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GALWAY CITY |
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The city of GALWAY , folk capital of the west, has a vibrancy and
hedonism that make it unique. People come here with energies primed for
enjoyment - the music, the drink, the "crack" - and it can be a
difficult place to leave. University College Galway guarantees a high
proportion of young people in term time, maintained in summer by the
attractions of the city's festivals. This youthful energy is an
important part of Galway's identity, and the city's mix of culture and
fun attracts not only disaffected bohemians from other areas of Ireland
but folksy young Europeans who return each year with an almost religious
devotion. Galway sees itself in many ways as the capital of Gaelic
Ireland, where traditional aspects of Irish society, primarily music and
language, are most confidently and colourfully expressed.
As is the case with many other Irish cities, Galway has, for the past
decade, been experiencing a surge of economic growth. Constant
renovation is in progress in the small and crowded city centre, and
during the summer it has the energy of a boom town, with an expanding
number of shops and restaurants to cater for the increase in visitors
and students. The downside of this is the huge amount of property
development galloping ahead in the city centre, threatening to take away
some of the city's unique character, though, for the time being at least,
Galway retains its human scale.
Prosperity allows a vigorous independence from Dublin, mirrored in the
artistic dynamism of the city. It's a focus for the traditional music of
Galway and Clare - Galway's status as an old fishing town on the
mythical west coast adding a certain potency - and there's strong
interest in drama. This renewed sense of civic and artistic optimism is
reflected not only in conventional arts but in the vibrant street
theatre that has become the hallmark of the city. At no time is the
dynamism of Galway more evident than during its festivals , especially
the Galway Arts Festival (tel 091/583800) during the last two weeks in
July, when practitioners of theatre, music, poetry and the visual arts
create a rich cultural jamboree. In April the city hosts a festival
specifically devoted to poetry itself, the Cúirt Poetry Festival (tel
091/565886), in June it's film buffs who invade the city for the Film
Fleadh (tel 091/751655), while the king of all Galway festivals, the
riotous Galway Races usually takes place during the first week in
August. At the end of September, the Galway Oyster Festival (tel
091/527282) completes the annual round. If visiting the city at any of
these times be warned that accommodation will be at a premium, and
you'll need to book well in advance.
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