Galway

rfitzpatrick · Newbie

Galway

Michele Erdvig · Host

rfitzpatrick,

Personally, I think that 2 nights in Dublin would suit you. Are you leaving from Shannon?

Michele

rfitzpatrick · Newbie

We arrive and depart from Dublin - so we would rent a car.

Michele Erdvig · Host

rfitzpatrick,

Instead of driving all the way to the west coast and back (4 hours each way) had you considered spending time near the east coast instead? There is plenty to see and do there. Basically the drive will eat up most of your day and you won't have the time you think in Galway.

Michele

kathy · Veteran Member

michelle is right - that drive from dublin to galway is really nasty. it is better than it once was (some bypasses finally finished) but a drive like that would ruin my time in Galway.

If you have free parking for your rental car and really want to see Galway and the West even for a day, take the train from Dublin to Galway just as a day trip. The train itself is a great excursion.

Eyre Square in Galway is finally re-opened and really a great public green space. the train station will drop you right in the middle of downtown and you can see quite a bit just in an afternoon, albeit just Galway.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kathy,

Thanks for your added info. The idea of the train trip is a good one. I have been looking at photos online of the finished Eyre Square. It was all boarded up and being worked on last October. It doesn't look much different than it did before except for the public toilets (which look like bunkers). Have they actually added anything else? It makes you wonder what they spent all that time and money on.

Michele

kathy · Veteran Member

i never got to see it before it was boarded up but there are big green areas, a nice playground, lots of seating along the walkways. the toilets are odd and it looks like there is a booth-type structure - maybe for tickets or something? it hasn't been used yet, but i will keep you posted. one side of the square has been made into a pedestrian street only, that is a nice feature.

this weekend in an 'official' innaugaration with all the surrounding hotels having bbq's and parties. but we won't be in town. oh well.

as for the ridiculous expense, a lot of people are asking that same question.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kathy,

Thanks for being our "on the spot reporter" for Galway. I appreciate the info. Actually, it sounds like it is the same except for the toliets and ticket booth. I found an interesting discussion: http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?t=4847

Michele