'The day we stop hurting animals unnecessarily will be the day our world will be rid of incredible amounts of pain. Why is it so difficult to convince people to shed pain and embrace empathy?,
Colonel Richard Martin, a man solely responsible for creating and proliferating the idea of empathy towards animals and ethical treatment of them by humans, was born and raised in Galway, Ireland. Commonly ridiculed during his lifetime, Colonel Martin never budged “ eventually being able to get laws against animal cruelty and violence passed in the UK (Ireland was a part of the empire back then). These laws are still sometimes referred to as 'Martin's Laws' “ an homage to a man who didn't know how to give up.
That says a lot about the character of himself, as well as the city that raised him. It would have been interesting to see how Colonel Martin's life would have panned out had he not been born or brought up in Galway. But that not being the case, we have to take this into account and accept that there must have been influencing factors borne by the city onto his life.
It makes sense, too. Galway, situated on the west coast of Ireland and overlooking the frigid waters of the Atlantic, is best known as the sporting capital of the country where magnanimity, fair treatment of opponents and the spirit of a sportsman are the values that are celebrated. From jockeying to polo and from swimming to athletics, no variety of sport has been left untouched and no laurels of these sports left unadorned by Galway players.
Add to it the important port shipping businesses around the city and you have a city that's self-subsistent as well as content!
To feel this happy vibe of Galway, you will have to visit here yourself!
Cheap Lodging in Galway
As mentioned earlier, much of the economy of Galway is dependent on its strategic location at a port site that's both naturally deep and easily accessible from inland. So, it's quite understandable that a large part of Galway's visitor count comprises of business travelers. The balance quotient is made up of tourists who wish to explore the Gaelic culture, food and obvious sightseeing purposes.
So, because of this peculiar distribution of visitor footfall, one should expect Galway to have a fair number of cheap hotels that can cut down visitors' tour costs considerably. That, exactly, seems to be the case, with over 5 dozen cheap hotels vying for the patronage of tourists and business travelers.
Among these, our top choice is Hotel Sea Breeze. It's a small lodge located near the port. Providing spacious and clean rooms with a great view of the ocean, it makes sure that your stay in Galway is as smooth as you like!
Rockfield House comes up next on our list of affordable hotels in Galway. It is an independent property that you can rent out on a daily basis like an inn or on a long term basis like a rental.
St Jude's Bed and Breakfast is also worth giving a go. It's got solid market reputation and a continued support from guests for decades, and that tells a lot about the kind of deal you can expect to get there.
Luxury Resorts in Galway
Being in close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean automatically qualifies Galway as a top tier tourism city in the country. A host of other factors can only add to this repute “ an important factor among them being the range of luxury Galway hotels.
These may just seem to lack a touch of lustre when you compare them with their counterparts in more tourism-centric cities of the world. But in the local context, these still provide the best luxury one can hope for!
The g Hotel Galway is an obvious pick here. It is the most famous hotel in the city and a significant landmark. Its impressive expanses of aristocratic buildings and lush green lawns makes for a regal stay! Prices per night start at around $299.
Hotel Meyrick is more traditional in nature. Even though it lacks the magnificence of the g Hotel, it still is a beautiful hotel that can cater to the cravings of luxury that its guests usually have.
If you like to play safer while picking one from many lavish Galway hotels, you can always go with any of the brand-named hotel in the city. Radisson Blu Galway, for example, is just as luxurious as you want it to be.
Independent and Boutique Lodging in Galway
While it's true that Galway has a number of lodging options, tourists often want something more than the cold hospitality of a hotel. That's why, it's interesting to note that a number of independent and boutique establishments have come to the fore here in last few years.
From holiday rental to studio flat rentals, options are amply diverse. All you need to do is strike a balance between your requirements and your budget. Once you do that, you will be much more like to end up with a lodging option that's convenient, satisfactory and affordable, too!
Galway's local airport was shut down about five years ago due to technical problems. Now, the nearest airport that serves the city is Knock Airport, located in Knock Village, about 50 miles from Galway.
Because of this considerable distance, many tourists prefer not to stay in the vicinity of the airport at all. If you are looking for lodging options around this airport, you will have very little to choose from, except the ones offered by Knock Village itself.
Local Transportation in Galway
The best way to explore Galway is on foot. The city is very good to look at, and by travelling on foot, you will be ensuring that you make the most of this fact.
CityDirect is the prime local bus operator. Private taxi hires and car rentals are also available, but rarely advisable. Luxury hotels in Galway provide free of charge airport shuttle services, as well.