Galway Bay

Our first day on the Grand Circle “Ireland in Depth” tour. We added 18 new tour members, making our group 37 in total. We all were from the United States. Our first stop was at Galway Bay.

Galway Bay

Galway Cathedral

Our next stop was at the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas, also known as Galway Cathedral. It was dedicated in 1985.

Galway Cathedral

Galway Cathedral

The cathedral was quite beautiful inside.

Galway Cathedral

Galway Cathedral

A mosaic portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy was on a wall of the cathedral. He was the first U.S. president to make an official visit to the Republic of Ireland.

 

 

Galway Cathedral

Connemara Marble

We stopped here to view Connemara Marble. A shop across the street was selling items made of this marble. There was a talk by one or more of the Joyce family, an influential family in this area. However, I missed it as I followed some of my tour members out of the building to the the gift shop, not remembering that there would be a talk.

Connemara Marble

Connemara Marble

Samples of Connemara marble.

Connemara Marble

City Square

Next to the city center. A memorial to John F. Kennedy is located in the Galway city square, which used to be named Eyre Square but now is called the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.

City Square

City Square

Looking out from the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.

City Square

Latin Quarter

We walked from the park to the Latin Quarter, an area of many bars and other establishments. Rain had been predicted and it let loose here. We could stay here for the rest of the day and get transportation back to the G Hotel from John, our bus driver, at two different times or else take the bus back to the hotel. I took the bus back, an easy ride after I located the bus stop. I think the bus was a bit over 2 euros.

Latin Quarter

Irish Ceili & Dinner

Tonight there was an optional Irish ceili, “a celebration of the harvest that usually includes a hearty meal followed by song, stories, and dance” at a restaurant called Padraicins. I think I had fish, very good, and a Guinness, very very good.

Irish Ceili & Dinner

Irish Ceili & Dinner

The band at the ceili. Three movies follow.

Irish Ceili & Dinner

Irish Music–MOVIE

Irish music at the ceili.

Irish Music–MOVIE

Irish Dance–MOVIE

Irish dance at the ceili.

Irish Dance–MOVIE

Irish Song–MOVIE

“Molly Malone” is being sung.

Irish Song–MOVIE