Moytura's Irish
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We now have a chat club which I hope you will join and use. It offers the chance to share and answer questions about all things Irish. Perhaps some of you will have common roots, family connections -

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Hit the banner to see the some of the extensive lists available and do a search from their own database search engine.

If you have enjoyed your wander through the site I'd love to hear your comments, good, bad or indifferent, perhaps you'd sign my GUEST BOOK.
Or EMAIL me with any suggestions you might have.

Galway Cathedral at night (Foreground - The Salmon Weir Bridge)

Galway Cathedral

The city charter was presented in 1484 by King Richard III and, both prior to and since that time, Galway city has been a thriving centre of commerce and trade for the West of Ireland. There is scientific evidence of human habitation in this area dating back almost 10,000 years, where archeological digs discovered cooking areas in Gentian Hill on the coastal outskirts of the city. A paleolithic axe-head was discovered on the Aran Islands off the Galway coast and dated over 300,000 years old. However its arrival in this spot is unclear.

The busy port area once saw large sailing ships bound for the Americas and was 'home' to the Spanish Armada during its western voyages. Galway was famous at that time for it's involvement in the wine trade, particularly Spanish wines, and the Spanish influence is retained in an area of the city called the Spanish Arch.

The port housed the local fishing fleets and continues to do so today.  Tankers enter the harbour with many of the staple goods needed for the city, much as their timber predecessors did hundreds of years ago. Galway is the 'gateway' to Europe from the west and the off-shore islands are the last land before reaching the east coast of North America.
 

Spanish Arch

Galway Docks

Galway's industry is mainly that of 'advanced technology' in the computer world and medical supplies, among other 'clean' industries.

The city boasts 4 theatres and is also home of the world famous Macnas Street Theatre. The Druid Theatre, which is presently taking Broadway by storm, was born in this city. An Taibhdhearc performs through the medium of Irish (Gaelic). The Irish language thrives in this city and county, with folk in Connemara having Irish as their native tongue. The language itself is beautiful with such depth to it that often the Irish word can only describe the full meaning of something.
 

Galway University

We Celts have a way with words and most noticeable is the noise of talking as one walks through the city. We have much to say about life and its experiences. Galway has a student population of approx. 12,000 attending the University and the Technical College. This continuous flow of bright, young undergraduates keeps the city colourful and alive during the Autumn, Winter and Spring months.  In Summer the visiting population from every corner of the globe adds to the city's mystique and wonder. Summer schools abound for foreign students and the chattering noise of different languages and dialects make this place seem like a microcosm of our world. The natives are friendly and welcoming and the visitor is greeted with a smile, if not a greeting.

Buskers and musicians can be found on most street corners and it is rare to walk through the heart of the city and not hear the notes of a harp, accordion, guitar or fiddle. The Arts thrive in this bohemian city and music is its lifeblood. Rare is the pub or hostelry which does not have a music session going on and the spontaneity of someone pulling a tin whistle out of a pocket and launching into a tune makes music what it should be, a shared and wonderful experience.

Galway is a place of festivals - the Arts festival in July, the Galway Festival Race Meeting, which lasts for all of 6 days at the end of July, the Oyster festivals in September and October, to name but a few. Well it's true about the Irish - 'Any excuse for a party'.

And just before we go - the answer to everyone's question 'Does the sun really go down on Galway Bay?' Of course it does!
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View from the Galway Bay Golf Club (taken 9-20pm 16th. May '98)

View of Galway Bay from Newquay (taken 9-30pm 20th. May '98)

For those who have just joined me on this page why not go to the beginning of our travels and see some of the places in The Start of Our Journey through the West of Ireland. 

My Place Amongst the Stones gives the history of my company name, Moytura - a celtic heritage going back thousands of years. 

We journey to my own parish of Lackagh - a small village just 12 miles from Galway with a mighty big history. Learn all about the Battle of Knockdoe - one of Ireland's bloodiest of conflicts in the 16th century.

We travel to the heart of Connemara - with its wild and wonderful beauty. 

From there we journey south into County Clare and see The Burren - a place that has lain undisturbed since the Ice-age and of immense botanical, ecological and archaeological importance.

Visit Ireland's finest early monastic heritage centre in Clonmacnoise, County Offaly; and to my favourite of all the early Christian Church locations - Clonfert, South County Galway, with its beautiful tiny 12th century Cathedral of Saint Brendan. Come with me around the grounds and see the Bishop's Palace and the 1000 year old Yew Walk. 

While on the Clonfert pages, you can learn a potted history of Saint Brendan the Navigator, possibly the first European to set foot in North America in the 6th. century. And join me in the celebrations when this tiny cathedral was listed in the World Monuments Watch 2000 most endangered monuments.

Come with me on my 'Famine Journey' which starts in Westport, and moves to Sligo, my Dad's County and the departure port for many of the 'Coffin Ships'. This part of my journey ends in Grosse-Île on a tiny island east of Quebec City. 

On this page you will learn some of the history of our Famine Refugees and find the final resting place of over 6,000 of my country folk who died within sight of their first freedom in over 300 years. This is where many of the Irish roots in North America started.

Our Journey moves on to other places on that visit to Canada where we see Quebec City and some of Ontario's lovely places and then to two of Canada's famous Catholic Shrines - Saint Anne de Beaupré and to Cap-de-la-Madeleine.

Finally, join me on my pilgrimage to a peaceful haven in a war-torn country in Medugorjein Bosnia-Hercegovinia. The other areas of my Web site can be found in the drop-down box below.

I have added links pages of other places related to the places we visit, links to leisure activities in Ireland i.e. golf, fishing, horse riding, sailing in Ireland, festivals, entertainment etc. and some of my friends' home pages. 

Don't forget to bookmark this page and return to take up on more of your journeys with me. Oh .. and please sign my Guestbook if you have enjoyed your travels. Go raith míle maith agat - thanks a million

Every now and then people send me stories, poems, or URLs to other Home Pages that I find very touching or uplifting, they can be found at the links below. Some will make you smile, maybe even laugh, some may make you cry or a little sad - but all will leave a little bit of a mark, if only for the few minutes you spend reading or listening to them. Enjoy - I call this section: