On Friday evening after work, myself and my best friend/ colleague Dearbhla decided to spontaneously go to Galway for the night. We worked in Tourism Ireland in New York together and spent our time admiring the beauty of Ireland from 3,000 miles away – so we promised we would make the most out of being at home when we were at home. First stop – Galway! I had mentioned in a blog post I did on tourist activities in Ireland that the Oyster Festival in Galway was on the top of my list, not that you’d ever need much of a reason to visit Galway.
We got a last minute hotel room at the beautiful Galway Bay Hotel which over looks the sea in Salthill. This hotel was amazing from the minute we checked in until the minute we left. Everyone we met was so friendly and helpful, it made our last minute trip so much more enjoyable. There are many hotels in galway ireland so you’ll be spoilt for choice if you ever visit! Upon arriving we managed to grab a bite to eat at the bar (even though we arrived a little after the kitchen closed), and listened to live Irish music as we ate fresh Salmon – it’s safe to say we quickly caught on to the energy of Galway. Our first stop on Friday night was the Front Door, and our last stop was regrettably Supermacs (it has to be done!)
Saturday, was the day of a foodies dream, kicking off with a fabulous breakfast in bed courtesy of the Galway Bay Hotel. The Oyster Festival was our next stop, Galway was buzzing and Shop Street was packed with people in town for the festival. There’s no better Irish town to wander around and soak up the culture. We took a pitstop into Cupán Tae for some treats before hitting the road.
Our journey back to Dublin involved a quick detour up along the Wild Atlantic Way – something I’ve been talking about in work for the last year but hadn’t experienced. It’s the longest coastal driving route in the world – and it’s so pretty! It’s great to have the time and opportunity to appreciate how beautiful Ireland really is. When in the US last year, my plan was to visit somewhere new once a month – I’m gonna make an effort to do the same here. Next stop Belfast, Donegal or Kerry I’m thinking… Any suggestions please send them my way on Snapchat (lou1409) or Twitter (louisecooney_).
Have a great week,
Louise x
