Overview

Galway, also known as the 'City of the Tribes', is the fifth largest city on the island of Ireland, located on the West Coast in the province of Connacht. The City is home to just under 73,000 people, with significant African, Asian and Eastern European populations residing in the city. Galway experiences a year-round mild, moist, temperate and changeable climate, due to the prevailing winds of the North Atlantic Current.

Galway has a long and distinctive History, with the city playing host to many important events throughout the centuries which collectively contributed to the Galway City which exists today. Dún Bhun na Gaillimhe ("Fort at the Mouth (bottom) of the Gaillimh") was constructed by the King of Connacht in 1124. The City experienced a Norman invasion in the 13th Century and was also a thriving port city in the Middle Ages. The City suffered greatly during the Famine, with its population, like most other areas of Ireland, experiencing a significant decline caused by death and emigration. In more recent times, the city played host to a number of key events in the Irish Civil War in the early 20th Century. Most recently, the city has benefited from significant investment, with the city centre and city infrastructure undergoing significant overhaul over the past two decades.

The city today is an important centre of commerce and industry on the west coast of Ireland, with a number of large multi-national companies operating in the area. These include Boston Scientific and Cisco. The City is home to one of Ireland's oldest third level institutions, University College Galway, attended by approximately 17,000 institutions annually. 

Galway is one of Ireland's most popular tourist destinations, due to its excellent visitor attractions, renowned Arts Festival and other major events held in the city. The city is home to a number of excellent galleries, museums and exhibitions.

If you're searching for a Galway Hotel, then browse through i Hotels Galway's excellent range of Four Star Galway Hotels and Budget Galway Hotels. 

Visitor Attractions

Galway, as one of Ireland's most popular visitor destinations, is home to a number of excellent attractions, events and activities. Some of the most notable visitor attractions in Galway are:

• Galway Atlantaquaria

Galway Travel Information

Visitors to Galway have a number of different transport options available to them. Galway Airport is located just outside the city, with a number of scheduled services to Dublin, the United Kingdom and France. Shannon International Airport is the Mid-West's largest air access point, with sceduled services across the U.K, Europe and a number of services to the United States. Visitors can also reach Galway by train and bus from around Ireland, with services to Clare, Limerick, Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Belfast. 

Please see our 'Getting Here' page for more information.