Galway, Ireland.

I knew before arriving here I’d fall in love with this place, and I was proven right. From the moment I stepped off the train from Dublin, to driving away three days later, this place touched the Maritimer sensibilities inside me and reminded me in all of the best ways of the roots I have in Nova Scotia. It was also a wonderful change from what was a very busy Dublin. Galway felt quieter and indulgent, and even the uncooperative weather lent this visit some additional charm. In fact, the rain, some of it quite epic, pushed us into lazy afternoons in pubs where we got into some wonderful conversations over drinks that made these three days a truly special experience.

Night one – we stopped on this bridge over a canal and the sound of the rain, the smell of the salt air, and the heavy fog just made everything feel like nights in Halifax.

Hooked restaurant – A delicious feed of seafood – chowder, fish pie, calamari, and fish and chips.

Tig Cóilí and pints of Smithwicks on a rainy afternoon listening to the din of conversation rise as the drink flowed

Wandering around the Latin Quarter in Galway on a rainy afternoon.

Loved how compact the core of Galway was and how picturesque the city is. Maybe I’m being a touch romantic, but I think it was made more beautiful by the moody weather of darks clouds, fog, and rain over the three days.

What to do during an afternoon-long downpour? A whiskey tasting at Garavan’s Bar.

We found our favourite Irish whiskey after some comprehensive research… Redbreast 12

Post whiskey tasting Guinness at Garavan’s that turned into two pints over a conversation with a local who had taken the afternoon off of work before meeting his wife for dinner later.

A second indulgent seafood meal of our visit, this one at Kirwan’s. Oysters and a pint of the black stuff to start.

Kirwan’s main courses – scallops, lobster risotto. We both left stuffed. Luckily, the walk to our apartment was only about 50m through an epic rain storm.

Taaffes Bar for a trad music session late one evening.

A small taste of the music….

Spent the night at Taaffes with new friends Renato and Kathleen, from Baie Comeau, QC.

I think this was a sign of how well we got along 🙂

Wrapping up the evening at Taaffes with a last drink – Guinness and a cider. A perfect evening of the craic in Galway.