GALWAY

1. INTRODUCTION NOTES HISTORY GALWAY EVENTS SPORT CLIMATE LANGUAGE & CULTURE

2. INTRODUCTION NOTES HISTORY GALWAY EVENTS SPORT CLIMATE LANGUAGE & CULTURE

3. History of Galway Galwy was constructed in 1124, by the King of Connacht Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair. A small settlement eventually grew up around this fort. During the Norman invasion of Connacht in the 1230s, Galway fort was captured by Richard Mor de Burgh, who had led this invasion. As the de Burghs eventually became gaelicised the merchants of the town pushed for greater control over the walled city. This led to them gaining complete control over the city and the granting of mayoral status by the English crown in December 1484. Galway endured difficult relations with its Irish neighbours. A notice over the west gate of the city, completed in 1562 by Mayor Thomas Oge Martyn fitz William, stated "From the Ferocious O'Flahertys may God protect us". A bye-law forbade the native Irish unrestricted access into Galway, saying "neither O' nor Mac shall strutte nor swagger through the streets of Galway" without permission. During the Middle Ages, Galway was ruled by an oligarchy of fourteen merchant families. These were the 'tribes' of Galway. The city throve on international trade.

4. In the Middle Ages, it was the principal Irish port for trade with France and Spain. One famous sailor, Christopher Columbus is known to have visited Galway, possibly stopping off on a voyage to Iceland or the Faroe Isles. During the 16th and 17th centuries Galway remained loyal to the English crown for the most part, even during the Gaelic resurgence, perhaps for reasons of survival, yet by 1642 the city allied itself with the Catholic Confederation of Kilkenny during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. During the resulting Cromwellian conquest of Ireland Cromwellian forces captured the city after a nine month siege. At the end of the 17th century the city supported the Jacobites in the Williamite war in Ireland and was captured by the Williamites after a very short siege not long after the Battle of Aughrim in 1691. The great families of Galway were ruined, the city declined, and it did not fully recover until the great economic boom of the late twentieth century.

5. INTRODUCTION TO GALWAY location

6. General Notes Galway is Europe's fastest growing city and one of Ireland's Cultural Capitals, reflecting the attractiveness of Galway as a quality location in which to work, live and study. Galway's History and its status as an artistic and University City, has given its citizens and easy manner and openness to visitors which escapes many large industrial cities in the English-speaking world. The City of Galway lies on the Atlantic west coast of Ireland. It is the gateway to the unique ecology and scenic beauty of the Burren, Connemara and the Aran Islands. Our city is like its people - warm, friendly, welcoming - people with a sense of Ireland's past and a sharp eye on Ireland's future. We can share with you our clean environment, a thriving artistic and dramatic culture, traditional pubs with music to suit all tastes, top quality restaurants and a full calendar of festivals: poetry, arts, music, horse-racing, oyster, show-jumping. Galway is an ideal location for the sport enthusiast: golf, fishing, horse-riding, tennis and badminton are all easily accessible. It is an ancient city and had important trade links with Europe in the sixteenth century. Few nations have done more to enrich the English language than Ireland. Many of the great names of English Literature were and are Irish – Yeats, Joyce, Shaw, Swift, Beckett, Heaney and many of them were inspired by the west of Ireland landscape.

7. Climate Galway enjoys a year-round balmy and mild climate, due to the warm winds of the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean. The area experiences a lack of temperature extremes, with temperatures below 0ºC and above 30ºC being very rare, though not unheard of. Rain is the most common form of precipitation - hail, sleet and snow are rare (lying snow is even rarer). Galway, like the whole of Ireland, is also consistently humid, with humidity normally ranging from 70% to 100% every day. Galway is also relatively safe from all common natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis; however, it can sometimes be affected by windstorms, but not as much as in the north or east of Ireland, or other parts of Europe. Due to the city's westerly location, Galway boasts long Summer evenings, with it not getting truly dark until after 23:00 most days. Due to the mild, balmy climate, Galway allows plants that would not normally grow at such a high latitude - such as palm trees - to flourish. There is also a coral beach located at An Cheathrú Rua, a few kilometres west of the city.

8. Language & Culture Galway city is unique among Irish cities because of the strength of its Irish language, music, song and dancing traditions - it is often referred to as the “Bilingual Capital of Ireland”. The city is well known for its “Irishness”, and mainly due to the fact that it has on its doorstep the Galway Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area). The language is visible on the city streets, with bilingual signage on display on shops and road signs, and can be heard by locals around the city. Irish theatre, TV and radio production and Irish music are an integral part of Galway city life. This has brought an Irish-speaking young professional population to the city and country, and has generated a renewal of interest in the language and in language-related activities and social events.

9. Events Galway is very famous for its festivals that revitalize and populate the city during their period. Annual events include the Celtic start of Spring festival Fleadh Imboilg (start of February), the Cúirt International Festival of Literature (April), the Galway Early Music Festival (May), the Galway Sessions traditional Irish music festival, the Salthill Air Show (June), the Galway Film Fleadh (July), the Project06 (July), which runs along the Galway Arts Festival (July), Galway Races horse racing festival (start of August), Galway Gay Pride Festival (end of August), Galway International Oyster Festival (September), the Galway Jazz Festival (October), the Baboró Galway International Arts Festival for Children (October) and the Tulca visual arts festival (November).

10. Sport By far the most popular sports in County Galway (as in most of Ireland outside the cities) are those controlled by the G.A.A. (Gaelic Athletic Association): hurling and Gaelic football. Some counties are associated almost exclusively with one or the other, while a number are equally proficient at both. No other sport seems to command the same attention among the public as hurling, followed by Gaelic football. All other sports are of minority interest. A number of junior rugby clubs compete at their own competitions; likewise a number of towns have junior soccer clubs, attracting a minority audience, tiny in comparison to the public attracted to the G.A.A. More important are also the Galway Races that are known worldwide and are the highlight of the Irish horse racing calendar. Over the years it has grown into an annual festival lasting seven days. In Motorsport, the Galway International Rally was the first international rally to be run from the republic of Ireland. Throughout its history it has attracted many star drivers from all over the world. More over sailing on both sea and lake are popular, as is rowing in the River Corrib with five clubs providing the necessary facilities and organising rowing competitions. Golf is a significant recreational activity, and the county has a number of fine clubs and courses. Athletics is another minority interest. None of these however, have the popular office of the G.A.A. sports.