Some information on Galway City:

Galway City is the capital of the west and will take a day to explore on its own. During the day, the pedestrian streets always have a bit of music or street actors for your entertainment. Good seafood restaurants are common, but traditional and international tastes are also well catered for. There are many shopping centres in Galway, both in Eyre Square and on the outskirts of the city. A few places to visit in Galway City are:

· Galway City Museum: located at the Spanish Arch, this museum contains a cross section of material relating to life in Galway since the city's foundation.

· Spanish Arch, Galway: erected in 1594 to protect the quay where Spanish ships unloaded.

· University College, Galway: founded in 1845, this Tudor-style building was designed by Joseph D. Keane. Contains Galway municipal records from 1485 to 1818 and many rare books. Became a constituent college of the National University in 1908.

· Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, Galway: erected in 1320, the shell of the original church is incorporated in the present structure. Tradition holds that Columbus worshipped here before setting out on his famous voyage.

· Franciscan Abbey, Galway: built in 1826 on site of a 13th century friary. 17th century gravestones at rear.

Flights are available from Galway airport to the Aran Islands and would be a highly recommended daytrip. Ferries are also available to reach the islands. The Aran Islands are one of the last places in Ireland where the "true" Irish language - Gaelic - is spoken as part of daily life. It will take you a full day to explore the islands. The main island is Inishmore and the two smaller islands are Inishmaan and Inisheer. Inishmaan School and Inisheer Fort: on these islands there are so many individual antiquities to be seen that it would not be possible to list them in full. They include churches, pillar-stones, ring forts, castles, and ancient wells. The most outstanding of all is Dun Aonghus, a large stone fort covering 11 acres. Call Galway Tourist office for ferry and visitor information. 091-568903.

The R336 heads west out of Galway past Salthill, heading towards Spiddle and the Gealtacht, (Irish Speaking Area). Salthill is styled on the "English Resort Town" and has a long promenade, beach and life guard supervised swimming / diving area. Taking a drive to Spiddal, a colourful Irish-speaking village, you'll notice the road signs and shop fronts are increasingly written in both Irish and English. Curraghs are commonly seen on piers or pulled up on sandy beaches along the way. On a clear day the Aran Islands can be seen across Galway Bay.

We recommend returning along the same route from Spiddal, and then taking the N59 to Oughterard along Lough Corrib, which since time began, has held untold wealth for fishermen , being world famous for its trout and salmon. The route is very scenic, passing by dozens of small lakes on your left , in a typically Irish setting with rolling hills in the background and sheep grazing on the patchwork of fields between the lakes. Numerous small roads on the right will lead down to Lough Corrib.

· Inchagoill, Lough Corrib: Early Christian remains on this picturesque island include the 5th century St. Patrick's Church, Teampall na Naomh and some inscribed stones.

Continuing until you reach Maam Cross, the 12 Pins are in view , with heights reaching 720m and higher these mountains appear like 12 separate domes and are popular with walkers.

Passing through Recess, site of one of Irelands many bird sanctuaries, take a break when you reach the Connemara Visitors Centre , here you'll get the opportunity to visit a Crannog (a traditional bronze age Irish village). This is a visitor centre, where you can see how family communities lived hundreds of years ago.