Galway Limerick Ireland Itinerary Final Document
Galway Limerick Ireland Itinerary Final Document
Galway Limerick Ireland Itinerary Final Document
Cristin Wyrick
8/30/2020
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Ireland: Limerick to Galway Itinerary
Located along the western shoreline of Ireland, Limerick and Galway holds many of the
countries national treasures, from medieval town stuck in time, to the cliffs of Moher. Galway is
a unique village enclosed by an ancient wall preserving the towns century old customs and Celtic
language earning it the label of the “cultural heart of Ireland”. Galway is a colorful, lively,
coastal town that loves to have a good time. They host a plethora of festivals throughout the
summer and encourage visitors to fully immerse themselves in the Celtic way of life. In my
lifetime, I have learned to appreciate the characteristic of being carefree and kind, I feel as
though the town of Galway embodies that perfectly and encourages its travelers to wander
outside the box and discover new things within themselves and the magical town that has been
created over time. Focused on the traditional way of life, travelers will be encouraged to
participate and experience all Galway has to offer from fishing tours, hiking, Irish dancing, pub
crawls and horseback tours. Travelers may also enjoy packing light and staying in hostels
throughout the town, or enjoying a week’s stay at a local hotel with other amenities. Exploration
is highly encouraged, there is no wrong turn in the bright seaside town of Galway.
Limerick is the third largest urbanized city in Ireland with a plethora of art centers
holding art from Renoir and Picasso, state of the art hotels, and they even have a flying boat
museum, yes, a flying boat. You have to see it to believe it. Limerick is the birthplace of Irish
coffee, in true fashion with a splash of whiskey. It is told to have been created in the wake of
Newfoundland flight captain O’Reagan requesting coffee shop owner Joe Sheridan to prepare
him something to warm tired visitors. So, Joe delivered the unexpected, without knowing what
he had just created and the legacy of Irish Coffee. Much like Galway, Limerick is extremely
historical and has charming castles and strips of old medieval towns throughout the city.
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Ireland: Limerick to Galway Itinerary
History
Ireland dates back to 10,500 BC with first known inhabitants at around 8000 BC leaving
plenty of time for development and ancient history. The Celts first came to Ireland in 1200 BC
speaking only Celtic which evolved into a dialect known as Gaelic, both of which still spoken
today in many parts of Ireland. The Irish are very proud people, very passionate. So much so
they trained exceptionally well for hand to hand combat and transformed their men into
exceptional warriors. When it came time to rebuke British rule in Ireland the Celtics fought long
and hard, tirelessly. Ireland itself started off under British rule until the country and its people
Galway Ireland dates back to the 13th century, originally homesteaded as a fishing village
where the Corrib River flows into the Bay of Galway (Galway Tourism. Pg. 1). The town has
experience many major historical events such as the Great Famine of 1845 and the Battle of
Aughrim. The Great Famine was also known as the Great Hunger or Potato Famine. The Famine
lasted 7 years starving thousands. The battle of Aughrim took place in July 1691 and was one of
the bloodiest battles in Irish history. It was the last great land battle of Ireland, ending
Jacobinism. Jacobitism began in Brittan, a loyalty to the exiled king, King James the second. The
battle commenced over the acquisition of Irish lands. Eventually the Irish decided to put together
armies and fight for their land back (Jacobite, Britannica). It is estimated that 9,000 soldiers lost
their life’s. The town has experiences so much violence that a wall was slowly built around it as
a protection from outside raids. Building such walls allowed the town to preserve it’s history,
and medieval architecture. The town was also home to 5 catholic saints rooted deep into the
Galway would not have been deemed the cultural heart of Ireland if it wasn’t rich with
traditional customs. Because of Galway’s geographical location it is perfect for trade markets
with Spain and Portugal (Galway Tourism. Pg. 2). When the Celts came from Switzerland they
brought with them the unique language, folklore, music and dance that has become a deeply
rooted Irish tradition. The Celtic language is a dying language, much like Latin. There are sub
groups of Celtic, such as Gaelic, Scottish, Welsh, and Cornish. Gaelic is commonly spoke in
Ireland, it is estimated about 40,000 to 80,000 speakers (Celtic Life, Celtic Languages. Pg. 1).
Ireland itself has a population of almost 5 million. Comparatively that is not a lot of traditional
language being spoken around the country, however the town still speaks traditional Gaelic to
Limerick has evidence of human life that dates back to 3500 BC through tombs, stone
figures that date back to 3000 BC and the Celts arrived there in 400 BC (Roots Ireland, A brief
History of Limerick. Pg. 1). The city was originally founded by the Vikings who settled along
side of the Shannon River that runs through the city. Being so old and so historically significant
there are over 400 castles on the and limerick sits on and is built within, the most castles in one
area in Ireland. Limerick is known as the City of Sieges (Roots Ireland, A brief History of
Limerick. Pg. 1). In 1641 began the bloody history due to the Irish rebellion led by Cromwell
and Henry Ireton. A treaty was signed that forces Catholics to live in oppressed poverty under
British rule until the freedom of Ireland from their grip. There is no stone untouched by history
Customs
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Ireland: Limerick to Galway Itinerary
When visiting and interacting with residents of the country it is important to remember
manners. Handshakes are very important and respected in conversations with locals. If planning
to rent a car it is important to know that when at low speeds it is polite to twitch a finger at others
on the road to acknowledge their presence. Swearing is very common in Ireland and should not
be taken offensively, however PDA is looked down upon in the Irish culture (Tennon Tours.
Tips on Travel pg.1) . That is important to remember when in Pubs as well. Pub etiquette is
important as well. People will offer to buy drinks and you are expected to return the favor for
others either in your group of around you. The people of Ireland are very welcoming to
respectful outsiders who are willing to embrace their culture and participate in local customs and
traditions.
Galway has a Christmas tradition of ‘Hunting the Wren’ which is an Irish tradition that
takes place the day after Christmas. The modern custom began when men boys would go out into
the woods and hut the bird, wren, and come back and parade the kill around, and place it on a
poll, and travel from house to house signing, thus deeming themselves ‘The Wren Boys’
(Galway Tourism, Christmas in Galway: The Wren Boys). The original tradition has
questionable beginnings. For instance, it is speculated the tradition could come from pagan times
when mythology deemed the bird ‘King of all’ because it could fly higher than al birds by riding
on backs (Galway Tourism, Christmas in Galway: The Wren Boys). People now dress up with
faces painted and wear straw hats going from door to door, much like caroling, by singing,
Irelands national emblem is a harp, with roots to old Irish mythology. The harp is
captured in the Irish Cross, along with grape vines, ivy, oak and wheat. Ireland gets its iconic
cross from the county Limerick. Limerick as stated previously was inhabited by Vikings whom
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carved this symbol into many buildings including cathedrals (Irish Traditions Online. Limerick
Cross). It is now second nature to Limerick to sell this item and for people to purchase the cross
Tourist Attractions
Ireland is a top destination for many people. Not only because lots of bloodlines run thick
back to Ireland, but because it has such rich history and lush landscapes. Ireland offers
attractions for all types of people, truly something for everyone. From authentic beer breweries,
home of Guinness, Island tours on horseback, festivals and games, castles and busy cities.
Ireland is known for many things; however, it is most commonly stamped for its beer and
Irish whiskey. There are more pubs in each town than one can count on both hands so if a
traveler is in the market for sampling, pub crawls are always encouraged. If a traveler is more
interested in the process of brewing, tours are provided through local breweries. In Limerick,
there are tours through Treaty City. The brewery is 250 years old in the middle of Medieval
Downtown, they offer an hour-long tour through the brewery with tastings and deep history of
Though the hustle and bustle of downtown Irish streets are entertaining and rich in
beauty, the countryside of Ireland calls for separate attention. The Cliffs of Moher, located in
county Clare right outside of Galway are a very popular tourist stop. Much like the Grand
Canyon the stripes of the rock are visible from where time has left its watermark. With
breathtakingly stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and lush grass for miles behind, Moher is a
sight that shouldn’t be missed, perfect for picnics, long walks and a good break from traveling on
the road.
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Ireland: Limerick to Galway Itinerary
Ireland was a very royal country. There are castles around every turn it seems, even if it’s
just the base of one. Each belonged to a specific family of status, and some belonged to royalty.
In Limerick, there is a castle in grand condition open for tours. It is deemed King Johns Castle.
The castle holds 800 years of history within its walls of the ruthless King John, its scars tells
stories of rebels and knights, much like a movie, almost seems too good to be true, but that’s the
magic of a country with towns so rich in medieval history (Ireland. County Limerick. Pg.1).
Galway Cathedral is a special place for many residents and visitors. This cathedral was the last
primarily stone church to be created in Ireland (Irish Tourism. Galway Cathedral. Pg. 1). It
overlooks the city and visible from the bridge that crosses the Corrib River. Visitors are
encouraged to attend a service but of course not required. If chosen to participate in a service it is
of upmost importance to respect the customs and the services being presented in the service.
culturally, naturally and for pleasure. There is a lake in Limerick called Lough Gur. The
significance of this lake is both natural and cultural. It is known as one of the most important
archeological sites for the fact that every age since Neolithic times is visible (Limerick. Lough
Gur. The Lake). How you might ask? People have lived in this area all throughout time, and all
they left behind is still visible, from ancient stone circles, tombs, cathedrals, and towns. The lake
itself is filled by springs and creates a horseshoe shape around Knockdown Hill. It is a beautiful
park with so many places to explore, definitely something that’s worth seeing.
Some natural sites around town that are well visited are Terra Nova Fairy Garden and
Curraghchase Forrest Park. Ireland is known for its fairy tales so to be able to go to a Irish fairy
garden is very special. Terra Nova in particular is situated in an area that is rich with folklore and
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myths so it has a special aura to it that many people find uplifting and magical. As you wander
through the half acre garden it feels much bigger because of winding pathways and so many little
nooks and crannies to stop and look at (Terra Nova Garden. The Garden. Pg 1). Thera are fairies
placed all throughout the paths and in the plant, but who knows maybe a real one will come out
and pay you a visit, that is good luck you know! Curraghchase Forrest Park is special in its own
way as well. The park hosts a mix of woodland, and lakes, which is extremely inviting to wildlife
of all kinds. Sort of like a natural sanctuary. They offer many trails that wander through 313
hectares. The park is wheelchair friendly and family friendly as well, if you’re traveling with kid
it is a great park to explore and get some energy out, perfect for picnics and games.
Some places in Limerick and Galway to take a load of would be along the lines of
shopping centers, restaurants, and bars, or going to see a performance, musical and theatrical.
These town have much to offer in this department. For example, in Galway The Town Hall
Theater is a great place to sit and watch a show. They offer ample seating and many different
performances throughout the year, for example the Baboro Arts Festival for Children which
offers performances, dancing, music, visual arts, and much more. In Limerick, there is a store
dedicated to local artisans. They have all things from clothing, jewelry to fun nick knacks that
are easily picked up as souvenirs and every day wear items. The name of this store is Made in
Limerick and its well worth a visit, if not for yourself, then just to see what people are creating.
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Ireland as stated previously is a top destination for many travelers. In 2018 Ireland had
11.2 million overseas visitors with a record revenue of 5.9 billion euros which translates to
almost 7 billion US dollars (Tourism Ireland, 2018 Facts and Figures). Tourists typically spend
in total 249 million euros a year collectively. Typically, Ireland is visited most by people who
choose to holiday here because of relatives or for fun, the second most popular reason for visit is
for business. The west coast of Ireland gets roughly 26% of the tourists who come to visit, with
Dublin receiving almost 70% (Tourism Ireland, 2018 Facts and Figures).
There are propositions that have been formatted to promote growth in Irelands Tourism,
such as the Wild Atlantic Way. A plan to create a long tourist route along the coast from
Donegal to County Cork. Plans are to have funding for signage to direct travelers along the route
and attract travelers to 181 discovery points along the way (Failte Ireland, NTDA. Tourism
Development and Innovation: A Strategy for investment 2016-2022). A main goal of this
proposition is to increase the number of leisure visitors who enjoy spending time wandering and
enjoying the natural Ireland. As well as to encourage collaborations between counties, villages,
and markets along the route which in turn could potentially and would increase the economic
To balance out the West coast draw there is also a proposed plan for Irelands Ancient
East. The east coast of Ireland is so close to the rest of northern Europe and the goal is to attract
overnight visitors, and weekenders to Ireland. This plan has proposed to do so by engaging
tourists in the rich European history of east Ireland, with the landscape and stories told by some
of the best storytellers in the world (Failte Ireland, NTDA. Tourism Development and
Innovation: A Strategy for investment 2016-2022). Some key objectives are to create day trips
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south using public transport. The east coast is very popular because it is home to Dublin, a city
that attracts a lot of foot traffic, so this plan will encourage visitors to redirect themselves to both
well-known attractions and some more hidden gems that are passed by a lot.
The country is doing a lot for tourism through infrastructure and superstructure. For
example, the country had committed to a National Development Plan from 2018-2027, in which
they plan to spend 116 billion euros in public infrastructure. In the energy department Ireland
will be funding sustainable energy technology through offshore wind turbines and wave energy
generators. As far as water in the country they will be dedicating funding to Irish Water, and ICT
to help continue and promote being a leading location for water intensive industries.
Transportation is also a key factor in this development and Ireland has as much transport as they
can manage on an island, however there are plans to improve upon the infrastructure that already
exists in the country. Their road network has a 6.6-billion-euro investment through 2027, and the
rail lines have an active 1,660 kilometers of track through 5 major cities including Dublin,
Limerick, Galway, Cork, and Waterford. Ireland is processing plans to produce up to 600
completely electric carriages to modernize the country and its travel options. (IDA Ireland.
Irelands Infrastructure). Not only does this benefit the efficiency of travel throughout the country
but it will reduce the carbon footprint of the country by reducing gas emissions, thus supporting
The effects of tourism in Ireland are great as well, positive and negative. Similar to many
other popular countries people visit, Ireland suffers from over tourism in areas of high
popularity. Over tourism becomes a big problem when it seems as though there are more tourists
in an area than locals, thus raising prices of goods, and suffocating the culture of an area. Not to
mention the environmental impacts on the area as well. Pros include job creation to meet the
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needs of tourism and other infrastructure being built to attract visitors and support communities.
Though tourism inflates money value in an area it does generate a lot of income to the country,
cities, and amenities of an area, such as restaurants, bars, local shops etc.
Ireland knows its way around the tourism industry. To find new ways to promote such a
country with deep history, beautiful landscapes, and such a thriving nightlife is not hard because
there is so much to do and always so many creative ways to go about it. These plans stand out
above the rest because of the fact they want to draw visitors to natural beauty and hidden gems,
When traveling to any out of country location as a US Citizen, one must present an up to
date passport with at least one blank page. There is no minimum passport validity requirement,
and travelers do not need a visa to visit if the visit is under 90 days (Ireland International Travel,
Ireland uses the euro for currency. The translation from one us dollar to one euro is a
difference of 17 cents. One may not enter or exit the country with over or exactly 10,00 euros
(Ireland International Travel, Travel. State. Gov.). Ireland does accept American credit cards,
Visa and MasterCard. American Express however is only accepted in some places, but there are
Ireland is a very popular tourist destination, usually it is on everyone’s list of places they
would like to travel one day. As of September, 28th 2020, tourist arrivals in Ireland increased
60% in comparison to July in the height of the pandemic. The influx of travel to Ireland in
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August of 2020 was 362,600 travelers, some passing through, others staying for a while. On the
other side of things, the numbers of those who left Ireland for a while hit 328,200 (The Irish
Times, Collin Gleesson). The main mode of travel to Ireland is by are, however there is a 14.1%
rate of travel by boat to the island country. Over the span of this year the most predominant
countries that traveled to Ireland were Great Britain, with 112,600 travelers, Spain with 33,600,
and Poland with 31,700 travelers. In total from January to August of 2020, 3,776,600 people
As of May 202 Ireland has begun the construction of a new travel campaign, encouraging
prospective tourists to ‘Fill their hearts’ with Ireland. The meaning behind this campaign is all
motivational. What they are doing with this campaign is creating a memorable hashtag,
messages directed to those in the world who need it especially through this difficult time, in
spreading this hashtag and its content, it reaches millions of people who will scroll, feel uplifted
and supported by Ireland as a whole. That is such a beautiful thing and very unselfish. Ireland is
not trying to get people to come right now they are simply trying to show people that they care,
they are supported and that Ireland will still be there to welcome them whenever one chooses to
visit.
Irelands character through history and through this past year has been very stoic. Ireland
is an inclusive place who takes pride in all they have to offer, and encourage tourists to immerse
themselves in the culture and experience the everyday way of life. The Irish are happy people
who love to have fun and spread positivity, which is exactly what they are trying to do right now.
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A simple smile can go a long way and the fact that that is their main goal in this time of
In regard to the global pandemic of Covid-19, travel regulations have become more
strictly monitored in all countries, including Ireland. Ireland is currently at Level 5 Covid
Protocol, the strictest level. This precaution means that the public are asked to stay at home with
certain exceptions such as no gatherings, period. The only exception is for weddings and
funerals, even still the max allowed at said gatherings is 25. Not even Church is allowed to occur
in person, the country is socially closed at the moment. The lower levels of precautions will
commence when the recorded data of the disease is low. It is possible for counties and cities
within Ireland to reopen under different levels than Ireland as a whole (Gov.ie. Resilience and
Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19. Level 5 Recovery). For instance Ireland is
Limerick and Galway at the moment are in level 5, so again, the level with the highest
regulations. Galway has a 981.2 rate of cases per 100,000 people, placing it third in Ireland for
number of cases (Galway Daily. Michael Malone. Oct 23). Ireland has reopened its borders and
resumed most travel options such as train, bus, and plane, but with restrictions and requirements
such as number of people allowed at once and, masks and or alternate face coverings. Travelers
are not required to have a negative test upon arrival, and there are no health screenings upon
arrival. However, the Irish Government advises AGAINST all non-essential travel from foreign
entities. If one is to travel to Ireland it is best to restrict movements from destinations within
Ireland, and to be prepared for travel regulations to change at a moment’s notice. Meaning travel
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could be a major risk if one isn’t prepared to support themselves if borders were to close
unexpectedly.
Ireland as a whole has been impacted greatly, as have the rest of the word during this
unforgiving time. As of current date (10/27/2020) there have been 58,767 cases of Covid-19,
1,890 deaths, and 23,364 recorded recoveries (Worldometer. Ireland). The national
unemployment rate has raised to 5.4% in March of 2020, according to the Central Statistics
Office. They also reported a rate as high as 16.5% (IBISWorld. Industry Insider. Yusuf
Allinston. April 21,2020. Unemployment Spikes). As similar to other countries, business such as
restaurants, tourism activities, every day entertainment, transport, and civil interactions came to a
halt and the economy took an enormous hit. Irelands GDP is almost halfway, 42%, made up of
professional and financial enterprises and those were able to convert to online alternatives
relatively quickly, and able to support income for the country in that way. That being said, travel
in Ireland, outside coming in, and inside going out came to a halt when the country closed its
borders, and grounded the majority of planes in operation at first. In March, Easter weekend
specifically there were only 900 people who passed through the Dublin Airport as opposed to the
100,00 in the year previous (IBISWorld. Industry Insider. Yusuf Allinston. April 21,2020.
Property and Travel). Because of the major presence of pharmaceutical companies in Ireland,
they have been put on the frontline for developing and researching a vaccine. Still those inside
Overall Ireland is expected to have a 11% fall in GDP by the end of 2020, completely
disbanding the gains from the few months pre Covid. However, Ireland did release 940 euros in
March to stimulate the economy, and act as a buffer. That buffer is projected to generate 10 -16
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Ireland: Limerick to Galway Itinerary
billion euros in lending directed toward the support of businesses and the economy as a whole
Itinerary
7:30 AM: Wake up and prepare for day, pack lunch, purchase PaddyWagon Tour bus pass (30
EU per person)
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Ireland: Limerick to Galway Itinerary
8:00 AM: begin walk to local café for breakfast (20 EU – 17 US)
8:10 AM: Arrive at Story Café
8:45 AM: Walk to bus stop
9:15 AM: Board Buss, headed to Cliffs of Moher
enjoy ride though the countryside and little Irish towns
12:30 PM: Arrive at Doolin for lunch (optional)
1:00 PM: Take a nice walk, see view, take pictures
1:30 PM: Sit and eat picnic lunch in local park
2:00 PM: Arrive at Moher, take pictures, enjoy view and walk
3:30 PM: Reboard Buss
4:30 PM: Bunratty Castle photo stop
5:00 PM: Arrive back in Limerick
5:15 PM: Walk back to Hotel
5:30 PM: Get dressed to go out on the town
7:00 PM: Walk downtown, find a random Pub for fun and eat dinner (15EU- 12US)
8:00 PM: Begin Pub Crawl downtown (20 EU- 17US)
12:00PM: Arrive back at hotel
9:00 AM: Wake up and pack bags for Galway, purchase bus pass (2EU per person)
9:45 AM: Check out of Hotel
10:00 AM: Grab coffee and a pastry at a café (10EU- 8US)
10:30 AM: Board Buss for Galway
11:00 AM: Depart Limerick
12:30 PM: Bus stops in Ennis, grab lunch (10 EU – 8US)
1:00 PM: Re board bus.
2:30 PM: Arrive in Galway
3:00 PM: Check into Hotel and get settled (The House Hotel $438)
3:30 PM: Grab coffee at a local café
4:00 PM: Walk around town, take pictures, and look for souvenirs
6:00 PM: Make way back to hotel for dinner
6:45 PM: Have dinner in restaurant in hotel (30 EU – 27US)
8:00 PM: Return to room and prepare for bed.
7:30 PM: Arrive back to 17th street with guide, take picture with them
8:00 PM: walk back to hotel enjoying downtown lights at night
9:00 PM: Return to hotel and get ready for bed.
Total Cost (estimated range) : Limerick Hotel 440 + Galway Hotel 483 + Flight Roundtrip 1,052
Sources
Moycullen Riding. Prices http://moycullenriding.com/prices/
Galway Tourism. Galway International Arts Festival. https://www.galwaytourism.ie/event/galway-international-arts-festival/
Viator. Private Irish Whiskey and Galway Spirits Food Tour from Galway. https://www.viator.com/tours/Galway/Private-Irish-Whiskey-and-
Galway-Spirits-Food-Tour/d5156-33310P4
Jacobitism https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jacobite-British-history
IB4UD. 10 Pros and Cons of Increased Tourism in Ireland. Paris Callan, August 2019. https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/10-pros-and-cons-
of-increased-tourism-in-
ireland/#:~:text=1.,of%20ecosystems%20and%20heritage%20sites&text=A%20major%20negative%20impact%20of,local%20body%20in%20th
e%20region.