The city of
GALWAY , folk
capital of the west, has a vibrancy
and hedonism that make it unique.
People come here with energies
primed for enjoyment - the music,
the drink, the "crack" -
and it can be a difficult place to
leave. University College Galway
guarantees a high proportion of
young people in term time,
maintained in summer by the
attractions of the city's festivals.
This youthful
energy is an
important part of Galway's identity,
and the city's mix of culture and
fun attracts not only disaffected
bohemians from other areas of
Ireland but folksy young Europeans
who return each year with an almost
religious devotion. Galway sees
itself in many ways as the capital
of Gaelic Ireland, where traditional
aspects of Irish society, primarily
music and language, are most
confidently and colourfully
expressed.
As is the case with many other
Irish cities, Galway has, for the
past decade, been experiencing a
surge of economic growth. Constant
renovation is in progress in the
small and crowded city centre, and
during the summer it has the energy
of a boom town, with an expanding
number of shops and restaurants to
cater for the increase in visitors
and students. The downside of this
is the huge amount of property
development galloping ahead in the
city centre, threatening to take
away some of the city's unique
character, though, for the time
being at least, Galway retains its
human scale.
Prosperity allows a vigorous
independence from Dublin, mirrored
in the artistic dynamism of the
city. It's a focus for the
traditional music of Galway
and Clare - Galway's status as an
old fishing town on the mythical
west coast adding a certain potency
- and there's strong interest in
drama. This renewed sense of civic
and artistic optimism is reflected
not only in conventional arts but in
the vibrant street theatre
that has become the hallmark of the
city. At no time is the dynamism of
Galway more evident than during its festivals
, especially the Galway Arts
Festival (tel 091/583800) during
the last two weeks in July, when
practitioners of theatre, music,
poetry and the visual arts create a
rich cultural jamboree. In April the
city hosts a festival specifically
devoted to poetry itself, the Cúirt
Poetry Festival (tel
091/565886), in June it's film buffs
who invade the city for the Film
Fleadh (tel 091/751655), while
the king of all Galway festivals,
the riotous Galway Races
usually takes place during the first
week in August. At the end of
September, the Galway Oyster
Festival (tel 091/527282)
completes the annual round. If
visiting the city at any of these
times be warned that accommodation
will be at a premium, and you'll
need to book well in advance.
