Galway Girls
Photo taken at Tig Cóilí Pub in Galway, Ireland
It was about a five-hour drive from Carrick-a-Rede to Galway and on the way, we stopped at Ballintoy Harbour; also known as the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones. The fan-girls in us were ecstatic about all the incredible pit stops that one of our favourite shows filmed at. We arrived at our B&B in Galway at 8:00PM, dropped off our bags and made our way downtown! We walked around for about an hour, checking out the shops and a couple jewelry stores. We stumbled across a cozy little pub called Tig Cóilí, where there was a group of 6 musicians with an array of instruments: a banjo, a guitar, 2 fiddles, an accordion, and a melodica! The energy and traditional Irish music in this place was something I will never forget, and I still get chills when I think back on it.
Photo taken at Nimmo’s Pier in Galway, Ireland
The next morning, we packed up the car and headed back to town to enjoy our very first traditional Irish breakfast. I do not think I have ever been served so much food to eat first thing in the morning! We even tried the black pudding, which was not a hit with us but at least we gave it a shot! We did a little more exploring of the docks in before we were back on the road. Unfortunately, one night in Galway was all that we had due to some scheduling conflicts, but as much as it was a short trip, it was one of my fondest memories because of the wonderful experience we had the night before.
FUN FACT - Just about any jewelry store in Galway (or Ireland, for that matter) carries the Claddagh ring. The man who created this traditional Irish ring was from the small village of Claddagh, just outside of Galway. Legend says, he was due to be married but was captured by pirates and sold as a slave to an Algerian goldsmith. He created the ring to signify love and friendship with two hands encircling a heart, and a crown to symbolize loyalty to his wife-to-be. Once he was able to return home to Galway, he presented the ring to his love and they married.
Source: https://thecladdagh.com/the-legend-of-the-ring/
