Guidebook for Kilcolgan
Drinks & Nightlife
We consider this our local pub for its warm atmosphere. It also does delicious food and is home to the annual Clarinbridge Oyster Festival.
24 locals recommend
Paddy Burkes Bar & Restaurant
Main StreetWe consider this our local pub for its warm atmosphere. It also does delicious food and is home to the annual Clarinbridge Oyster Festival.
Local beers, and proper old Irish pub interiors, this gets thumbs up for authenticity.
22 locals recommend
Roadside Tavern Lisdoonvarna
Kincora RoadLocal beers, and proper old Irish pub interiors, this gets thumbs up for authenticity.
My husband swears this pub serves the best Guinness in Galway! Very atmospheric pub with traditional Irish music.
94 locals recommend
Crane Bar
2 Sea RdMy husband swears this pub serves the best Guinness in Galway! Very atmospheric pub with traditional Irish music.
Variety of live music as well as comedy. Very cosy pub and well known for its "silent discos" ...
90 locals recommend
Roisin Dubh Comedy
8 Dominick St UpperVariety of live music as well as comedy. Very cosy pub and well known for its "silent discos" ...
Very touristy but it's almost a required visit in Galway. Live traditional music every night. It's small, so it gets up close and personal quite quickly!
60 locals recommend
Taaffes Pub
19 Shop StVery touristy but it's almost a required visit in Galway. Live traditional music every night. It's small, so it gets up close and personal quite quickly!
This is one of the more "local" bars in Galway, and not aimed at tourists. Follow your nose around the back to the parlour and beer garden...
51 locals recommend
O'Connell's Bar
8 Eyre SquareThis is one of the more "local" bars in Galway, and not aimed at tourists. Follow your nose around the back to the parlour and beer garden...
Music, drink and food - perfect after a day cycling around the island.
6 locals recommend
Joe Watty's Bar and Restaurant
Music, drink and food - perfect after a day cycling around the island.
A cosy pub, with a great outdoor seating area located at the back of the building. The mussels are fantastic as well.
30 locals recommend
Paddy Coynes Pub
A cosy pub, with a great outdoor seating area located at the back of the building. The mussels are fantastic as well.
Food Scene
Moran's is world famous for its oysters, and it's set in a traditional cottage on the banks of Galway Bay. Definitely a must do if you like seafood.
99 locals recommend
Moran's Oyster Cottage
The WeirMoran's is world famous for its oysters, and it's set in a traditional cottage on the banks of Galway Bay. Definitely a must do if you like seafood.
Take a walk along the Flaggy Shore and have some fresh seafood to finish up your day.
79 locals recommend
Linnane's Lobster Bar
Take a walk along the Flaggy Shore and have some fresh seafood to finish up your day.
A favourite with tourists and locals, this is a good place for pub grub and a hearty seafood chowder.
35 locals recommend
Monks Ballyvaughan
A favourite with tourists and locals, this is a good place for pub grub and a hearty seafood chowder.
One of our favourite restaurants. Open from 12-3 and 6 - 9, this place is a treat, but very worth it!
16 locals recommend
Wild Honey Inn
Kincora RoadOne of our favourite restaurants. Open from 12-3 and 6 - 9, this place is a treat, but very worth it!
The Kings Head Kitchen
Spanish ParadeExcellent food and a lovely setting for a coffee or lunch.
The cuisine is French, but the ingredients are Irish as they come. Some of the best Irish steaks & fish cooked for an incredible price here.
48 locals recommend
Rouge Restaurant
38 Dominick St LowerThe cuisine is French, but the ingredients are Irish as they come. Some of the best Irish steaks & fish cooked for an incredible price here.
Bustling pub and restaurant, love this place for the quality, service and variety. Top notch.
13 locals recommend
Brasserie On The Corner
25 Eglinton StreetBustling pub and restaurant, love this place for the quality, service and variety. Top notch.
If you want to dispense with the "usual" cuisines, this is for you. Creole cuisine in the west of Ireland. Try the jambalaya or the catfish.
7 locals recommend
Creole BBQ & Grill Restaurant
If you want to dispense with the "usual" cuisines, this is for you. Creole cuisine in the west of Ireland. Try the jambalaya or the catfish.
Another nice bar and restaurant, the food here is more traditional Irish fayre, it has an extensive (yet consistently good) menu, so something for everyone.
25 locals recommend
McSwiggans Restaurant & Café Bar
3 Eyre StAnother nice bar and restaurant, the food here is more traditional Irish fayre, it has an extensive (yet consistently good) menu, so something for everyone.
Authentic Italian restaurant with nightly specials (pasta night, grill night) and consistent quality. Probably our most visited restaurant locally!
41 locals recommend
Basilico
Main StreetAuthentic Italian restaurant with nightly specials (pasta night, grill night) and consistent quality. Probably our most visited restaurant locally!
Great food enroute (to or from) Connemara looking out onto Galway Bay.
23 locals recommend
Pádraicíns Seafood Bar & Restaurant
Great food enroute (to or from) Connemara looking out onto Galway Bay.
Sightseeing
Beautiful drives and limestone landscapes along the Wild Atlantic Way.
167 locals recommend
The Burren National Park
2 Church StreetBeautiful drives and limestone landscapes along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Kinvarra
Pretty Irish fishing village with cute shops, restaurants and cafés.
Take a stroll around this 16th century castle and breathe in the Atlantic sea air. (Entry fee to enter the castle. Banquet tickets also available).
60 locals recommend
Dunguaire Castle
Take a stroll around this 16th century castle and breathe in the Atlantic sea air. (Entry fee to enter the castle. Banquet tickets also available).
Built over 5000 years ago, this portal tomb is the burial site for 16 people buried between 3800-3200BC. The capstone alone weighs 5 tonnes!
41 locals recommend
Poulnabrone Dolmen
Built over 5000 years ago, this portal tomb is the burial site for 16 people buried between 3800-3200BC. The capstone alone weighs 5 tonnes!
Walk along the wild Atlantic via limestone terraces. Great walk to work up an appetite!
40 locals recommend
Flaggy Shore
Walk along the wild Atlantic via limestone terraces. Great walk to work up an appetite!
View the famous cliffs from a different perspective - looking up from a boat!
11 locals recommend
Cliffs of Moher Cruises
View the famous cliffs from a different perspective - looking up from a boat!
203 metres high and one of our most famous attractions (as a result can be very busy). Entry fee to car park and interpretive centre: €6 per person.
556 locals recommend
Cliffs of Moher
203 metres high and one of our most famous attractions (as a result can be very busy). Entry fee to car park and interpretive centre: €6 per person.
Famous for its local stone, Liscannor is the starting point to a beautiful (free) walking trail to the Cliffs of Moher.
22 locals recommend
Liscannor
Famous for its local stone, Liscannor is the starting point to a beautiful (free) walking trail to the Cliffs of Moher.
Built on a former Viking fortification, this castle (early 1400s) is worth a see (entry fees apply). The adjoining folk park is a reconstructed Irish village. Banquets also available in the castle.
161 locals recommend
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
Built on a former Viking fortification, this castle (early 1400s) is worth a see (entry fees apply). The adjoining folk park is a reconstructed Irish village. Banquets also available in the castle.
Black Head
One of, if not the most, spectacular scenic drives in Co. Clare.
A good rainy day place to visit: you can travel 600m into these limestone caverns which were carved out by water 2 million years ago. (Entry fee applies)
157 locals recommend
Aillwee Cave
A good rainy day place to visit: you can travel 600m into these limestone caverns which were carved out by water 2 million years ago. (Entry fee applies)
A particular favourite of mine because it's so rich in history, this dates back 1320. It suffered the wrath of Cromwell, but still stands as a keystone building in Galway today.
43 locals recommend
St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Lombard StreetA particular favourite of mine because it's so rich in history, this dates back 1320. It suffered the wrath of Cromwell, but still stands as a keystone building in Galway today.
A good rainy day location, and it's free! Exhibitions displaying Galway's history and heritage.
141 locals recommend
Galway City Museum
Spanish ParadeA good rainy day location, and it's free! Exhibitions displaying Galway's history and heritage.
Beautiful building aside, there are some lovely river walkways around the area. Would suggest taking the walkway before Wolfe Tone Bridge and walking along the river.
52 locals recommend
Galway Cathedral
Beautiful building aside, there are some lovely river walkways around the area. Would suggest taking the walkway before Wolfe Tone Bridge and walking along the river.
Another nice walk is to stroll along the Claddagh, and continue out to Salthill Promenade. Wrap up well for the sea breeze!
13 locals recommend
Claddagh Quay
Claddagh QuayAnother nice walk is to stroll along the Claddagh, and continue out to Salthill Promenade. Wrap up well for the sea breeze!
The largest of the 2,000 year old stone forts on Inishmor, be careful if you decide to look over the edge...
9 locals recommend
Dun Aonghasa
The largest of the 2,000 year old stone forts on Inishmor, be careful if you decide to look over the edge...
19th century neo-Gothic mansion - now boarding school - looks over Kylemore Lake and is postcard perfect. (Entry fee to abbey and gardens applies).
176 locals recommend
Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden
Kylemore Abbey19th century neo-Gothic mansion - now boarding school - looks over Kylemore Lake and is postcard perfect. (Entry fee to abbey and gardens applies).
This is the most scenic road you can take in Connemara, so be sure not to miss it. Take in the scenery and watch out for wandering sheep!
21 locals recommend
Sky Road
Sky RoadThis is the most scenic road you can take in Connemara, so be sure not to miss it. Take in the scenery and watch out for wandering sheep!
The centre here gives insight into the flora, fauna and geology of the area, as well as providing maps and trails. Good facilities for walkers.
300 locals recommend
Connemara National Park
The centre here gives insight into the flora, fauna and geology of the area, as well as providing maps and trails. Good facilities for walkers.
Everything Else
Who says you can't surf in Ireland? We have the best surf, and more importantly the Gulf Stream to warm us up! Check out surf schools on the promenade for a lesson.
63 locals recommend
Lahinch Beach
Ennistymon RoadWho says you can't surf in Ireland? We have the best surf, and more importantly the Gulf Stream to warm us up! Check out surf schools on the promenade for a lesson.
A popular location for potholing & undersea caves, it's also the ferry departure point to the Aran Islands.
81 locals recommend
Doolin
A popular location for potholing & undersea caves, it's also the ferry departure point to the Aran Islands.
Shannon Airport
Our home is only 45 minutes from Shannon Airport (M18).
Need to cut down to Kerry quickly? This 20 minute ferry to Killimor will save you a lot of driving time (pay on board).
8 locals recommend
Shannon Ferries
N67Need to cut down to Kerry quickly? This 20 minute ferry to Killimor will save you a lot of driving time (pay on board).
Rossaveel
Catch a ferry here to Inishmor (the largest island) or Inishmaan.
Once you land here, hire a bike, grab a map, and go exploring Inishmor. Even better yet, hire a pony and cart and be chauffeured, island style...
Kilronan
Once you land here, hire a bike, grab a map, and go exploring Inishmor. Even better yet, hire a pony and cart and be chauffeured, island style...
Arts & Culture
Wonderful book shop once voted Best Bookshop in Ireland - definitely worth whiling away some time browsing here!
49 locals recommend
Charlie Byrne's Bookshop
Middle StreetWonderful book shop once voted Best Bookshop in Ireland - definitely worth whiling away some time browsing here!