Galway Shopping

Just like their American counterparts the Irish love their shopping malls. The Eyre Square Centre has tons of great shopping and also features a supermarket. There is a parking garage under the mall and My wife found some great prints for the house. It's also a great oasis during a downpour.

What to buy: Clothes, tourist trinkets, and everything else. There is also a supermarket with butcher shop on premesis.

What to pay: Normal prices I suppose.

Lots of local craft, perfect for gifts. Interesting jewerly and art.

Fresh fruit and vegetables, hot doughnuts and crepes.

Cds, flowers, sunglasses, clothes, books. Theres lots of little stalls selling all kinds of different things.

What to buy: Hand made jewerly and other hand made crafts like pretty fairies made from wire. Lots of hemp made products for a unique present to someone.

What to pay: Some perople will go down a bit in price but dont expect too much reduction.

The Four Corners sells both recorded Irish and Celtic music and musical instruments. Aside from the usual guitars, drums, etc., the store specializes in traditional Irish instruments, like bodhrans, fiddles and tin flutes.

What to buy: They have a great selection of folk music (even non-irish folk) as well as a nice collection of sheet music. The small bodhran and tin flute kits seem geared towards kids and make cute souvenirs. The real draw here for the amateur player are the standard sized bodhrans. If you have any inclination to bring one home, this is the place! Not profession quality (although they have them, too) but for 30 euro, these ones were pretty good.

Even if you don't want to buy anything from the centre's various specialty shops, going inside is a must! A section of Galway's old city walls was incorporated into the building, and the combination of old and new works surprisingly well.

Charlie Byrne's bookshop in Galway has new, used and antique books, and they carry many out-of-print and difficult to find books.
Since they are located in Galway, they have especially many books on Irish topics.
A friend of mine, Emily, works there.

What to buy: Books of any kind.

Galway is famous, amongst other things, for Claddagh rings.

The Claddagh itself was an area of the town, near to where the river enters the sea. Nowadays it is an open grassy area that is worth a short walk from town - especially when that invigorating Atlantic breeze is blowing.

The full story of the history of this particular type of celtic jewelry can be found at the website listed below.

I won't recommend a particular shop - as it comes down to personal taste, but there are several to choose from.

What to buy: Rings start at less than 30 Euro and go up to several thousand. They can also be incorporated into bridal crowns and stuff.

If you want to buy for less money this is the shop, Penneys here is how is operated Primark you?ll find it everything. Clothes, accesories, home, bath, etc....