Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This pub was once owned by “Humanity Dick,” an 18th-century Member of Parliament
who was the original animal-rights activist. It's worth a peek inside for its lively interior.
The lane just before it leads to the...
This 100-seat theater offers top-notch contemporary Irish theater. While the theater com-
pany is often away on tour, it's worth checking their schedule online or dropping by
to see if anything's playing tonight (€18-25 tickets, Chapel Lane, tel. 091/568-660,
www.druid.ie
).
Directly across the alley from the theater door you'll find the
Hall of the Red Earl.
Wall diagrams and storyboards explain that these are the dusty foundations of Galway's
oldest building, once the 13th-century hall of the Norman lord Richard DeBurgo (free,
May-Sept Mon-Fri 9:30-16:30, Sat 10:00-13:00, closed Sun).
Galway Legends and Factoids
Because of the dearth of physical old stuff, the town milks its legends. Here are a
few that you'll encounter repeatedly:
• In the 15th century, the mayor, one of the Lynch tribe, condemned his son to death
for the murder of a Spaniard. When no one in town could be found to hang the
popular boy, the dad—who loved justice more than he loved his son—did it him-
self.
• Columbus is said to have stopped in Galway in 1477. He may have been inspired
by tales of the voyage of St. Brendan, the Irish monk who is thought by some
(mostly Irish) to have beaten Columbus to the New World by almost a thousand
years.
• On the main drag, you'll find a pub called The King's Head. It was originally giv-
en to the man who chopped off the head of King Charles I in 1649. For his safety,
hesettled inGalway—about asfarfromLondonasanEnglishman couldgetback
then.
• William Joyce, born in America, spent most of his childhood in Galway and later
was seduced by fascist ideology in the 1930s. He moved to Germany and became
“Lord Haw-Haw,” infamous as the radio voice of Nazi propaganda during World
War II. After the war, he was hanged in London for treason. His daughter had him
buried in Galway.
