Ireland O'rama(Irelandorama)
Images of Galway

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Galway is the main city of the Western Ireland, term used to refer to the region that lies west of the River Shannon and which is part of the old province of Connaught.

Galway County spreads around Galway city, with a 50 kilometers-long lake northwards - the Lough Corrib -, the mountainous and desolate Connemara region to the west, and a large region of plains on the east which borders on Counties Mayo, Roscommon, Tipperary and Clare


 
   
   

The West remained until the late 18th century - excepted for the walled town of Galway itself - out of foreign influences that had Europeanized the rest of Ireland. This explains why Galway today is the Capital of the "Gaelthacht" (Irish-speaking), and the most typically Irish part of the country.

Thanks to the lure of its spectacular scenery to visitors, Galway and its region are now developing rapidly.

Galway spreads on both rives of the River Corrib, a 2 miles short river between lake Lough Corrib and the sea.

   
   
View of Claddagh port in Galway
         



   
The origin of Galway is Claddagh, a small Irish fishing port and village. The Anglo-Normans were won over by this site
sheltered in a deep bay, midway of the Irish West coast. From the late 12th century, the Burke clan - from Norman knight William de Burgo - built here, on the east side of River Corrib, the town of Galway.
     


They will soon encourage immigration from England to Galway, and the town became prosperous by trading with Spane and France. It was then ruled by 14 merchant families, named the "tribes of Galway". Galway was an English enclave in an Irish Region most of the time hostile.

   
   
 

 

 
   
The "Spanish door"
Typical fishing boats ("Galway Hookers")
                 


 

   
From the17th century on, Galway will decline, probably due to its too faithful attachment to the Royal Family of England, after Cromwell in 1652 and Guillaume d'Orange in 1691 besieged the town.
     
The recent Catholic Cathedral was built in 1957, "as an ancient one", in neogothic style, in place of old city jail. The stone used is a local stone called "black marble of Galway" (in fact a black Galway limestone). It also has magnificent stained glass windows and "Connemara marble" floors .
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
The new Catholic Cathedral (built in 1957)
Its modern stain-glass windows
                 


   
Sight on River Corrib from "Salmon Weir Bridge", which leads to the Cathedral. The weir has a ladder for salmons
     
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
Fisherman before the salmon weir
Cathedral seen from the distance
                 


   

Lynch Castle was owned for several centuries by one of the 14 tribes of Galway. Today it is a bank

     

Small street of Galway leading to Claddagh Port

   
   
 

 

 

 
   
Lynch's castle

Historical center of Galway,
near Claddagh district

                 


   
Beautiful Victorian building in the pedestrian precinct of Galway
     
Nice colors ...
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
Galway - Victorian building
Street in the commercial area
                 


   
On the opposite shores of Galway bay, at Kinvarra, this castle was built in 1520 by the successors of Gaire, king of Connaught in the 7th century
It is still inhabited today and is also used for "Medieval Banquets"
     
Kinvarra's small port
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
Dungaire Castle at Kinvarra
The small port at Kinvarra
                 

   
Ireland is the first touristic country for golf players, who come to play from all over the world
     
Many links are located in seaside resorts, on windy sandhills that are difficult to play
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
Golf link along River Corrib
Golf links on the south coast of Connemara, west of Galway
                 


             
   

Out of Galway, going north on River Corrib, landscape becomes rapidly wild entering the huge Lough Corrib.

 
   
Ruined castle along River Corrib
             

 

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Copyright © WEB-SY - August 2004
Editing and photographs : Marc GERONDEAU