Walking Tours of Galway

02/11/2024

Winter weekend cruise times!

Get more information on Killary Tours' ticket prices, sailing times, and booking.

31/10/2024

‘Sam Browne would wait on the platform for the train, and for every train, every day, watching the passengers disembark from the Attymon shuttle, waiting until the last train of the day steamed into the station, watching while the conductor unhitched the handful of now empty carriages, and the driver shunted the locomotive on to the turnstyle, reversed the engine into the train-shed, and locked up the station for the night.

Whatever the weather, whatever the day, once the 10pm train arrived, Sam would stoically shrug his wizened shoulders, settle further back into his raincoat collar, and turn, to walk the miserable, lonely stroll, back to his small, run-down house at the bottom of Main Street, his promise kept.

Sam’d kept his promise for many years, and continued to do so until he died, to wait for her, faithfully, for as long as she took, at the railway platform, faithful, as he'd promised he'd do, true to the end, but she never came, never showed, not for forty years, broke her promise, her bond, his bond.

Sam, broken-hearted, briste-bruite, never showed any emotion, just turned and walked, never looked back, though I his eyes dimmed, and when the rain softened his tears, he pulled his hat down further over his face, remembering, promising, tomorrow, I'll wait again, she'll come, she'll show, soon, tomorrow.!

He never spoke to anyone, not that I ever saw at least, never acknowledged anyone on the street, never socialised, just made the several daily perambulations to the station, waited, and walked back again, silent, wraith-like, a shadow, a ghost before his time.

We, the boys on the street, made fun of the little old man, mocking his melancholic walk, his nightly patrol, his faithfulness, his camino, every day, to the railway station, three, four, five times a day, never missing a train, waiting in vain for her.

Whomever she was, she'd smitten him, put him under a spell, stolen his heart, ruined his life, never again to work, or communicate with anyone on the street, he haunted the dimly lit laneway down to the station, became the phantom of our opera, a frightened figure, wrapped up in a cheap macintosh coat, collar up, head down, determined, driven, misunderstood, mocked.

Older now, I think I understand Sam a little, or at least have some empathy towards the strange little old man. I see it now, a promise made, a promise kept, old style!

And yes, I am sorry for our juvenile pranks, the jibes, the taunts, the late night knocking on his door, the shrieks of juvenile laughter, the cruelty!

I want to apologise, to explain that it wasn’t personal, that vindictive schoolboy behaviour of ours, how that was the way we dealt with those that stood out, the odd, the strange, the unconventional, how we handled our fears, especially the ‘out after dark’ fears, the ones that haunted us at night in our beds, in our dreams, in our nightmares!

But it’s too late, that train has gone, it has left the station, and so has Sam!

These days, when I visit Loughrea, I often take a stroll down Main Street, down past where Sam lived, a walk down memory lane as it were, but it’s not the same.

Sam’s shabby old house is gone, replaced now by a modern office building.

The lovely red brick and cut stone Victorian railway station is still there, though it’s all boarded up, the waiting room, the platform, the turntable, signal cabin and engine shed are all gone too, though late at night, especially on a windy, winter’s night, when the moon plays hide and seek behind the tree-line of ‘The Walks’ and the shadows flicker under the lone streetlamp down by the old station house, I imagine sometimes that I caught a glimpse of Sam, standing under the shelter of the old yew tree that once flanked the lane that led to the platform.

Yes, I think he’s still waiting! A sisyspian task you say, a cruel punishment, perhaps, but you know how all good ghost stories go;
A promise made, a Walking Tours of Galwayse kept, a promise broken, oh, and a broken heart too!’

Brian Nolan

(A Halloween story, loosely based on an older gentleman who lived in my hometown, Loughrea, county Galway, when I was a youngster in the 1960’s.

Back then Loughrea was serviced by a short spur railway line, only 8 miles long, that connected our rural town to the main Dublin to Galway railway line, at Attymon.

It was a unique and well-used train service that lasted some eighty years, closing down in the early ‘70’s, and like all old railways, sometimes, oftentimes, inevitably, there’s a ghost on the line! )

Story; Brian Nolan - Walking Tours Of Galway
Photo; shutterstock

31/10/2024

Damien is a cool guy and regularly features in trad and folk music sessiuns in bars around Galway city, as well as leading very interesting history tours around the city and county, where he expounds on his deep knowledge of Irish in the First World War, the war of independence and our Irish Civil war. Damien Quinn

Well-known musicians from the four provinces feature on Fleadh Town, a new album of traditional tunes from all over Ireland. It’s the brainchild of bodhrán player Damien Quinn, who has worked with Riverdance, Van Morrison and the Chieftains among others. The longtime Galway resident is also a kee...

26/10/2024

“A sloe-burst of berries,
A doe-thirst of cherries,
A roe-curse of fairies”

I like to whisper this magic incantation when sorting through the trove of freshly-picked sloes each October, in preparation for laying down a few bottles of my blood-red sloe gin.

The fairies gave us this gift of sloes, the fruit of their sacred blackthorn tree, when we first set foot on this island thousands of years ago.

A scratch from a thorn of the blackthorn tree delivers a painful poison, causing swelling and joint pain, so when our ancient ancestors wanted protection from the wild animals that roamed this land, wolves, bears and wild cats, they built a fort, a redoubt, by digging a circular ditch on a hillside and planting the corresponding d**e with rows of blackthorn bushes, providing them and their cattle with a safe place to spend the night behind the impenetrable, thorny, fairy hedge.

These forts or ‘dúns’ are found everywhere around Ireland today, though in most cases the hedges are long gone, with just the ditch and d**e circle remaining.

We call them ‘fairy forts’ or ‘fairy rings’, with good reason too, because this is where the ‘wee folk’ now dwell.

Not all ‘fairy forts’ are occupied, but you will often know the ones that are by the sole blackthorn tree inside the ‘dún’ marking the secret, invisible entrance to their fairy world beneath. Sometimes you may see a sole blackthorn bush in the middle of a field or on a hillside, or beside a well. The sector are fairy trees, marking important places for them, a portal, or a boundary, or a sacred site.

The blackthorn blooms in froths of creamy white flowers at Imbolc, the Celtic Spring planting season, and the fruit of the Blackthorn, the dusty blue sloe, ripens at Samhain, the Celtic harvest season.

When you pick your sloes be sure to thank the fairies for their wonderful gifts of protection and of fruit, and please, never pick every sloe off a bush, be sure to leave enWalking Tours of Galwaysmall animals who rely on the berries for their winter food.

Remember, while we rarely see them, the fairies are always watching us.

“A sloe-burst of berries,
A doe-thirst of cherries,
A roe-curse of fairies”

Enjoy your sloe gin!

Photos and story; Brian Nolan Walking Tours of Galway

25/10/2024

We’ve Been Featured! 📰✨

Ballyglunin Station is proud to be featured in the Connacht Tribune newspaper, highlighting a special milestone—the first official American tour visit to our historic station! 🇺🇸🚂

The station, made famous by The Quiet Man, continues to attract international attention, and we couldn’t be more excited.

A big thank you to the Shamrockin Irish Tour Group and everyone who has supported the station’s journey. Check out the full article for more about this exciting visit!

23/10/2024

Macnas parade in Galway for Halloween

🌙💫 ✨We are looking forward to seeing the magic Macnas will be bringing to Galway this weekend with ☆Turas Alf/Alf's Journey☆ ✨🎇🪄

This Saturday 26th October at 11.30am Alf the Giant Newt will make his way from the Quadrangle to Eyre Square, where he'll rest from 1pm - 10pm & on Sunday 27th October 10am - 6pm. At 6.30pm - 8pm on Sunday, Macnas will bring Alf to his new home in The Claddagh.

Gardaí are expecting large crowds to the city where rolling road closures will be in operation for the parade portions. Please see the parade route marked out on the Macnas map.

More information on www.macnas.com


🌙💫✨Táimid ag súil go mór leis an draíocht a bheidh á thabhairt ag Macnas go Gaillimh an deireadh seachtaine seo le ☆Turas Alf/Alf's Journey☆ ✨🎇🪄

Dé Sathairn seo 26ú Deireadh Fómhair ag 11.30rn déanfaidh Alf an Dearc Mór a bhealach ón gCeathrúnach go dtí an Fhaiche Mhór, áit a ligfidh sé a scíth ó 1in - 10in & Dé Domhnaigh 27ú Deireadh Fómhair 10rn - 6in. Ag 6.30in - 8in Dé Domhnaigh, tabharfaidh Macnas Alf chuig a theach nua sa Chladach.

Tá Gardaí ag súil le sluaite móra go dtí an chathair áit a mbeidh dúnadh leanúnach bóithre i bhfeidhm ar feadh na paráide. Tuilleadh eolais faoi slí bhealach na paráide le feiceáil ar léarscáil Mhacnas.

Tuilleadh eolais freisin ar www.macnas.com

22/10/2024

I was interviewed on Galway Bay FM Radio yesterday .. a conversation with John Morley .. recorded on Friday. A bit of fun reminiscing on my life to date and all the wonderful folks who helped me along the way. It was unrehearsed so forgive any bloopers.

On today's show: 11am-12pm Galway Greats - Brian Nolan Sports Review 'Galway Talks with John Morley' broadcasts every weekday morning from 9am on Galway Bay FM.

21/10/2024

The Session City Galway list of open trad sessions for this week!
We will publish a list each Monday.

Monday:
5:30- Taaffes Bar -advanced
6:00- Tig Choili -advanced
6:00- An Pucan -intermediate/advanced
7:00- Galway Slow Trad Sessions in The Office Bar -beginners/intermediate (See their Fbook page for more info)
8:00- The Dew Drop Inn -advanced
8:30- Thirteen on the Green Galway -intermediate/advanced
8:30- Carroll's -advanced
9:30- The Crane -advanced
9:30- Tig Choili -advanced

Session City Galway

Tuesday:
5:30- Taaffes Bar -advanced
6:00- Tig Chóilí -advanced
6:00- An Pucan -intermediate/advanced
7:00- Galway Slow Trad Sessions in The Office Bar -intermediate (See their Fbook page for more info)
8:30- 13 on the Green -intermediate/advanced
8:30- Carroll's on Dominick Street -advanced
9:30- The Crane -advanced
9:30- Tig Choilí -advanced

Session City Galway

Wednesday:
5:30- Taaffes -advanced
6:00- Tig Chóilí -advanced
8:00- The Dew Drop Inn -advanced
8:30- Ol' 55 -LGBTQI+ intermediate
9:00- Cooke's Thatch Bar -advanced
9:00- The Western Hotel -advanced
9:30- The Crane -advanced
9:30- Tig Choilí -advanced

Session City Galway

Thursday:
5:30- Taaffe's -advanced *Eb session*
6:00- Tig Chóilí -advanced
7:00- Kelehans Bar Bushypark Galway -intermediate/advanced
8:00- Carroll's -advanced
8:30- Killoran's -intermediate
9:00- The Western Hotel - Galway City Centre -intermediate/advanced
9:30- Tig Chóilí -advanced
9:30- The Crane -advanced

Session City Galway

Friday:
4:30- Monroe's Galway -advanced
5:30- Taaffe's -advanced
6:00- Tig Chóilí -advanced
7:00- Carroll's -advanced
7:00- The Dew Drop Inn -advanced
8:00- St.James GAA Club -intermediate
8:30- The Western Hotel -intermediate/advanced
9:30- The Crane -advanced
10:00- Tig Choilí -advanced

Session City Galway

Saturday:
4:00- Ol 55 -LGBTQI+ -intermediate
5:30- Taaffes Bar -advanced
6:00- Tig Choili -advanced
7:00- Carroll's -advanced
9:30- The Crane -advanced
10:00- Tig Choili -advanced

Session City Galway

Sunday:
2:00- The Crane -intermediates welcome at start yielding seat to advanced players/occasional legends as the session goes on
2:00- Tig Choilí -advanced
5:30- Taaffes Bar -advanced
6:00- Tig Chóilí -advanced
6:00- Barr an Chaladh -intermediate/advanced
7:00- Tigín Galway -intermediate/advanced
7:00- Carroll's -advanced
9:00- Tig Choilí -advanced
9:30- The Crane -advanced

Follow our page now to keep in touch with all of Galway City's tremendous trad sessions!
Session City Galway







Galway Bay FM Flirt FM 101.3 The Latin Quarter Galway Galway Chamber Irish Music Irish Music Magazine official Galway's Westend
Ceol Raidió na Gaeltachta (Oifigiúil) Carroll's on Dominick Street Eyre Square Garavans Bar Kelehans Bar Bushypark Galway Murty Rabbitts O'Connors Bar Galway Thirteen on the Green Galway Visit Galway Monroe's Galway Mary Mullens Bar Taylor’s Bar & Beer Garden

19/10/2024

"If I had a favourite place to bring my tours it would probably be to the quadrangle building at University Galway," says Brian Nolan of Walking Tours of Galway. "Opened in 1849 it remains one of the most beautiful buildings in city. The Virginia creeper turning crimson red in the Autumn really sets off the cut stone walls, the slender turrets and the tall elegant gothic-style windows."

19/10/2024

18/10/2024

Something different

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/conamara-sea-week-gourmet-food-trail-tickets-1037039241287?aff=oddtdtcreator

17/10/2024

This happy crew travelled all the way from Fargo, North Dakota, to Salthill, just to listen to the music and my stories at the Office Bar, and afterwards, sit and chat and chill around the iconic open fireplace in O’Connors pub in Salthill.
The music was wonderful, the fire was glowing, and tge craic was mighty, sure what more could you wish for on your bucket list trip to Ireland with CIE Tours
Walking Tours of Galway O Connors Salthill
The Village Salthill Salthill Galway Salthill Galway Office Bar Salthill Galway Bay Hotel

16/10/2024

A fantastic link to Galway’s past, now on display in our museum.

12/10/2024

Where in Galway?

11/10/2024

It’s all happening in my backyard!
Who knew that Mother Nature would put on a fireworks display just for me in Barna, Galway last night! Shimmering stars, a spooky moon and an amazing purpling of Northern Lights!
And I didn’t even have to go to Iceland!

11/10/2024