Galway's Charms
© Stephen Thirkill
Stunning scenery, serenity and an outdoors life to die for, make Ireland's picturesque west coast the perfect place for getting back to nature and escaping life's stresses. With a population around the four million mark and few areas of concentrated population Ireland remains a simplistic tranquil place largely untouched by modern eyesores. A land offering beautiful beaches, welcoming picturesque villages, secluded delights, scintillating scenery and a slow paced uncomplicated lifestyle.
Galway, 140 miles and three hours west of Dublin, is an ideal base offering a delightful combination of city and rural life and accessibility via car and public transportation. Having picked up my hire car I headed for Spiddal - a small relaxing village 10 miles from Galway, overlooking the expansive glistening Galway bay. As I cruised west on the silent isolated roads the sparse nature of the Republic was striking with nothing but a carpet of fields and hedges stretching as far as the eye could see. Occasionally I stumbled across quaint villages and remote farmhouses breaking the monotony of the long drive. And as the pleasant sunshine slowly gave way to darkness I closed in on Galway, which was bustling with Saturday night revellers packing into the pubs and clubs. But the night was getting thin and I had yet to reach my accommodation - exploring Galway would have to wait for another day.
For the week, I stayed in a spacious white cottage capable of housing eight people. The cottage boasted a comfortable living and dining area and modern kitchen and bathroom facilities. Located 5 mins from Spiddal centre, it is ideally placed for exploring the village on foot. As I approached the village I came across a beach that was quiet and relaxing with a few people enjoying the sun. I strolled onwards, passing young children vigorously digging downwards in the sand as though they were searching for Australia and energetic dogs chasing tennis balls. Spiddal, once a leper colony, has evolved into a charming rural retreat offering a haven of peace and tranquillity with ideal fishing spots, long distance hiking and biking trails, a beach and numerous golf courses and restaurants.
There was a small church, library, convenience shop and a variety of reasonably priced restaurants catering for all tastes from seafood, roast dinners and fast food burger bars. On the edge of the village is Shannagarain wood, with its fine oak, hazel and birch trees and shallow babbling brook an area of scientific importance. Running through Spiddal is the famous ocean coast road offering breathtaking views of unspoiled coastline and countryside.
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