Activities in & around Galway

All of the activities listed below can be undertaken as individuals or in groups. If you wish to liaise with other OER19 delegates who might be interested in doing various activities, we encourage you to use the OER19 Conference Backchannel to ask questions, share information, and possibly coordinate plans with fellow delegates: https://oer19.oerconf.org/participate/backchannel-faq/

Food/drink:

…light bites

  • Lighthouse Café – small, cosy and has a wonderful vegetarian/vegan menu
  • Kashmir Indian & Nepalese Restaurant  – extensive vegetarian and Halaal menu
  • TGO Falafel Bar – vegetarian and vegan
  • Dough Bros – great/cheap pizza, the. best. pizza.
  • Coffeewerk and Press – amazing coffee, even more amazing little gallery & seating space (with turntable & record collection) upstairs
  • BiteClub – good food/drinks/brunch
  • Sheridans Cheese (because cheese!!) – has a lovely wine bar above the shop, excellent for a mid afternoon snack of cheese & wine
  • McCambridge’s
  • Galway outdoor market (Saturdays only)
  • Galway indoor market (if it is open by April!)

…light bites & coffee close (or on the way) to the venue:

  • Saol Café (8am-4pm) –  in the lobby of the ILAS Centre, our venue
  • 37 West (9am-5:30pm) – super coffee, light bites, and lovely staff

…dinner (reservations usually necessary)

  • Kai Cafe – great (but expensive) dinner, great (less expensive!) lunches)
  • Ard Bia – great for breakfast/lunch/dinner

…and pubs!

  • Tigh Neachtain – one of Galway’s favourite spots (with great snugs!)
  • John Kehoe’s – one of many great spots in Galway’s West End
  • An Púcán – good pub and a nice rooftop spaces (with scenic “Galway” sign)
  • Tribeton – our gathering place for Tuesday evening (April 9th)
  • Bierhaus – cheap & good sandwiches, beer and cocktails)
  • Salt House – great craft beer and whiskey selection

Activities in Galway City

Activity Details Price info
Galway City Museum

(indoor)

Galway City Museum Galway City Museum has three floors of exciting exhibitions engaging visitors in the archaeology, history and sea science of Galway. Free
Visit a Church

(indoor)

St. Nicholas Collegiate Church – 13th century church right in the heart of Galway city, full of the history of Galway over the past 700 years Free
Galway Bay Boat Tour

(outdoor)

Boat tours in Galway Bay, suitable for children, families, etc. Leaving directly from docks area (city centre). Please note that Ciaran will need 12 hours advance notice for a booking.

https://www.galwaybaytours.com/

Contact: Ciaran Oliver

T: + 353 (0)87 280 7028

E: [email protected]  or

Usually €30 per person (weather and number dependent)
Urban Sketching tour

indoor or (outdoor)

Can do an afternoon or morning session (slightly more if materials that can be kept are included).

https://roisincure.com/wp/workshop-galway/

Contact: Róisín Curé

E: [email protected]

€200 per session for 14 students
Self-paced walking tour of Galway (outdoor) Will share link of interesting spots in Galway. Free
Archives at NUI Galway Library

(indoor)

Literary, historical and political collections

Archives at NUI Galway Library

Contact: Barry Houlihan

E: [email protected]

T: +353 9149 3353

Free
Boat tour on the River Corrib

(outdoor)

Corrib Princess Boat Tours

http://www.corribprincess.ie/

Books Lovers tour  indoor & (outdoor) For book lovers 🙂 check our Galway attractions map for great bookshops in Galway.

Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop is many people’s favourite bookshop in the world!

Also, the annual Cúirt Festival of Literature will take place in Galway from April 8-14, with many authors and poets and literature lovers around Galway during the week! Check out https://www.cuirt.ie/

Free (though you can pre-book tickets for specific Cuirt events)
Traditional Irish Music… “just for the craic

(indoor)

https://www.galwaytourism.ie/ptop-5-traditionalmusicpubs.html and discoverireland.ie

Tig Cóilí Pub, Mainguard Street, 6pm & 9.30pm

Taaffes Pub, Shop Street, 5.30pm & 9.30pm

The Crane Bar, Sea Road, 9.30pm

Free (plus whatever you’re drinking)
Walks

(outdoor)

The Spanish Arch and Long Walk
The Claddagh – visit the historic Claddagh area of Galway city (inspiration for the Claddagh ring)
Salthill
Free

Activities slightly further afield (counties Galway and Clare)

Activity Details Price info
Bus Tour along Wild Atlantic Way

(outdoor)

The Wild Atlantic Way spans the entire west coast of Ireland. The coastal areas both north and south of Galway city are stunning:

https://lallytours.com/blog/travel/cliffs-of-moher/

Tour the Galway/Clare coasts including Dunguaire Castle (Kinvara), Aillwee Cave and Birds of Prey Exhibition (Doolin), Cliffs of Moher.

A day trip departs Galway 10am, returning 5pm

Contact the website. Can book online or on the bus on the day subject to availability

(Group discounts: Groups of 5-9 get 5% off using code GRP5, groups of 10-14 get 10% off using code GRP10, groups of  15-19 get 15% off using code GRP15)

€30 but group discount  available.
Burren and Cliffs of Moher

(outdoor)

The Burren (County Clare, south of Galway city)… includes Moran’s The Weir (iconic thatched cottage bar/restaurant, for oysters!), The Flaggy Shore including Linnane’s Bar (for seafood in a beautiful spot), Hazel Mountain Chocolate — and then a stunning drive down to Fanore (beautiful beach) and the Cliffs of Moher. Free
Clifden Trad Fest

(indoor)

http://www.clifdentradfest.com/

Festival of Irish traditional music will take place April 11-14… may be of interest for those staying after the conference.

Free
Connemara National Park

(outdoor)

https://www.connemaranationalpark.ie

3 looped walks from ‘gentle’ to ‘not for the faint hearted’ – great views, onsite cafe

Free
Kylemore Abbey

(outdoor)

https://www.kylemoreabbey.com

Scenic lake, abbey, walled gardens and cafe.

Entrance fee
Killary Fjord

(outdoor)

https://killaryfjord.com

https://www.wildatlanticway.com/directory/signature/killary-harbour/34

Ireland’s only fjord – very scenic. Boat trips, and sometimes dolphins  🙂

Free to look at; charge for boat trip