County Galway
County Galway is located on the west coast of Ireland with a number of small villages and some stunning scenery.
Galway
The county capital, Galway is a small picturesque seaside town that is worth a visit, wandering down it's cobbled high street to the harbour. It is a bit touristy but it is easy to find a bit of local culture by leaving the cobbles behind and wandering down some of the back alleys and streets. The place is brimming with history so be sure to look to look at the frequent plaques and historical sites, often free to enter.
The Galway City Museum is located on the harbour near the “Spanish Arch” where the River Comb meets the ocean. It is free to enter and has a great display of historical artefacts from the area.
Parking can be a problem but I found it was easy to park in a large multi-story attached to the Corrib Shopping Centre. Careful when driving around as many of the streets are confusing to follow and often one way.
Glengowla Mines (near Oughterard)
Glengowla Mines is located just to the west of the small town of Oughterard, about 35 minutes north of Galway. Admission includes a tour of their show mine, abandoned in 1865, as well as access to a small museum and a few outlying buildings with some small displays.
There has been a farm here for many years so the exhibits aboveground discuss this but it is really the mine that most will come to see which is small but interesting, giving a sense of what it must have been like to work here.
For those a bit claustrophobic, the mine is well lit and you only rarely have to duck to avoid a bump on the head.
Further Information
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