Ireland On Wheels: 5 Accessible Places To Visit In Galway City
So, you’re thinking about visiting Ireland. Why not start at my neck of the woods? I’m talking about the heart of Gaelic country, the City of the Tribes, the beautiful city of Galway. Ireland has many beautiful sights and sounds, and a fascinating history. Having lived here for almost a year, I know from experience. I also know from experience that getting around in a wheelchair can be tricky. Galway has the environment of a big city, but is relatively small and compact. So, if accessibility is the name of your game, Galway should be at the top of your list. Here are five accessible places in Galway that you shouldn’t miss.
- Eyre Square
Eyre Square provides your first impression of Galway as you leave the train station, and that first impression will leave you amazed. Eyre square is a small, green park in the center of town. The park is fully accessible, whether you want to use the footpaths or go off-roading into the well-kept grass.
The park is surrounded by the colorful flags of the Tribes of Galway, the fourteen merchant families that dominated life in Galway City for hundreds of years. You can also find out more about the history of the city from the many statues that you can find around the park, from Irish patriot Liam Mellows to Irish language writer Pádraic Ó Conaire. If you just want to take in the city, the park has plenty of room to relax on a bench or in the grass. The Square can get crowded if you’re here during the holiday season, when the city hosts a beautiful Christmas fair, but the crowds are worth it.
Eyre Square also offers some great dining options, many of which you can check out as soon as you hop off the train. I usually eat breakfast at Garvey’s whenever I’m in town, but the food is great at any time of day. I recommend the Full Irish Breakfast, or the Garvey’s burger. The building is mostly accessible, but you will have to get a key from the staff and use the elevator if you need the toilet. However, the staff is friendly and usually quick to help. This is a common issue in Galway, where there are many old, stone buildings, or old fashioned Irish pubs, which need to be worked around.
2. Shop Street
Move a little further into the city and you’ll find Shop Street. Shop Street is the main thoroughfare in Galway city, and has something for everyone. The street is pedestrianized, so you’ll only have to contend with foot traffic.
Walking along the street you’ll see beautiful shop fronts, pubs, and well-preserved old buildings. If you’d like to catch some entertainment that doesn’t involve buying a ticket, you can check out one of the many buskers that line the street. The city’s busking community features everything from modern music, to Irish pipers and step dancers, to the occasional circus act. On a sunny day you can sit outside McCambridge’s, order some tea and food, and enjoy the show.
However, with all the action, being outside on Shop Street can be disorienting. If you have any sort of sensory sensitivities. The noise of the crowds and the entertainers bounces off the stone walls and buildings, and can get quite overwhelming. I have a sensitive ear because of hydrocephalus, and once rolled by a child as he leap-frogged onto a balloon. For the rest of the day, I felt like I had just been next to an explosion. If that happens, it’s no problem. You can always pop into Dubray’s for some classic Irish literature, or buy one of Galway’s famous Claddagh rings at one of the nearby jewelers.
3. Galway City Museum and The Spanish Arch
If you want to learn all about the history of Galway or its environment, look no further. Galway City Museum is a small modern building on the docks, nestled next to an old stone structure known as the Spanish Arch. The Spanish Arch is the remaining part of an old bastion from the 16th century, built to protect the merchant ships that docked nearby, many of which were Spanish Galleons.
Galway City Museum is fully accessible, open from Tuesday to Saturday, and admission is free. As you walk into the ground floor, look up. Suspended from the ceiling is one of Galway’s famous hookers — not that kind of hooker, get your mind out of the gutter. The Galway hookers are traditional fishing boats used in Galway bay. With its sharp angles and deep red sail, the boat gives you an impressive welcome to the museum.
The bottom floor contains exhibits on Irish language writer Pádraic Ó Conaire, as well as Galway during the Medieval and Prehistoric eras. The second floor is probably the most extensive, and my favorite: Galway’s participation in World War 1, and the Irish War of Independence afterward. The top floor tells you all about the sea life of Galway Bay, and oceanography.
4. Salthill Promenade
Ahh, Salthill. Salthill is on the edge of Galway, overlooking Galway Bay. The famous seaside destination offers great restaurants, music, fun, and one of the best views in all of Ireland: Salthill Promenade. Salthill Promenade and the surrounding area is great for any occasion. Bring your family and friends down to the gorgeous, white sand beach on a sunny day, take in a movie and stroll down the Prom with your sweetheart, or simply get a hotel room, and enjoy the view every morning.
The beach isn’t entirely accessible, but the sidewalk offers a great view, and if you can’t handle sand, there are many jetties and piers that will get you out near the ocean. There aren’t many ramped crossings between seaside and town, but if you pick a side and stay on it until you’re ready to cross, you’ll be grand.
If you plan on staying here, I have only one word of advice: be wary of hostels and B&Bs. There are many great hostels and B&Bs nearby, but Salthill is a little cramped since it is by the sea. Consequently, Smaller accommodations aren’t always accessible. However, a few nights at the luxurious Salthill Hotel shouldn’t cost too much. Book a room, open a window, sit back, and relax in the sea air.
5. Galway Cathedral
A trip to Galway — or anywhere in Ireland — wouldn’t be complete without visiting one of the majestic cathedrals, and you can’t get much better than Galway Cathedral. This massive green domed cathedral was opened in 1965, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas, the patron saint of Galway.
The building features many iconic stained glass windows, mosaics, and sculptures, and draws on vast influences in Christian art. Mass is two to three times a day on most days, with several sung liturgies and one Irish language liturgy added on Sunday. The towering walls of the cathedral produce a massive echo so it might not be the best place to test your Irish language skills, but if you speak conversational Irish you might be able to pick up a few words from the sermon.
The Cathedral is easy to get around for most. Everything you can see is on the ground floor in the sanctuary, and the entrance has a ramp. There might be some issues with tight corners and walkways, but for such a beautiful old building, Galway Cathedral is remarkably accessible
Galway is a beautiful city, and should be at the top of your list. The places on this list are gems of both the city and country, but there is so much more to see. You can easily bounce from place to place on this list, see everything in between, and become familiar with the whole city in a matter of days. If you’re in town and find yourself reading this article, failte go Gaillimh! (welcome to Galway!)
