by Allison Kreisman
“Peaceful.”
“Happy.”
“Stress-free.”
“Home.”
These are just a few of the words that Galway locals and tourists use to describe how they feel about living by the sea.
Galway’s proximity to the sea makes it a hotspot for tourism and sets itself apart from other cities in Ireland. It only takes one visit to notice that the ocean has infiltrated the culture through restaurants, recreational activities, and overall attitudes.
What draws people to this particular coast? Our investigation started with documenting the people in Salthill and Galway Bay. Specifically, we took a dive into how the seaside facilitates social interaction, stimulates the economy, and ties back to the town’s history.
A group of young adults at the Salthill promenade offer insight on their experiences growing up by the sea.
“My mom actually went in for a swim in the sea the day before she had me, so I was basically born in the sea,” said one local named Hannah, who stayed in the area after graduating from university. She describes how her love of the sea began at a young age. “We had wetsuits when we were 2 and we would always be down here every summer,” she said.
Hannah’s childhood friend, Molly, agrees on the sea’s appeal and explains how they enjoy dipping in the ocean after a night out. “It’s a good cure for a hangover,” Molly laughs, demonstrating how the ocean follows hand-in-hand with the pub culture in Ireland.
Another traditional aspect of Galway’s culture is their love of seafood, which we saw firsthand while comparing popular spots in the city centre. Some restaurants, like Hooked, are branching out with multicultural inspired dishes such as tacos and poke bowls. Others, like McDonagh’s, simply have fish and chips at the center of their menu. Even the late night “chippers” offer fish combos. There is something for everyone; each business brings something different to the table to satisfy the cravings that are incited by the salty air.
Galway was historically a fishing village where fishermen could sell their catches at local markets – one of which was near the Spanish Arch in the city’s West End. According to a young local named Steven, fishing remains prevalent today as a source of entertainment.
“Mackerel season is usually around September; a lot of people will fish around here, just off the beach,” Steven said. Other locations are just as popular; Galway hookers sail the waters and fishermen are scattered throughout the river at high tide, some wading chest deep for the catch.
Although Galway’s ports and fishing spots have been the main appeal in the past, the Irish are expanding their idea of what it means to have fun on the water. It is common for children to take sailing lessons and attend summer camps, while teens ride jet skis or take up paddleboarding. For the more adventurous, there are snorkeling, rafting, windsurfing, and competitive swim races.
Garry Kendellen, who works at the Galway Atlantaquaria in Salthill, compares this variety of activities to a wave. “It’s a balance like a wave; you have your ebb and flow of calm and adventure. I think that’s really what’s wonderful about walking along the prom,” said Kendellen.
One of Salthill’s main attractions on this promenade is the Blackrock diving tower. It juts out at the end of the coastline, with the highest platform 30 feet above the surface. People have enjoyed jumping into the sea from the structure for decades, and the tower remains an icon of ocean fun in Galway. Our interviewees concur it is a must-do while visiting the beach.
Swimming for leisure is a relatively new concept in Galway. “When our parents started swimming in the sea, there weren’t that many hobby swimmers… now it’s gotten so busy because it was kind of the only thing you could do during lockdown,” Hannah said. “There was no other form of entertainment, so it got crazy popular, even during the winter,” she continued, reflecting on how the pandemic impacted the culture.
COVID-19 isn’t the only catalyst for the influx of people to Galway’s waters. Some Northern Irish are attracted to this location as a means of escaping the religious conflict in their hometown. Galway locals cite that the beaches become busier during the protestant-based Orange Day Parade weekend in July – people go on holiday to avoid the tension between unionists and loyalists back in Northern Ireland. The sea does seem to provide a calmer, more unified attitude amongst city inhabitants that distracts from the political divide that still exists in parts of the country.
It is not surprising that people from all parts of Ireland flock here for the friendly environment. After all, there’s a reason why much of our trip abroad has taken place here in Galway. When asked how they feel about tourists taking advantage of the area, the locals seem open to sharing the sea’s benefits.
According to Molly, “I think as a whole, Irish people are very happy to be like ‘This is the best that we have. Use it, enjoy it’… Especially after covid, everyone is so happy to see tourists back.”