If you love music, are interested in art, and enjoy good food, then Galway’s ‘West End’ is the place to be and local traders are encouraging Galwegians to “cross the bridge” and check it out.
The West End is Dominick Street, Ravens Terrace, William Street West, Henry Street, The Small Crane, Mill Street, Lower Fairhill Road, and Sea Road, and down here you can go to gigs; check out readings and theatre performances; visit exhibitions by cutting edge artists; and enjoy great meals.
More than 100 businesses are located in the ‘West End’ and the area’s traders have now come together to showcase their businesses as a united front under the banner of Galway’s West End.
Galway’s West End will have its official launch tomorrow night in Monroe’s Live. Doors will open to the public at 9pm with music by Key West, who will be followed at 10pm by Timbertramps.
It promises to be a great night, so come along and enjoy the best of Galway craic. Businesses in the area are offering promotions and events to mark the launch on the opening weekend and throughout October.
Details of these offers can be viewed on Galway’s West End’s new website www.galwayswestend.com, which gives a list of all the businesses involved and details of promotions and upcoming events in the area. Also look out for the Galway's West End stickers on business windows of those involved.
Music
So what’s coming up in the West End that you should check out? The Róisín Dubh have some amazing gigs coming up with grunge legends Mudhoney and Breton film composer Yann Tiersen playing in October and guitar great Pierre Bensusan in November. It will also host events in next month’s Galway Comedy Festival.
There is also Monroe’s, which was recently voted most popular pub in the Galway’s Best Awards; The Crane Bar, the home of trad music in Galway; and Massimo, The Blue Note, the Beer House, and The Salt House.
Food
Restaurants in the area include the award winning Oscar’s Bistro, Abalone, Kashmir, and Trip Advisor Poll Toppers, Cava Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar. Look out for Cava Week starting on October 4 with free Spanish lessons, flamenco dancing for children, wine tasting, music and food. There are also great places to lunch including Mocha Beans, Apache Pizza, and The Budding Café on Sea Road.
The arts
The West End also houses some of Galway’s cultural icons such as The Galway Arts Centre which is a 3,000sq ft gallery, showing national and international contemporary arts. The gallery is open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 5.30pm. Admission is free always.
The Galway Theatre Festival takes place at the end of October and many of the plays will be staged in the Nuns Island Theatre. The arts centre and Nuns Island will also house much of the exhibitions and workshops for the Tulca International Arts Festival in November.
Those interested in the Irish language can also avail of courses and social events and Club Oa2 in Áras Na nGael.
Business
The West End also has a growing number of thriving small businesses such as Colleran’s locksmiths, Right Price Ink (students can save by availing of Right Price Ink’s loyalty card Scheme ), West Ireland Cycling, Signet Antiques, Silke Architects, I Supply, Bell, Book and Candle, Joyce’s Bookshop, and new and vintage clothes shop Don’t Call Me Dear.
For those interested in a healthy lifestyle there is An Seomra Yoga, offering classes in many yoga styles and it has Saturday morning workshops throughout October; Health and Herbs which is a integrated medical practice combining Western pharmaceutical medicine with traditional complementary medicine; and Health and Fitness on Raven Terrace.
