Galway City is vibrant

We went to Galway City for its rich medieval history, so unique on the western side of Ireland. It was said to be a vibrant town due to its music and 20% student population. I liked it. From the views from the top of the multi-storey parking lot, to the castle walls incorporated into the shopping Centre (yes I thought it looked fake too) and the cheerful pedestrian malls. See for yourself.

The deal with the walls. Galway City was an English enclave during the medieval period. 

The first rulers were the de Burgo family (Normans of course), who became the Burkes. They took the land of the O’Flahertys and the O’Hallorans, and built the town walls. All paid for by taxing trade.

Galway was eventually ruled by 14 trader families, who each year elected a mayor. In general there was a lot of co-operation between them. They received a charter from King Richard III giving them more control over their affairs, they were not popular with the Irish outside the walls. The city did poorly with Cromwell in the 1660s.

The deal with the bear - who knows.

I think it was cheerful, lots of claddagh rings, peace and harmony, happier people. An onsite story-telling Irishmen waiting for tourists to walk into the Hall of the Red Earl. In 5 minutes he gave us an amusing but fact-filled history of Galway and all Ireland really.

It is an archeological find preserved by the office blocks around it, indeed discovered only when the office blocks were found. Now where did that happen before? (It was at Wood Quay in Dublin).