Ireland - Day 9
August 29, 2025: Today was a completely different day than yesterday. No scheduled plans, just a leisurely tour of Galway, lunch at Sonny Molloy’s, a visit to the Latin Quarter & Quay Street followed by a self-guided Pub Tour of some of Galways most famous our highly recommended pubs.
We started the day in search of a lightening to USB-C connector so I can use Jimm’s charger while out an about during the day. My back-up charger died and since we use my phone for navigation and other information, I wanted to be sure my battery didn’t die. Luckily, we found a little electronics store and were able to find what we needed. There was a little market in Eyre Square, so we walked through there to see if there was anything interesting we wanted to take home with us, but neither of us found anything. Then we just started walking the streets. We stopped an took a picture of Lynch Castle which sits in the middle of city center by a bunch of shops and pubs. Lynch’s Castle was constructed around 1500 by the powerful Lynch family, part of the Tribes of Galway. Its purpose was both defensive and symbolic, an architectural declaration of their influence. The Lynch family were among the foremost merchant rulers in Galway from the 13th century, with multiple mayors among their ranks. The building now houses Allied Irish Bank. For lunch we headed to Sonny Molloy’s which was recommended by several sites I had visited while doing my research for the trip. It did not disappoint. It was one of the most beautiful pubs we have been in and very large on the side with 4 different bars inside. It is known for its Shepherd's Pie which Jimm had for lunch. I opted for the Beef Stew. Both were worth the trip.
After lunch, we strolled the street and found the Gourmet Tart Co. for a sweet treat and perused the shops on our way down to River Corrib the famous Spanish Arch. I overheard a tour guide telling their guests that the River Corrib has the highest flow rate of any river in Ireland and one of the fastest in Europe. The river has shaped Galway’s story since medieval times. In the 12th century, the Anglo-Normans built fortifications along its banks, helping establish the walled town that grew into modern Galway. During the 19th century, canals and mills were developed along the river, harnessing its energy for industry. Today, the Corrib is still used for hydroelectric power. Next to the river is The Spanish Arch. The arch was built in 1584 as part of an extension to Galway’s medieval city walls. This extension, known as the Ceann an Bhalla (“Head of the Wall”), was designed to protect the city’s quays and the busy area where ships unloaded cargo. Although called the Spanish Arch, the link to Spain is more symbolic than direct. In Galway’s heyday, the city was heavily involved in trade with Spain—exporting fish, hides, and wool while importing wine and luxury goods. The name reflects this historic trading relationship.
After our tour of the historic sites we started our self-guided pub crawl of Galway starting with O’Connell’s which was a real gem. Inside, you’ll find antique mirrors, old advertising signs, tiled floors, and stained glass windows, giving it the feel of a preserved traditional pub. The pub earned international fame when it featured in Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl” music video in 2017, with scenes filmed both inside and outside the bar. In the back there is a beer garden with a Cabinet of Curiosities right by where were seated. In looking at it, we found a letter from Jack the Ripper to the White Chapel Vigilante Committee, a Amazonian shrunken head, Houdini lock and key from the famed Manacled Bridge Jump and old Ouija board. In The Latin Quarter, we were on a search of some live Irish music. We visited Taaffes Bar, The Quay, and Tig Cóilí. The Quay had the best music overall. All in all it was a relaxing and fun day of just exploring and enjoying the city of Galway. We really wish we had planned more time here. We will have to stop back on our next visit to Ireland!