Historical Walking Tour of Galway Bay with Claddagh & Docklands

About

Take a walk with local fisherman Ciaran Oliver around Galway city’s most photographed sights – Spanish Arch, The Long Walk and the Port of Galway. Hear how this area is steeped in history with tales of fishing in days gone by, how the Galway Hooker, the workboats of the Claddagh, brought fish for the women folk to sell at Spanish Arch.

Duration

1.5 Hours

What You Can Expect

Spanish Arch: Meet here to begin your tour in front of the Galway City Museum. Live the history of Old Galway and hear about the ancient fishing village of Claddagh, the Galway Hooker and its importance to the economy and trade.

Long Walk: Wander down this small street of colourful houses facing the river, that is undoubtedly Galway’s most photographed area, which looks across at Claddagh fishing village and Nimmo’s Pier.

Port of Galway: Around the corner is the modern harbour marina and learn how this small harbour on the west coast of Ireland was once a main trade route and the gateway to Europe, where we imported wines, spirits and exotic spices and exported fish caught in Galway Bay. Port of Galway has transformed over the last 3 decades and is now a popular destination for visiting sailors, some commercial shipping traffic and passenger cruise ship stopovers. In more recent years Galway was a stopover port for the Volvo Ocean Race.

Ciaran will then walk you around Galway’s docklands to the Galway Hooker Workshop Museum, and hear how his family helped establish the Galway Hooker Sailing Club, a community which works to preserve and restore the iconic Galway Hookers, including the most recent restoration, Loveen, a gleoitog hooker originally built in 1925.

What to Bring/Wear

This is a walking tour outdoors, so wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the Irish weather!

Important Notes

• Require a minimum of 4 people to run the tour
• Walking tour routes can be reversed, subject to conditions. You will be notified in advance of the meeting point.