26/10/16 - Galway Pub Crawl - Day 3

Distance - 6 Miles (includes walk to Menlo Castle)
Pubs - 4
Geocaches - 1
Previous Crawls - Day 1, Day 2

Final day in Galway.  Daylight entertainment is provided by a walk along the River Corrib to check out the deserted Menlo Castle.  A decent walk along canals, rivers and through universities.

Evening entertainment provided by the Galway Comedy Festival.  Top quality laughs provided by the host, Jason Bryne, the man who played Father Damo in Father Ted and the local to us, Joe Lycett.  Less sure about the Pyjama Men.  Improvisation has little place in my comedy lexicon.

Squeezed inbetween where the remaining pubs of Galway that we wanted to knock off.

The Kings Head, High Street

A Pub with History

This is neither on my top 10 list of pubs to visit or on the Irish Whiskey Trail but I was never going to bypass a place of such historical importance.  It's 800 years old.

We only explored the ground floor of its three storeys but there was plenty to please the eye.  After a wander around, we settled on two very high chairs directly opposite the magnificent 400 year old fireplace, only slightly concerned that the chairs were ceremonial.

Contemporary Interior

Wonderful 400 Year Old Fireplace

Garvey's, Eyre Square

We wanted to go to O' Connels before the comedy events started.  However, it was closed for a refurb.  Oh dear, looks like we will have to go back.

Having ticked off An Puncan on day 1, we decide to try this one.

Not the liveliest part of town and nearly deserted with the exception of a few lads sat at the bar commenting on any women that walked past the window.

Unfortunately, a little uncomfortable for tourists.

The Near Deserted Garveys.  Letches out of shot on the left.

Naughtons, Cross Street

We've been at this for three days and in true top of pops style, we leave number 1 till last.

I've been looking for Naughtons since I got here.  You would do better looking for it under its Gaelic name, Tigh Neachtains.

Naughtons by another name

We enter in good spirits after the comedy.  Its tiny inside, with its lack of room exaggerated by the little cornered off booths and various other nooks and crannies.

There's a traditional Irish band squeezed into the corner.  Unlike Tig Coili and Monroes, sense gets the better of anyone that wants to dance.

Every available surface is covered in art work.

A simply wonderful place.

View from a Booth

Garavans, William Street

Its not quite over though.  The following day we have an hour to kill before the train back to Dublin.

I am reading a Ken Bruen book.  In many ways, he is the reason we are here.  He details the City so well.  In Green Hell, which I nearly polished during morning, he describes Garavans perfectly.

Its also Whiskey bar of the year 2014, 2015.

Last Guinness till the Cheltenham Races

Its packed at 2pm on a Thursday afternoon.  A fittingly authentic way to round off the trip.