The Local's Guide to Summer in Galway City
Want to know what should be on your Galway summer hitlist? We asked the people who know the city best to take us inside their favourite places to eat, shop, swim and explore.
Jess Murphy: a craft and foodie day in Galway City
“My summer will be spent working in Kai (Murphy is the Owner and Head Chef), with an abundance of beautiful Galway- grown ingredients. I love seeing tourists back and the buzz around the Westend, with the streets being closed and everyone alfresco.
Galway Now
I like to start a Saturday with a stroll down the Galway market, catching up with pals before heading to Ardbia for lunch, finishing with a pint in The Crane.
I think more people should know about Sarah Jenkinson’s amazing basket- weaving courses. She grows all her own Galway willow and is a true pal and all-round ray of sunshine.
You shouldn’t leave Galway without trying a food tour run by Sheena and her amazing team at Galway Food Tours, followed by a sail on a Galway hooker out to the bay to see the dolphins!”
Lynne O’Loughlin: top tips and sea swims
“In the summer, I try and work mornings (O’Loughlin is the Director of Tripod Design) and then have the afternoon and evenings with the kids – the triplets will be 12 soon and the activities and camps are full-on.
My favourite thing about Galway in the summer is that the sea is heating up and that open water swimming is in full force. I love the early sunny mornings, getting for a swim or run while it’s quiet on the Prom.
Jennifer McShane
When friends visit, I always recommend Ré in Salthill for coffee, Dough Bros for pizza, Kai for lunch, Ardbia for dinner and The Universal for a drink.
From left: Blackrock Diving Tower, coffee in Ré in Salthill, Dough Bros pizza,
More people should know about design in the west – we need more resources for our artists and designers. There are so many empty units in the city and there are lots of generic tourist shops. We need to look at models where there are beautiful independent shops or artisan pop-ups from artists and designers – I’d love to see better planning around this.”
Russell Hart & Emer Fitzpatrick: local highlights
“We love seeing the city through the eyes of our guests, who’ve often travelled halfway around the world to be here – it reminds us how lucky we are to live in Galway (Hart and Fitzpatrick own the iconic B&B The Stop).
Our favourite things are the Film Fleadh, Arts Festival and the buzz of the city. Sitting outside The Universal in Galway’s West End with a glass of something nice is as much a part of the festival season as the events themselves! We start the day with a cup of Calendar Coffee every morning. They roast locally and the quality of what these guys do is outstanding.
Jennifer McShane
We start the day with a cup of Calendar Coffee every morning. They roast locally and the quality of what these guys do is outstanding.
Sea swims are our summer ritual: stepping into a high tide from the side steps at Ladies Beach is our favourite spot.
The Circle of Life Garden, opposite the promenade in Salthill is a favourite, lesser-known spot. A friend of ours oversees the planting and a lot of the locals give up their time to look after it. It’s a very restful place to spend a little bit of quiet time.”
Sheena Dignam: dinner and a side of beautiful views
“In the summer, I love meeting the interesting people who join our tours, the buzz around the city, the arts, the long evenings and an impromptu glaseen along the long walk or Salthill (Dignam is the Founder of Galway Food Tours).
I always recommend oysters at the market, a toastie in The Bunch of Grapes, a slice of pie from Dough Bros , a pint of porter in Hughes and a bop in the Westend.
From left: Magpie sourdough, a waterways walk, Dough Bros pizza.
More people should know about the beautiful walkways along the canals; the cultural and historical walks offered in Galway’s Westend are just brilliant. And don’t leave without trying sourdough from Magpie followed by a look around Outset next door.”
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