48 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
48 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
# Galway
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> **Type:** WAW Section 5 of 7
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> **Dates:** ~Aug 21–22 (2 days)
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> **Recommended stay:** 2 days
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> **Best for:** Best city on the WAW, Aran Islands, traditional music, workation base
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## Why Visit
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Galway is Ireland's most vibrant city outside Dublin — a university town with a permanent festival energy, the gateway to the Aran Islands, and the best place on the entire Wild Atlantic Way to spend a proper work day. It's also where the Wild Atlantic Way briefly becomes urban before the route drops south into Clare.
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## Must-See
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- ⭐ **Latin Quarter** — The medieval heart of Galway: Shop Street, Quay Street, Kirwan's Lane. Tigh Neachtain at the corner of Cross Street is the traditional music epicentre — session most nights. Buskers fill the streets in August.
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- ⭐ **Aran Islands (Inis Mór)** — Day trip or overnight from Rossaveal (40 min ferry; Rossaveal is 37km west of Galway). Inis Mór is the largest island: **Dún Aonghasa** is an Iron Age fort perching directly on the edge of a 100m Atlantic cliff — one of the most dramatic ancient sites in Europe. Rent a bike at the pier for the day — the island roads are nearly car-free and flat enough for anyone.
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- **Salthill Promenade** — 2km seafront walk; kick the wall at the end (a Galway tradition taken seriously by locals). Blackrock diving tower for the brave.
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- **Spanish Arch** — Medieval arch at the mouth of the River Corrib; good spot to sit and watch the city.
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- **Food:** Galway punches well above its size — Ard Bia at Nimmos (riverside, excellent), Cava Bodega (Spanish tapas), Dela (café/brunch).
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## Itinerary
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### Day 1 — Aran Islands day trip
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Early start: drive to Rossaveal (45 min), ferry to Inis Mór (40 min). Hire a bike at the pier. Cycle to Dún Aonghasa (8km), the Seven Churches, and back. Ferry returns late afternoon. Evening in Galway Latin Quarter.
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### Day 2 — City day / work day
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Morning: slow walk of the Latin Quarter, Spanish Arch, covered English Market. Afternoon: work from a café (Coffeewerk + Press on Kirwan's Lane is the best in the city), or Salthill Promenade walk. Evening: traditional music session — Tigh Neachtain, Taaffes, or the Crane Bar (the most serious trad pub, slightly outside the tourist zone).
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## EV Charging
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**Situation: Best charging on the WAW. Full recharge stop.**
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- **Galway Retail Park** (Headford Road) — Tesla Supercharger; fastest option
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- **Eyre Square area** — ESB ecars rapid chargers in city centre car parks
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- **Salthill** — ESB charger near the promenade
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- **Rossaveal** — Check current availability before the Aran Islands ferry; limited options out there
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**Treat Galway as a full recharge.** You arrive from the Connemara gap and leave for Clare where availability is more variable.
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## Practical Info
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- **Workation:** Best stop on the WAW for remote work. Coffeewerk + Press (Kirwan's Lane) is the standout café. Multiple coworking spaces if you need a full desk setup. Plan your heaviest meeting days here.
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- **Aran Islands ferry:** Book at [aranislandferries.com](https://www.aranislandferries.com) or [oileain-arann.ie](https://oileain-arann.ie). August is busy — book a day ahead at minimum.
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- **Accommodation:** Book well ahead in August; Galway fills up fast.
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- **Currency:** Euro
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## Links
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- [Aran Islands Ferries](https://www.aranislandferries.com)
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- [Dún Aonghasa](https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/dun-aonghasa/)
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- [Visit Galway](https://www.visitgalway.ie)
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