Galway: See
=== Scenery ===
1 Eyre Square is the place to begin exploring the city, as it's the transport hub and with a cluster of hotels and eating places. It's an attractive green space with a pedestrianised shopping mall just south. Artwork includes the "Galway Hooker" (a fountain resembling a traditional fishing boat), the Browne doorway (from the house of one of the ruling families), and a bust of former US President John F Kennedy, who visited in 1963. The square is officially named after JFK, but this never stuck, and it's always called Eyre Square after the mayor who presented this plot of land to the city in 1710.
2 Spanish Arch: medieval Galway had city walls, which in 1584 were extended to protect the quays at the river outlet. This extension, known as "the head of the walls" (ceann an bhalla), is nowadays almost their only remnant. In the 18th century the quays were extended, and two arches were cut in the walls to improve street access to the quays. They were probably first known as the "Eyre Arches", but Galway was Ireland's main port for trade with Spain and Portugal. In 1755 the Lisbon Tsunami wrecked the arches, but one was later re-opened, so they became known as the Spanish Arch and the Blind Arch. It's a pleasant area to sit or stroll.
An Claddagh, meaning the shore, was a village west of the river, while the Anglo-Norman walled city of Galway stood east, with "No damned Irish!" signs at its gates. Another unloved group here was the jewellers, hence the name of the ring. Nothing remains of that village and the present Claddagh neighbourhood is modern.
3 Mutton Island is connected to the mainland at Claddagh by a one-km causeway. (Don't confuse it with Mutton Island off Quilty in County Clare.) It's popular for wedding photos taking in the lighthouse foreground and cityscape background, while artfully avoiding the sewage plant. …