Galway Shopping

All the major usual suspects fill this shopping centre, plus a few of the larger Irish chains such as Penny's and Dunnes stores.

I can quite happily by-pass the whole lot of them, but I must applaud the designers of the centre who have very cleverly created a 60-shop centre without majorly affecting the surrounding area. I believe the main site was a former timber yard, that also included at stretch of 14th century medieval wall, with a couple of houses. These have been integrated into the design and the wall actually used as part of the structural support for the roof.

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.

The Treasure Chest was established in 1966 by Mary Bennett. The Business expanded in 1986 we moved to a larger premises on William Street in Galway's main shopping street. It is undoubtedly the most stylish addition to the Heart of Galway. The former Glynn's store has been extensively refurbished both inside and out in the most tasteful fashion and boasts the finest of China, Crystal and Ladies Fashions in Galway.

The Bennett Family have taken every care to ensure that not only are the products best quality to be found but also presented in a way which shows them to there best.

The Ground floor hosts a selection of China, Crystal, Pottery, Figurines, Linen and Irish Products.

The First floor hosts a selection of International Designer Labels from St. John, Basler, Jobis, Lacoste and Condici

What to buy: Waterford Crystal
China
Figurines
Gifts
Souvenirs

What to pay: Cash, Debit Card, Credit Card.....

Galway Crystal makes some nice nice products and since my wife's family lives about 15 minutes away from the factory we have a nice collection. The factory store is in Merlin Park in Galway and the buliding has free parking, and features a modest showroom, a museum, and a cafe upstairs.

What to buy: What else... crystal! They also sell china products.

What to pay: They had a sale and my wife finished off our dining room collection with 12 watergoblets and 6 wine glasses for $ 168.00

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.

This excellent book shop is a rather odd mixture of remaindered stock and secondhand material.

Unlike most other shops that sell remaindered stock the quality of stuff here is very high as it is weighted towards serious and academic books. Many are American in origin and thus will not turn up very often in other bookshops.

It is especially good for books on Iralnd arts, culture and history.

I always seem to spend a couple of hours in this place every time I visit.

What to buy: Over 40,000 books in the store - there must be something for you.

What to pay: Keenly priced. I recently bought a Hardback copy of MrCarthy's journey for 8 euro when the cover price was 24 pounds sterling !

In the Galway city centre, there is a large pedestrian zone where motor vehicle traffic is restricted. This pedestrian zone includes William Street, Shop Street, High Street, Mainguard Street and Quay Street. There are a wide variety of stores, restaurants, and pubs in this area -- and the atmosphere is also great for people-watching.

It would be all to easy to make a whole string of unsubtle comments about the availability of tarts in Galway, wouldn't it ?

So I will resist the temptation and just point out that this little deli is an absolute wonder.

The shop is so well presented that you wonder if it is an interior design shop rather than a food shop.