Page 26 - The Driver's Guide to the Wild Atlantic

The Driver's Guide
EAT
For a trip to Galway be sure to stop
into Kai Cafe and Restaurant, a local spot which specialises in organic european food and features many vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. Winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence from 2015- 2019, this restaurant combines unique menu items with an eclectic atmosphere. Brightly colored chairs, rustic wooden tables, and stone walls unite the old with the new, something you can see within their menu as well. The website also shows where all the ingredients come from which is a nice touch for those concerned with what is in their food.
Kai Cafe, 22 Sea Rd, Galway. www.kaicaferestaurant.com
GALWAY
DERRIGIMLAGH
N59 (R341 EXIT) TOWARDS DERRYGIMLAGH
15 min from exit
South of Clifden, the Wild Atlantic Way passes the unique moorland of Derrigimlagh, a place of historical significance.
In 1907, more than a hundred years ago, Gugliemlo Marconi built a radio station just in the middle of this moor landscape which enabled the transmission of messages from London and Dublin across the Atlantic ocean and thereby heralded the mordern age through global communication.
Just a few years later, in 1919 on June 15, the pilots John Alcock and Whitten Brown landed in Derrigimlagh, and thereby ended their adventurous trip – the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic ocean – with a crash landing.
A monument with the shape of an aircraft’s nose was dedicated to the two pioneers and commemorates this milestone in the history of aviation.
STAY
Located in Taylors Hill, the 4-star
Ardilaun Hotel is a former country mansion turned into a luxury hotel. Owned and independently operated by the Ryan family, its location in Taylors Hill puts it only one kilometre outside Galway City. This picturesque area is perfect for the hotel’s spacious gardens and outdoor patios. Single, double, family, and garden rooms all provide maximum comfort, as do the suites. Hungry guests need to look no further than the award winning Camilaun Restaurant housed in the hotel. You can try a variety of appetisers, main courses, and desserts that epitomise the fine dining experience. www.theardilaunhotel.ie
PATRICK PEARSE COTTAGE
N59 (R336 EXIT) TO R340 EXIT 15 min from exit
Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh, or Pearse Cottage, is located in Ros Muc, in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. Pearse built a cottage here in 1909, seven years before he led the rebellion against British rule in Ireland.
The Visitor Centre houses an exhibition dealing with Pearse’s legacy, and explores the things that drew Pearse to Connemara: the area’s unique landscape and history, and the ancient gaelic culture and language which is still alive in the area today. The cottage is maintained just as Pearse left it when he closed the door for the last time, in 1915.
SILVERSTRAND BEACH
N59 (BARNA RD EXIT) TO R336 EXIT
25 min from exit
Silverstrand beach is located close to Salthill and Galway City. The beach has Blue Flag status and is one of the cleanest in Ireland but at just 100 metres wide is also one of the narrowest and can frequently be submerged by the Atlantic at high tide.
PLAY
If you want to experience some of the
best traditional Irish music that Galway has to offer, then stop by Tig Coili in Galway’s Latin quarter. The pub puts on music sessions all year round, with 14 sessions available per week, so there is never a dull moment at the Tig Coili. The walls are lined with photos of both local and famous musicians who have played a few songs within its walls. This speaks to the pub’s welcoming attitude towards anyone who wants to come in and enjoy some live music. www.tigcoiligalway.com
GALWAY CITY
N59 (R864) TO CITY CENTRE 7 min from exit
Galway is the fourth most populous city in the Republic of Ireland and one of its most vibrant cultural centres. In 2020, the ‘City of the Tribes’ will be one of two ‘European Capital of Culture’ cities.
EYRE SQUARE
GALWAY CITY CENTRE
Eyre Square was officially named the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park in 1965 but has always been know in Ireland as Eyre square. It is a great place to relax within this vibrant city, particularly on a sunny day. The square comes from medieval open space in front of the town gate, known as The Green. The land that became Eyre Square was officially presented to the city in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre.
THE SPANISH ARCH
GALWAY CITY CENTRE
The Spanish Arch, located on the banks of the river Corrib was built in 1584. It was originally 4 archs providing an extension of the famous city walls, designed to protect the quays. In 1755,
26 WILD ATLANTIC