Such a cool place to visit in Ennis! We came on a Sunday and this was one of the few places open…read more Our guide was very knowledgeable about the site and was able to answer many questions for us. Pro tip - if you purchase the Irish Heritage Card you can visit a wide variety of sites around Ireland for free!

Lovely little friary with an interesting history. The docent gave a fascinating tour. It's…read morecertainly well worth a visit. It's within walking distance of the center of town. Or if you take the Ennis Walking Tour with Jane, she ends her tour across the street and you could just stroll to the friary afterwards.

No one can say they've really been to Galway before they've been to the Galway Races. Every year…read morethe festival kicks off on the last Monday in July and runs for seven consecutive days. Each day has a different theme, and the most popular day is Ladies Day (Thursday). This year I made it to Monday's race meeting. Being a races nut back home (we have the Melbourne Cup Carnival and all) I knew how to handle the event, and planned a glammed-up outfit with classy finishings and accessories. To my surprise (and minor embarrassment) I discovered that the Summer Racing Festival at Galway does not necessarily = fashions on the field. Oh no.... while we were primped to the max in tailored dresses, hair pieces and full make-up, the majority of the crowd was hanging out in jeans. We felt SO stupid! So a note of warning to you all - if you want to get dressed up for the Galway Races, go to Thursday's race meeting - it's Ladies Day and everyone gets dressed up. On all the other days you just look slightly out of place... However, we didn't let our inappropriate attire spoil our evening... oh no! Off we trotted, firstly to the bar (Guinness have a v cool oyster and Guinness bar here), and next to place some well thought out bets (aka betting on the horse with the coolest name, or the one that looks the prettiest in the ring). We fought our way through to the front of the bookies' queues and prepared to win big. Needless to say it didn't happen that way. Of course every cent we bet went down the drain (it just goes to show that gambling doesn't pay) but we hadn't bet our life savings or anything, so we weren't too downtrodden. The races themselves were great craic, and everyone gets right into them. I noticed that between races everyone goes off to bet on the next race. That doesn't happen so much back home - must be a healthier betting culture here! Probably the funniest moment of the day was when the skies suddenly opened and it poured rain. The mad dash to the grandstand was a sight to behold, to be sure. A ticket to the Galway Races will set you back 20-30 euros, and you can catch a bus there and back from town. And in case you hadn't cottoned on to the Galway party style, the town goes MAD during races week. Great craic. Get yourself there.

I think I could be the bookies new best friend!…read more Oh dear, a lot of money was spent on horse that seemed to loose heart in the final sprint to the finish much to my dismay. I was convinced that shouting heart felt curses at them would work, along with cursing the jockeys for their short stubby legs and what not. Obviously the gods of the race course did not favor this. All in all, the races are a highly entertaining day out. I managed to go in Ladies Day (Thurs) in all my finery and found myself highly amused by what can simple described as oranges with legs, in ill fitting shoes and belts for dresses. Oh I was in my element in my white dress trying not to let any of them brush against me. So if you find yourself highly amused with the saying "look what the cat dragged in through orange blotchy paint" then do go along. This is not to say that there aren't a few garments that are beautiful, they just need to be searched for and are often found within the Champagne Tent. Now the Champagne Tent, in my opinion, is designed for those who do not wish to sit in a private box up above all the common riff raff, but still don't want to mingle with them. This carefully constructed scheme is created by simply not selling champagne by the glass. You may think that this is not a great deterrent but oh it is. Considering that yours truly and friend who wasn't to be drinking were just searching for a singular glass, we believed it in our best interests that a bottle would be a bad idea considering I would be absolutely shit faced as I would HAVE to drink it all. If the gowns and champagne isn't for you then head over to the betting stands and place a 5 euro bet. Trust me it gets addictive. The best thing is to set a group of friends in the stands whilst you and another pose go and place some bets. Rush back and see your horse stride to victory. Of course this is all hypothetically speaking as in my case, my horse decided to stumble in the last 50yards with a 50/1 odd with a 10 euro bet. My main piece of advice is to take a car. Ignore what everyone says about taking a bus, the bus is horrible as the wait and ques for the buses are disgraceful along with the behavior of some of the 'young uns.' Take a car and cram it with friends, or as many as seat-belts will allow. The only wait in a car will be to get out of the car park but after that it's plain sailing. Or even more simply, make friends with someone who owns a helicopter.

I rented a TFI bike in Galway and used it to ride the Mutton Island Causeway hoping to at least SEE…read morethe lighthouse but no. As Anson W. mentions in his 2017 review, the property is inaccessible and gated. Since I was not interested in spending the rest of my time in Ireland in an Irish jail, I opted not to trespass. The lighthouse was turned up in 1817 as a navigational aid for ships entering Galway Harbor. It has a domed lantern on a polygonal tower. It has not been staffed since 1958 when the light became automated. It is unfortunate that the Galway City Council isn't able to have even a footpath around the sewage treatment plant so that people can visit or perhaps view the lighthouse. If you do decide to try to view the lighthouse, expect some stiff winds on the causeway. It was downwind coming out here but returning with a headwind was a real challenge on the bike! [Review 1957 of 2024 - 139 in Republic of Ireland* - 22979 overall] Round number 200 in my Ireland collection https://www.yelp.com/collection/ZCzlOg8i2mSwvAy1uCyb7g

Mutton Island is home to two things, and neither is related to sheep. The first is a privately…read moreowned sewage treatment plant that serves the mainland. The second, and arguably more interesting, is a lighthouse and attached keeper's quarters built in 1817. A causeway measuring approximately 850 meters (just a little over half a mile) connects the island to the Galway mainland. This causeway is accessible to the public, and the expansive views of Galway Bay along it are incredible. It might be a good idea to bring a jacket when visiting, as it can get windy and chilly out there. At the end of the causeway, a locked gate and a sign state that the island is off limits, and that those wishing to see the lighthouse must make an appointment with the City Council Heritage Officer. Whether this works is unclear, but it's certainly a no-go for non-resident visitors who are not staying long. On its bicentennial anniversary, it's a shame that the lighthouse is still inaccessible to the general public. The official website states that the lighthouse is undergoing restoration. Future plans have not been made known.

The Irish Shop is a great spot to find Irish memorabilia and more in Ennis. They have a large…read moreselection of gifts, clothing, and other items all made in and around Co. Clare and Ireland. Whenever mates from the states call to town, they always make sure to call by The Irish Shop to pick up a few gifts before leaving sure. I personally love it because I can get presents for everyone living abroad around Christmas in one place.

Sadly this wonderful little shop recently closed. No more! I'm here in Ennis every November for a…read moremusic festival and I always would pop in here to buy little gifts for the folks back home. But they're gone. What a shame.

The largest island is Inis Mor (Inishmore), the middle island is Inis Meain (Inishmaan), and the…read moresmallest island is Inis Oirr (Inisheer).