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of Galway
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Galway City
The city of GALWAY
, folk capital of the west, has a vibrancy and hedonism that
make it unique. People come here with energies primed for enjoyment
- the music, the drink, the "crack" - and it can be
a difficult place to leave. University College Galway guarantees
a high proportion of young people in term time, maintained in
summer by the attractions of the city's festivals. This youthful
energy is an important part of Galway's identity, and the city's
mix of culture and fun attracts not only disaffected bohemians
from other areas of Ireland but folksy young Europeans who return
each year with an almost religious devotion. Galway sees itself
in many ways as the capital of Gaelic Ireland, where traditional
aspects of Irish society, primarily music and language, are most
confidently and colourfully expressed.
As is the case with many
other Irish cities, Galway has, for the past decade, been experiencing
a surge of economic growth. Constant renovation is in progress
in the small and crowded city centre, and during the summer it
has the energy of a boom town, with an expanding number of shops
and restaurants to cater for the increase in visitors and students.
The downside of this is the huge amount of property development
galloping ahead in the city centre, threatening to take away
some of the city's unique character, though, for the time being
at least, Galway retains its human scale.
Prosperity allows a vigorous
independence from Dublin, mirrored in the artistic dynamism of
the city. It's a focus for the traditional music of Galway and
Clare - Galway's status as an old fishing town on the mythical
west coast adding a certain potency - and there's strong interest
in drama. This renewed sense of civic and artistic optimism is
reflected not only in conventional arts but in the vibrant street
theatre that has become the hallmark of the city. At no time
is the dynamism of Galway more evident than during its festivals
, especially the Galway
Arts Festival (tel
091/583800) during the last two weeks in July, when practitioners
of theatre, music, poetry and the visual arts create a rich cultural
jamboree. In April the city hosts a festival specifically devoted
to poetry itself, the Cúirt Poetry Festival (tel 091/565886),
in June it's film buffs who invade the city for the Film
Fleadh (tel 091/751655),
while the king of all Galway festivals, the riotous Galway Races
usually takes place during the first week in August. At the end
of September, the Galway Oyster Festival (tel 091/527282) completes
the annual round. If visiting the city at any of these times
be warned that accommodation will be at a premium, and you'll
need to book well in advance.
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