Street scene in Galway. Photo by Fáilte Ireland.
A lively university town, Galway is the center for the Irish-speaking regions in the West (known as the Gaeltachts) Once a walled city, Galway is a compact place to explore on foot with narrow winding streets, traditional pubs and historic town houses. The center of the city lies on the River Corrib and it is possible to have a cruise on Lough Corrib starting from Wood Quay. Galway hosts arts, food and sporting festivals throughout the year. It makes a good base for exploring Connemara, further to the north or the Burren southwards. The Galway racecourse is in Ballybrit, just outside the city.