Ten things that may prevent the West of Ireland’s gem from being the best city on the island.
Many people hold the opinion that Galway is the best city in Ireland, whereas others believe there are a few things the city is missing.
Whatever your opinion about the City of Tribes may be, we’ve compiled a ranked list of ten things holding Galway back from being the best city in Ireland.
10. The rain – Galway is notorious for rainy days
The rain in Galway is heaviest between October and January, with the most rainfall last October falling at 126 mm (5 inches).
Galwegians are accustomed to the rain, and there are plenty of snug corners to hide from the weather with a great pint of Guinness.
The rain in Galway is there to stay, and that might be holding Galway back from the prestigious title.
9. The lack of nightclubs and late-night venues – there’s a great night to be had in Galway but not many clubs to visit
Galway is home to many lovely pubs and a lively music scene, but there’s only one nightclub: DNA Nightclub, adjacent to Eyre Square.
The club opens seven nights a week, but locals and visitors alike are crying out for more late-night venues in the city.
8. The traffic – especially on Fridays
Galway was one of the most congested cities in Ireland last year. Galway drivers spent, on average, 43.5 hours in traffic at peak hours.
From road works to rush hours, commuting in Galway isn’t easy, and the traffic is one of the city’s biggest setbacks.
7. The rent prices – rent has sky-rocketed in Galway over the last few years
On average, to rent a bedroom in Galway costs from €400 (£350) but can reach as high as €800 (£700) per month.
Not only is rent high, but the properties to rent are few, resulting in some of the city’s students struggling to find accommodation and resorting to staying in hostels or taking on long commutes.
6. There’s no inner-city rail system – though not for a lack of trying
Amazing career opportunities have been created in Galway over the past few years, but transport remains an issue for many of the city’s residents.
There have been proposals to introduce a light-rail system like Dublin’s Luas in Galway named ‘Gluas’. More information on ‘Gluas’ can be found on their website.
5. Parking – one of the things holding Galway back from being the best city in Ireland
Traffic, transport and lastly, parking are some of Galway’s vehicular setbacks as a city. The Hynes’ Yard and Dyke Road car parks frequently reach maximum capacity, as do the shopping centre car parks, making a trip to town tricky sometimes.
Finding free or low-cost parking on a busy day in the city centre can be an ordeal, and clampers in Galway are vigilant too!
4. The shopping outlets – there are limited retail facilities in the city
If you come to Galway for a shopping trip, you might be disappointed. In the Eyre Square shopping centre, you’ll find over 70 stores; however, the lack of high-street clothing stores, like Zara and H&M, often leaves shoppers frustrated.
This lack of stores is exacerbated by the city’s vast student population when it comes to seeking affordable outfits for social events.
3. There’s no international airport – but you can fly to the Aran Islands
There are two airports in Galway, but there haven’t been any commercial flights scheduled from the Carnmore Airport since 2011.
You can fly to the Aran Islands from Connemara Airport, but you’ll have to venture beyond Galway for any flights leaving Ireland.
2. People are just too sound – and the craic is just too mighty
Galway natives are friendly, and the city can seem like a village sometimes once you make friends and recognise familiar faces.
Staying in on the weekends can be hard once you’re integrated into the buzzing Galway social scene. So if making friends and having fun isn’t for you, you mightn’t think Galway is the best city in Ireland.
1. No large-capacity music venue – there’s no arena in Galway to host large-scale concerts
Galway has a long-standing, vibrant music scene, but the city lacks a venue for larger events. The city’s largest venue – Leisureland – holds only 1,020 people.
Gigs in Galway are plenty, but if you wanted to see more big names live, you’d, unfortunately, have to travel to the country’s capital!
So, there you have it. The ten things holding Galway back from being the best city in Ireland. Was there anything we missed?
