​​​​Galway City Walking Tours

The infamous Lynch Window in Galway is reputed to be where the Mayor of Galway hanged his son for murder. Whether true or not, the story will raise the hair on the back of your neck...eerie!

The Great Hunger, or The Famine, was caused by the failure of the potato crop and exacerbated by the actions of an anti-catholic and anti-poor British administration unduly effected the younger and older people in the population. They died in their millions from starvation and disease. Galway was not excepted and by 1847 dozens of people were starving to death or dying of disease each day in Galway City. Emigration was the only escape for millions of poor Irish

The Fireside tour of O'Connor's Pub in Salthill, Galway is the shortest walking tour of Ireland, just 50 feet, and includes a drink and a 1 hour invitation to a conversation in one of the most interesting pubs in Ireland

Blakes castle was one of the tower houses that guarded the entrances to the city. In Blakes castle ships captains had their ships papers checked and waited to meet the Galway traders with whom trade was being done. Later on, after the Cromwellian and Williamite Wars Blakes Castle was used as Galway's Prison. One of the first prisoners was one of the Blake family who commanded the Galway garrison in 1692.

The Galway Hooker was a large sturdy working boat, primarily used in carriage of turf, seaweed, animals and people. Several Hookers have sailed to America, and many worked off Newfoundland fishing for Cod. they were the working boat of Galway Bay and could hold up to 100 passengers, or 50 sheep, or 20 cattle, or a huge load of turf or seaweed. Used for fishing too, they look beautiful plying the bay of a summers evening

The Vikings raided abbeys and monasteries all around Ireland. they came to Galway in 870 ad and raided the abbey at Annaghdown, completely surprising the monks and the O'Flahertys who were the local lords. The vikings were so happy that thought they would come back again for a second dip the following year. This time the O'Flahertys were waiting for them and killed everyone on the two viking longboats. Once bitten twice shy!