Galway: Private Family Walking Tour with Local Guide

The tour returns via Galway's famous River Walk to the main city artery. We arrive at a two-street intersection and the iconic Lynch's Castle building. This 4-story rectangular mansion is the oldest in the city and the finest surviving Town-Castle in Ireland. It was once the ancestral home of the powerful Lynch clan up until the mid-17th century. We explain the history of the building, its crests and roundels.

The tour continues by turning right into Church Lane, once called 'Dead Man's Lane' where funerals passed on way into old graveyard. We talk about St. Nicholas church-yard and continue on through Market St.

We continue towards Courthouse Square, which used to have two iconic Courthouses - one for the county and one for the city. One remains today and the Town Hall Theatre is opposite.

Our tour route passes close to Bowling Green. Here was the family home of Ms Nora Barnacle who was a prominent Galwegian in years gone by. She famously dated Irish Writer, James Joyce on 16th June 1904, thereafter known as Bloomsday! The Nora Barnacle House is believed to be Ireland’s Smallest Museum.

We next arrive at the imposing Church of St Nicholas Colligate Church, a 700year old structure. Your Guide explains the history of this largest Medieval church in continuous use in Ireland. It was originally built as a Catholic Church but, today, functions as a Protestant Church. In 1477, Christopher Columbus is said to have worshipped here prior to his epic voyage of discovery! There's also much to see within this ancient building and we offer discounts tickets to join their guided tours which operate Mon-Fri. 11am and 2pm and Wednesdays 12pm and 3pm. Extra Note: If you are lucky enough to visit on a Saturday, you can sample all the wonders of the Saturday Market (8am-4pm) just outside the church area!

We arrive in High Street, a section of Galway's Latin Quarter and encounter the iconic King's Head Pub. Legend has it that this pub site was gifted by Oliver Cromwell as payment to executioner of King Charles I. Also on this street we pass by the famous Naughton House, once owned by 'Humanity' Dick Martyn, an Irish MP in British Parliament.

At this very popular Tourist attraction, we hear the story of the 15th century Lynch Memorial window and Mayor James Lynch FitzStephen. The story involves his privileged son, Walter, a love rivalry, a violent confrontation and the son paying the ultimate price issued by a stern, justice-of-the-peace father! The window commemorates this enduring legend and was erected in 1854.

Quay Street has been at the centre of Galway life since the city was founded almost 600 years ago. Today its a busy focal-point thoroughfare with several pubs, restaurants, cafes and lots of music. Also located here is a medieval castle, the Claddagh Ring Museum and even a building that housed Galway's first nightclub !

From our Wolfe Tone Bridge vantage point, we can see the Claddagh Village across the River Corrib. This old Gaelic settlement was located outside the walled city of Galway. It was regarded as a fishing village with about 3000 people living here. The fishermen fished Galway Bay aboard the old Galway Hooker boats while the women-folk later sold the fish on the Spanish Parade area. Of course, the Claddagh area gave its name to the famous Claddagh Ring!

This open-space area, known as the Spanish Parade formally contained the old Galway port. Up until about 1660, there was a brisk foreign trade between Galway, France , Spain and Portugal. Old Galley ships frequented here with goods including wines and spices for local merchant families. Adjacent to here the medieval Spanish Arch is located on the banks of the River Corrib.

This old Medieval site was once the castle residence of powerful Norman, Richard de Burgo. It was an important building up until the late 16th century. Its ruins had been lost for centuries till archaeologists discovered it in the late '90's.

Tig Neachtain is today one of Galway's finest pubs. In former years it was the town-house of Richard Martin, a local Galway celebrity in his day! In his early years as a duellist, he earned the nickname 'Hairtrigger Dick'. In later years, he was elected for Galway to the British Parliament and introduced animal rights laws, which earned him the name 'Humanity Dick'. These laws led to the setting up of the SPCA. Martin was also landlord of a substantial area of Connemara. Note: If group members are interested we can return to this fine pub in the heart of the medieval quarter and taste some drinks (at own expense).

If Quay Street is too busy or alternatively if time allows our group will divert onto Kirwans Lane off Quay Street. This little detour will allow us to walk down this secluded medieval laneway. The laneway is named after one of Galway's Gaelic tribal families. This sublime streetscape offer us a view to past times when Galway city was regarded as 'the finest in the Kingdom'. Also located here is the site of the former Richard 'Humanity Dick' Martin Theatre.

The final stages of our City tour take us up Middle Street, where we pass by An Taibhdhearc. This is Ireland's only Irish-language theatre. It was established as a large-scale cultural project in the early 1920, when Ireland became a Free State. Micheal MacLiamor, the first director / manager worked there from 1928.

The guide will explain that the Augustinian Order arrived in Galway in 1500 and setup an Abbey in the Forthill area of the city. Oliver Cromwell's English army banished them for a period but they returned in 1760 and established this building.

University graduates founded the now-famous Druid Theatre Company in 1975 in this city of culture. Druid has always maintained a vital relationship with writers, Tom Murphy and Martin McDonagh. Many well-known Irish actors and directors have worked with the company down through the years.

Our final stop will be the old Galway Cathedral Building at the Middle Street / Abbeygate Street junction. This old building was in use for many centuries until it was deemed inadequate by Galway bishop, Dr Michael Browne.