We braved the cold (by Ireland, not Minnesota, standards) to explore Galway. We parked on the promenade on Galway Bay and spent the day on foot, buckled in stroller, or secured in front pack - depending on which of us you ask. The boys were bundled and wrapped in their Thomas the Tank Engine fleece blankets, and we had many a snack on hand. This was not their kind of a day...but sometimes we have to do grown-up things, we told them.
There are many swans that gather where the River Corrib meets the Bay.
The mouth of the River Corrib looking across at the Long Walk.
From same spot, looking into Galway City centre.
From same spot, looking out towards the Bay. The boys enjoyed watching the birds.
From same spot; the stone structure on the left is the Spanish Arch. It was built in 1584 to protect the harbour, which was then outside the city walls. Spanish traders unloaded their ships here.
Boats docked for the winter.
Huge bay; tiny boat...I'm trying to imagine being that brave!(Daniel wanted to insert a Tommy Boy quote here)
Another view: River Corrib into Galway Bay, the Atlantic beyond.
Looking up-river. The river is very high and fast right now due to heavy rainfall during November.
The area of the Claddagh on the west bank of the Corrib. Since medieval times, this was a small Gaelic-speaking fishing village outside Galway's old city walls - walls built by the Anglo-Normans from England after conquering Ireland in 1169. It's last "king" died in 1954.
In the background, the catholic St. Nicholas Cathedral, built in 1965, is a city landmark.
"The River Corrib"
This and the next few pictures are views as we walked upstream along the river.
Dogs are welcome! Though there are signs that instruct owners to keep "dogs on lead", most we met on our walk were free to roam and play where they pleased. They seemed to be having a fun time, enjoying the river walk as we were.
Aaron, making the best of it.
Silas didn't mind as long as he stayed warm.
Moriah's "ride."
Galway area is a center for keeping the Irish language alive. Signs are in English and Gaelic.
Some shopfronts in the city.
The town square. Officially re-named John F. Kennedy Park after the President spoke here in 1963, it is still referred to here as Eyre Square.
Shop Street. A pedestrian street lined with - you guessed it - shops, pubs, restaurants...
"Lynch's Castle" a 16th century townhouse owned by the Lynch family - one of the 14 "tribes" of Galway (14 wealthy merchant families that controlled Galway in the 14 and 1500's under English rule). It is now a bank. The following three pictures show coats of arms and gargoyle carved in the stone.
A street performer acting like a stone statue. The boys didn't know what to make of it and just stared blankly. I tried to explain to them that he was trying to entertain them with his tricks, but they never "got" it. We gave a donation and asked him if we could take his picture.
The Collegiate Church of St Nicholas, an Anglican/Episcopal church and Galway's finest medieval building, was founded in 1320, added onto in the 14 and 1500's, then damaged by Oliver Cromwell of England in 1652 (his troops headquartered here and used it to stable their horses)...
...It is still in use. It is dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of children (ie Santa Clause) and mariners. Christopher Columbus worshipped here in 1477.
Daniel in front of Lynch Memorial Window. The next picture is a close-up and an exerpt from the AAA Travel Book explaining the significance...we think it's interesting...
A marble plaque over a Gothic doorway commemorates a legend that historians dispute but others defend as the true origin of the expression "Lynch law." This is where, in 1493, Mayor James Lynch carried out "stern and unbending justice" when he condemned his 19-year-old son, Walter, to death after he pleaded guilty to murder. Walter was held in such high esteem, however, that the town executioner refused to carry out the execution. The sorrowing elder Lynch embraced his son and did the deed himself. Hence, some say, the entry of justice by "Lynch law" into common use.
We had walked quite a ways by now and came around to the other side of the river. This is again the Spanish Arch.
We stopped for a snack. We threw cracker crumbs to the seagulls and watched them compete. Cheap entertainment for the boys...
...who were still hanging in there!
Daniel's favorite bird
There are many brightly-colored doors in Galway.
The Docks on Dock Road. The Celtic Voyager and behind it the Celtic Explorer.
It is the coldest it's been here in 30 years. A thin sheet of ice covered the docks.
The Celtic Spirit. The people who name these ships are obviously proud of their heritage!
Aaron had a sincere, but ridiculous question: "Do we have enough money to buy that boat?" In order to capture the moment, I had Aaron point again like he had when he asked :)
Back near Shop Street (now headed to the mall to find a public bathroom), pretty storefronts decorated for Christmas. We're definitely in Europe: the bathrooms charged admission.
Inside Eyre Square Centre, a modern shopping mall built to incorporate sections of the historic city walls. At the left is the bottom part of one of the 14 wall towers that used to surround the city in the 17th century.
The old wall on the left and ahead another of the wall towers. (Still inside the mall.)
Look, Rebekah!
After a long day of walking, Daniel just wanted to feel a piece of home. The boys didn't mind a burger and fries either. One kids meal cost $6.00 therefore, we all snacked on one kids meal.
Hey, Tim & Josie. Any thoughts of carrying on the family business?
Even in the unusually cold winter, several musicians perform along Shop Street. Galway is a center for arts, drama, and music, and we hear that it really comes alive in the Spring and Summer with a string of festivals.
Irish seafood restaurant. Daniel and I had fish 'n' chips here on a date before mom left.
Looking up into Shop Street from the waterfront.
Back at the mouth of the River Corrib - same view now in the afternoon light.
We had a long walk back to the Promenade and saw the beginning of the sunset on Galway Bay.
We got caught in the rain on the way back to the car. We're in Ireland and we hadn't brought an umbrella - as they say over here, we're maybe a little "thick"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyozr37f3tM
Another view: River Corrib into Galway Bay, the Atlantic beyond.
Looking up-river. The river is very high and fast right now due to heavy rainfall during November.
The area of the Claddagh on the west bank of the Corrib. Since medieval times, this was a small Gaelic-speaking fishing village outside Galway's old city walls - walls built by the Anglo-Normans from England after conquering Ireland in 1169. It's last "king" died in 1954.
In the background, the catholic St. Nicholas Cathedral, built in 1965, is a city landmark.
"The River Corrib"
This and the next few pictures are views as we walked upstream along the river.
Dogs are welcome! Though there are signs that instruct owners to keep "dogs on lead", most we met on our walk were free to roam and play where they pleased. They seemed to be having a fun time, enjoying the river walk as we were.
Aaron, making the best of it.
Silas didn't mind as long as he stayed warm.
Moriah's "ride."
Galway area is a center for keeping the Irish language alive. Signs are in English and Gaelic.
Some shopfronts in the city.
The town square. Officially re-named John F. Kennedy Park after the President spoke here in 1963, it is still referred to here as Eyre Square.
Shop Street. A pedestrian street lined with - you guessed it - shops, pubs, restaurants...
"Lynch's Castle" a 16th century townhouse owned by the Lynch family - one of the 14 "tribes" of Galway (14 wealthy merchant families that controlled Galway in the 14 and 1500's under English rule). It is now a bank. The following three pictures show coats of arms and gargoyle carved in the stone.
A street performer acting like a stone statue. The boys didn't know what to make of it and just stared blankly. I tried to explain to them that he was trying to entertain them with his tricks, but they never "got" it. We gave a donation and asked him if we could take his picture.
The Collegiate Church of St Nicholas, an Anglican/Episcopal church and Galway's finest medieval building, was founded in 1320, added onto in the 14 and 1500's, then damaged by Oliver Cromwell of England in 1652 (his troops headquartered here and used it to stable their horses)...
...It is still in use. It is dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of children (ie Santa Clause) and mariners. Christopher Columbus worshipped here in 1477.
Daniel in front of Lynch Memorial Window. The next picture is a close-up and an exerpt from the AAA Travel Book explaining the significance...we think it's interesting...
A marble plaque over a Gothic doorway commemorates a legend that historians dispute but others defend as the true origin of the expression "Lynch law." This is where, in 1493, Mayor James Lynch carried out "stern and unbending justice" when he condemned his 19-year-old son, Walter, to death after he pleaded guilty to murder. Walter was held in such high esteem, however, that the town executioner refused to carry out the execution. The sorrowing elder Lynch embraced his son and did the deed himself. Hence, some say, the entry of justice by "Lynch law" into common use.
We had walked quite a ways by now and came around to the other side of the river. This is again the Spanish Arch.
We stopped for a snack. We threw cracker crumbs to the seagulls and watched them compete. Cheap entertainment for the boys...
...who were still hanging in there!
Daniel's favorite bird 
There are many brightly-colored doors in Galway.
The Docks on Dock Road. The Celtic Voyager and behind it the Celtic Explorer. 
It is the coldest it's been here in 30 years. A thin sheet of ice covered the docks.
The Celtic Spirit. The people who name these ships are obviously proud of their heritage!
Aaron had a sincere, but ridiculous question: "Do we have enough money to buy that boat?" In order to capture the moment, I had Aaron point again like he had when he asked :)
Back near Shop Street (now headed to the mall to find a public bathroom), pretty storefronts decorated for Christmas. We're definitely in Europe: the bathrooms charged admission.
Inside Eyre Square Centre, a modern shopping mall built to incorporate sections of the historic city walls. At the left is the bottom part of one of the 14 wall towers that used to surround the city in the 17th century.
The old wall on the left and ahead another of the wall towers. (Still inside the mall.)
Look, Rebekah!
After a long day of walking, Daniel just wanted to feel a piece of home. The boys didn't mind a burger and fries either. One kids meal cost $6.00 therefore, we all snacked on one kids meal.
Hey, Tim & Josie. Any thoughts of carrying on the family business?
Even in the unusually cold winter, several musicians perform along Shop Street. Galway is a center for arts, drama, and music, and we hear that it really comes alive in the Spring and Summer with a string of festivals.
Irish seafood restaurant. Daniel and I had fish 'n' chips here on a date before mom left.
Looking up into Shop Street from the waterfront.
Back at the mouth of the River Corrib - same view now in the afternoon light.
We had a long walk back to the Promenade and saw the beginning of the sunset on Galway Bay.
We got caught in the rain on the way back to the car. We're in Ireland and we hadn't brought an umbrella - as they say over here, we're maybe a little "thick"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyozr37f3tMBing Crosby's version of Galway Bay
The River Corrib rushing into Galway Bay then out into the Atlantic Ocean.
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