateful I was able to see it!
Thomas Dillons Claddagh Ring Shop
Thomas Dillons Claddagh Ring Shop, located in the Latin Quarter, are the original manufacturers of the claddagh rings. All their rings have the word “ORIGINAL” on all their rings because they are the original claddagh rings. They are so special and if you get a claddagh ring anywhere, it should be this shop! It is a small shop with a tiny claddagh ring museum on the inside. It can get a bit crowded, so if you tend to get overwhelmed with many people in a small space, this is something to take note of. This shop was another major reason I came to Galway. I wanted to get one of these rings for my long-distance boyfriend, as a promise ring. Many people get claddagh rings for themselves, but also getting one of these rings for a significant other is special too. One thing that I did not think about is that American and European ring sizes are different, but the salespeople in the shop should be able to help you figure which size is best for you or the person you may be getting it for. I got the Sterling Silver 100 Year Claddagh Ring for €70.00, but there are other options available in 9ct, 14ct, and 18ct yellow gold. They even sell rings with diamonds in the 18ct option.
Eyre Square Shopping Mall
Located at the heart of Galway, this mall has over 70 shops, including my favorite, Penneys. It is a lively and charming meeting hub for the city. It is next to Eyre Square and Shop Street, which makes it an amazing place to shop. The mall is beautiful on the inside with the medieval walls and little bear statue at the bottom of the stairs.
It has a variety of local Irish retailers and is very lively. I was able to get some nice gifts for my family back home and some new clothes from Penneys, like a cute Jeep shirt and some new boots!
(My hair is still wet from the shower in this picture, but a cool shirt still!)
Macnas Parade: An Treun – The Summoning of the Lost
If I could choose a word to describe the experience, I would say captivating. The moment the music started playing and the actors rolled in, I was enthralled. The content of the Macnas Parade was about 15-20 minutes of pure magic. From start to finish, the parade’s total duration was about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It is very crowded, but a very worthwhile experience. Just be sure to arrive extra early if you do not want a spot that is crowded like that. Bring some walking shoes and be prepared to stand for a while. We arrived at about 4:15pm and the parade started at 5:30pm. Our spot was incredible though, so yes, it was a lot of standing but so worth it!
The theme of the Macnas parade this year was An Treun – The Summoning of the Lost, which was about shapeshifting, magic and mischief. It was based on the long-lost tale that was titled, ‘Gibbet Hill,’ by Bram Stoker, which was found in the National Library of Ireland Archives. It is about the vanished song and corncrake bird that was once a major part of Ireland. The parade looked to explore faded cultural memories and loss of biodiversity. “At its heart its sonic essence is something small, strange and precious: the Corncrake – once the summertime soundtrack of Ireland, now a ghost in our fields.” (Macnas Parade 2025). This is part ecological fable, part dreamscape, and part rebellion, as the theatre company describes it. The parade focused on intertwining all of these to produce a magical and important message in the form of a Halloween parade.
The message is an inspiring call to action to protect biodiversity. They used their platform to get an urgent message out to the public, which just leaves me awestruck. Knowing the message behind the parade, just made the memories of the parade even cooler!
Now, here are videos of each scene in the parade. The girls beside me were so excited and funny to listen to, but please just ignore those voices and focus on the magic of the parade!!
Return and Reflections
After our exciting night in Galway, we took a bus ride back to the bus station and then the 304A back to the UL flag poles. That was the end to the night of our amazing adventure. The adventure that I will always keep close to my heart for the rest of my life. If I could have done it again, I would have given myself just a bit more time to truly explore more of the architecture in Galway and really engaged with the locals more. Then, I feel that I could have got the most that I could of out of my trip to Galway. I recommend anyone to go to Galway! It is an amazing city that has beautiful views, architecture and really shows the modern Irish life. So, if you go to Galway, make sure to bring a backpack, a raincoat, some walking shoes, and an adventurous spirit because you are in for an adventure, if you come to Galway!
(Here’s some silliness that happened on our trip)
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